(PR) Keyboard and electric-violin legend Eddie Jobson (U.K., Roxy Music, Frank Zappa, Jethro Tull) is returning in grand style from a self-imposed 27-year retirement to introduce UKZ, his new "Virtual Virtuoso" supergroup, with a world debut concert exclusive in New York City.A classically trained progressive-rock icon, Jobson assembled UKZ virtually by auditioning performances on YouTube. The result is a multi-generational "dream band" of world-class improvisers from all parts of the globe whose members are: Trey Gunn (a 10-year veteran of King Crimson and the leading exponent of the Warr 10-string touch guitar), Aaron Lippert (former lead singer of Expanding Man), Alex Machacek (Austrian guitar prodigy), and Marco Minnemann (German drum sensation).
UKZ will begin and end its "One City World Tour" on Saturday, Jan. 24 at Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St., NYC. Show time is 8 p.m. This rare concert event also will feature the U.S.debut of special guests Stick Men, featuring King Crimson's Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto.
Tickets are $125, $95, $85 & $60 and on sale NOW through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com. For info, call the box office at 212.840.2824 or visit www.the-townhall-nyc.org.
In a state-of-the-art display of masterful musicianship that elevates the spirit of progressive music to the modern demands of younger new audiences, UKZ will be premiering compositions from its upcoming debut EP, RADIATION, set for release March 24 via Ryko Distribution. UKZ's updated sound infuses the industrial edge and rhythmic aggression of bands from Tool to Nine Inch Nails, and it's exemplified in the seven-minute video for the title track, which already has received over 5,000 hits in its first week on YouTube.
"New directions excite me," says Jobson, "I decided a year-and-a-half ago that I still had more to say in the rock arena, and that the internet had allowed every aspect of that expression to be approached in a new way. Everything with this band project has been self-produced, independent of the music-business machine. I have created a real 'player' band of virtuosos and I am taking it straight to the people."
Jobson has spent much of his time away from band activity creating music for film and television. He's been an integral contributor to movie and TV soundtracks, and also has earned several Clio awards for his commercial compositions.
More recently, he's been the driving force behind the Bulgarian Women's Choir, which he began working with 13 years ago while exploring new sounds for a reunion of U.K., the influential British supergroup. Jobson also runs Globe Media Arts, a music/video production company, music publishing company, and online store, including two indie labels for advanced musicians, Globe Music and Glo Digital.
"I have spent my life looking for new musical challenges," he says. "The latest is in taking on the challenge of creating a truly contemporary rock environment for some of the world's best players to exhibit their craft, while maintaining some level of accessibility. So far, I am pleased with the results and I am looking forward to returning to live performance to share those results with fans from around the globe, in New York City — the capital of the world. My hope is to move things forward — at least a little bit."
