Artist description T r å n ç e is a concept album which represents a new style of music so eclectic it features a didgeree do/hurdy gurdy duet. Composer Brian Bennett brought together 90 musicians from around the world in this first class recording which explores techno, trance, dance and world beat in a powerfully-produced, lavish setting. "I wanted to create floor-stomping, emotional experiences for the audience, using everything available - the best musicians, the best studios and powerful orchestration and production techniques. I ended up blending new recordings of ancient instruments such as the didgeree do and zurna which resonate with our most primal parts, with the exalted sound of the symphony orchestra. Many of the pieces are supported by a foundation of dance rhythms, making T r å n ç e at home in clubs as well as concert halls," said Bennett. "Some of the finest folk artists performed, including vocalists Udokotela Shange Namajaha from Africa, Sanna Kurki-Suonio from Finland and Narada recording artist, Azam Ali, who was born in Iran and raised in India. Master Swedish nyckleharpa player, Olov Johansson, who's performed with the Kronos quartet, also appeared. And this is only the tip of the iceberg." Bennett traveled the globe in search of the right players for this project. He recorded principal players of the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road in the morning and flew in Mr. Namajaha from Africa for the afternoon session. "Almost fatal cultural whiplash," Bennett calls it, "but the effect is truly magical. These are the most sophisticated instrumentalists in the world, combined with a voice which could only be grown in the remote Zulu village where Udokotela lives." After recording in Helsinki, Stockholm and London, he put the final touches on the year and a half-long project at Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood. "We had the best rhythm section in the world," said Bennett, "including the great Russ Kunkel on drums and Lee Sklar on bass. "Michael Fisher, who plays on nearly every Hollywood soundtrack, brought a semi-truck full of indigenous percussion instruments he's collected in his travels, including huge Taiko drums, authentic temple bells from Nepal and his 'Indian banjo,' purchased at a Bombay flea market. Supertramp guitarist Carl Verheyen, drummer Gregg Bissonnette, and bassist Neil Stubenhaus rounded out the all-star ensemble." What are Bennett's plans for the future? "Well, there's this group of native Greenland women who I want to feature on the next recording, along with a traditional gospel choir from the U.S. And I'd love to work with the LSO again. "But what I really want to do is continue to make music that happens once; an event in time, of exalted artistic expression that moves the listener and defines a new cultural paradigm. But you gotta be able to dance to it!"

Music Style trance, goa-trance, dance, techno-shamanic, orchestral, world beat, jazz, folk

Musical Influences Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, Stravinksy, GOA trance, psychedelic music

Similar Artists Hedningarna, Peter Gabriel, Nomad

Artist History The best musicians in the world brought together for this one time only, unique project in numerous studios around the world including Abbey Road in London, Ocean Way and A&M in Los Angeles and studios in Stockholm and Helsinki.

Group Members Principal players of the London Symphony Orchestra; Russ Kunkel and Gregg Bissonnette on drums; Lee Sklar, Neil Stubenhaus and Rick Boston on Bass; Carl Verheyen and Rick Boston on acoustic and electric guitar, bowed sitar, and del rebay; Udokotela Shange Namajaha, Sanna Kurki-Suonio, Will Wheaton, Azam Ali, Rick Boston and Brian Bennett, vocals; Michael Fisher on Chinese gongs, tablas, Japanese cymbals, dance sticks, Gangaoki bell, djun djun drums, jaw harp, whale drum, wind wand, berimbau, dumbek, udus, Bali bell, Indian banjo and temple bell; Ethan James on French and Hungarian hurdy gurdy; Olov Johansson on nyckelharpa; Tanya Rust on didgeree do and zurna; George Graham (among others) on trumpet; Joel Derouin and Janice Graham (among others) on violin; Paul Silverthorne (among others) on viola; Tim Jones (among others) on French horn and Brian Bennett (among others) on flute, acoustic piano, Nord 2, Hammond organ, samplers, Linn 9000 programming, JP 8000, JD 800 and producer and orchestrator on all tracks.

Instruments piano, voice, nord2, Hammond organ, E4X samplers, Linn 9000, JP8000, JD800, two symphonic orchestras, bass, drums, MPC60, Juno60, electric, acoustic and 12 string guitars, Del Rebay, Bowed Sitar, Chinese gongs, tablas, Japanese cymbals, dance sticks, gangaoki bell, djun djuns, odaiko drum, jaw harp, whale drum, wind wand, berimbau, dumbek, udus, Bali bell, Indian banjo, temple bell, hurdy gurdy, didgeree do, zurna, nyckelharpa, piano harp.

Press Reviews from THE ALBUM NETWORK magazine -- Producer/multi-instrumentalist Brian Scott Bennett undertook a very ambitious project with TRANCE; he brought together over 90 musicians from around the world, including members of the London Symphony Orchestra, renowned rhythm section drummer Russ Kunkel and bassist Lee Sklar, vocalist Udokotela Shange Namahaja (Africa), Sanna Kurki-Suonio (Finland), Azam Ali (Iran) and nyckleharpa player Olov Johansson (Sweden). The idea was to create a first-class recording that blends elements of techno, trance, dance and world beat set in a lavishly musical setting. The result is ground-breaking and thoroughly engaging. -- (More reviews on web page.)

Location Los Angeles, California - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).