Artist description Instrumental rock with strong jazz influences. Original music, plus inventive covers ranging from TV themes to classic rock to jazz standards.

Music Style Progressive Lounge

Musical Influences progressive rock, jazz

Similar Artists King Crimson, Primus, John Scofield Band

Artist History Mommy, what the hell is a Ras Majuka? The red apple goes with the blue pants, and the orange car goes with the pink dog. Mixing things together can be quite an adventure, states guitarist/composer John Balisque, about his musical genre-hopping think-tank Ras Majuka. A mostly self-taught musician, except for a brief, yet invaluable workshop with session guitarist Robbie Blunt (Robert Plant band). Balisque revels in mismatching musical idioms into cohesive statements of sound illustration, within the context of a power trio. His atmospheric chords are balanced by a tenser, jangly and spacious bluesy fingerpicking style. Drummer/percussionist Thomas Meadows is a student of meter experimentation and time displacement, employing an analytical approach to sound and the world around him. Meadows was actually given the name Ras Majuka by veteran art-rock drummer Terry Bozzio. Recent addition bassist Mark Sullivan is a veteran of the Charlotte jazz scene with his own electrifying trio in which he is a guitarist. In Ras Majuka he handles writing duties along with agile bass noodling and a centered meat-and-potatoes bottom end.

Group Members John Balisque - guitar Thomas Meadows - drums & percussion Mark Sullivan - bass

Instruments Guitar, Bass, Drums

Press Reviews Very tasty and expansive instrumental rock from the Metrolina area, mixing covers and original compositions across a variety of styles. - Janet Mohan, Atlanta at Nite It's an old formula, but with a new twist, a jazz combo that writes like an art rock ensemble. The writing is provocative, the solos are thoughtful, yet the music remains accessible. A very trippy, progressive lounge trio with a playful fusion edge. - Keith Herring, Sound Design Another band you can't pronounce the frickin' name, the one draw-back on an otherwise kickass group. How many bands have you heard play a bop version of Led Zeppelin's Black Dog. Their sound is like Weather Report/Rush with George Benson on guitar. - Bryon Thomson, Nail magazine

Location Charlotte, North Carolina - USA

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