“Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes” By Brian Tarquin & his Heavy Friends

  

Lifting up our veterans through music is something that Brian Tarquin & his Heavy Friends will do until there are no more wars. Brian’s friends include superhero musicians that love working with him on a number of albums he’s released from hard rock to jazz over the past (20) years). “‘Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes” (out January 19, on Downtown Music/Dashgo Distribution) honors military soldiers who defend our freedoms. I wanted a true star-studded musician tribute of soaring instrumental songs. So, I was very fortune to get such iconic players as Jean Luc Ponty, Eric Johnson, Robben Ford and Steve Morse to help me express our gratitude.”

A heavy and glorious fusion-prog collection, “Beyond the Warrior’s Eyes” is Brian and his friends (Jean Luc Ponty, Eric Johnson, Robben Ford (Miles Davis), Steve Morse (Deep Purple), Dean Brown (David Sanborn), Hal Lindes (Dire Straits), Chris Poland (Megadeth), John Tropea (Billy Cobham), Steve Kindler (Jeff Beck), Carl Verheyen (Supertramp) & Larry McCray (John Mayall), the late Phil Naro, and the Budapest Symphony Orchestra) latest collaborative album. “Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes” mission is to support the charity, Hope For The Warriors, who provide medical care, mental health counseling, professional training and education, physical conditioning and transition services for wounded, ill, and injured Marines and Navy members. https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/

“Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes” Special Donation Page:

https://support.hopeforthewarriors.org/Beyond-The-Warriors-Eyes

The album “Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes” was produced, engineered and composed entirely by Brian Tarquin. Well-connected with star musicians, he is a one-man army playing all instruments except drums where studio drummer Reggie Pryor lends his services. The album was recorded in Tarquin’s Jungle Room Studios on 2” analog tape through a vintage Trident London 24 console and a host of analog outboard gear. Brian transferred the recording to either Pro Tools or Logic, finishing the recording digitally. He lastly recorded all final mixes down to an Ampex 440C ¼” 2 track analog tape.  Tape Op Interview on process: https://tapeop.com/interviews/158/brian-tarquin/

What about some of the “Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes” tracks? “Behind the Iron Curtain” with Chris Poland is a thundering and glorious orchestration of guitar playing. Chris loves working with Brian, “This particular project I felt was a bit more important. Here we honor our veterans for their courage and sacrifice.”

Jean Luc Ponty was inspired to play his electric violin on the album, when he heard the title track, “Beyond the Warrior’s Eyes.” Steve Morse and John Tropea soloed and blended their lead guitars on a dreamy yet danceable instrumental, “Faith & Hope.”  The combination of guitar work from multi-genre-rocker Eric Johnson and fusion’s Dean Brown on “The Gates of Valhalla” is an upbeat and magical journey that takes the listener away from his or her troubles.

The album closes with a song, “These Colors Don’t Run,” which pays tribute to our soldiers. The late Phil Naro sings on this with guitar from Steve Morse, who gives “kudos to Phil for his vocal performance, and add that he loves working with Brian, who “is a great guy to work with and is very versatile at all parts of this music business.” 

The Emmy award winning guitarist/composer has radio hits in several formats as Smooth Jazz, NACC Loud Rock & CMJ’s RPM charts.  He’s had songs on major TV shows and popular movies including CSI, Seinfeld, Good Morning America, The Watcher (Keanu Reeves), Desert Heat (Van Damme), The Sender (R. Lee Ermey), and National Lampoon’s Repli-Kate (Ali Landry)…. He’s won 3 Emmy Awards for “Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series” for All My Children, a Global Music Award, honors from SESAC and a number of nominations from the Josie Music Awards for best guitarist, producer and album. Brian has appeared on 50 releases, has 38 million streams on Pandora, Spotify & Apple: selling over 140,000 records in his career. Brian is an award-winning published Author; below is a list of his books. 

Brian and Joe Satriani won “Best Video” for “Speed of Sound” from the recent “Brothers in Arms” album and a Global Music Gold Award for his release “Orlando In Heaven,” put together to pay tribute to the victims shot at the Pulse Nightclub in 2016.    

Brian’s weekly NPR radio show called Guitar Trax on WFIT 89.5FM (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WFIT)  on the Florida Space Coast is streamed on www.wfit.org. He hosts in depth interviews with world-renowned guitarists every Monday night from 10pm-Midnight.

Track Listing

01    “Beyond the Warrior’s Eyes” w/ Jean Luc-Ponty

02     “The Gates of Valhalla” w/ Eric Johnson & Dean Brown

03    “Quiet Desperation” w/ Robben Ford

04    “Behind the Iron Curtain” w/ Chris Poland

05     “Faith & Hope” w/ Steve Morse & John Tropea

06     “A Soldier’s Journey” w/ Steve Kindler & Budapest Symphony Orchestra

07    “La Sierre Del Norte” w/ Carl Verheyen

08     “Common Valor” w/ Larry McCray

09     “These Colors Don’t Run” w/ Steve Morse & Phil Naro

Quotes from Artists on “Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes”

Jean Luc Ponty: “Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes” is the song that inspired me the most to play on when Brian asked me to collaborate on his album, and I am very happy to be part of this project to help U.S. Veterans get what they need.                  

Hal Lindes (Dire Straits)  Brian Tarquin’s superb latest offering is brimming with fresh, funky, killer grooves and majestic soaring guitar melodies featuring French virtuoso violinist Jean Luc Ponty, shredding it up on “Beyond The Warrior Eyes.”

 Chris Poland (Megadeth): It's always my pleasure to play on anything Brian brings my way, but this particular project I felt was a bit more important. Here we honor our veterans for their courage and sacrifice.

Steve Morse (Deep Purple): Brian is a great guy to work with and is very versatile at all parts of this music business. Kudos to Phil Naro, coming up with another great vocal part for “These Colors Don't Run”!                                                                

Carl Verheyen (Supertramp): Collaborating on “La Sierra del Norte” with Brian was a joy. The challenge was to play as melodic as possible in 6/8 time with a completely different tone than the melody.  

Dean Brown (David Sanborn): Brian has put together a stellar group of guitarists and provided wonderful vehicles for creative improvisation. I'm thrilled to be a part of the project and this worthy cause.                                                                    

Note: Tarquin is pronounced  -- “Tar – quin”     

linktr.ee/guitartrax
www.bhpmusic.com

Brian Tarquin
Multi Emmy Award Winning Composer/Guitarist

Press Links:
Vintage Guitar Magazine just did a spread on Brian in the April edition.
https://www.vintageguitar.com/56401/brian-tarquin-3/

Music Connection
https://www.musicconnection.com/industry-profile-brian-tarquin-shredding-for-u-s-vets-and-victims/

Big Blend Magazine
https://issuu.com/bigblendmagazines/docs/_2big_weekly_blend_magazine_vol._1_issue_18_no

Books By Brian Tarquin

Survival Guide for Music Composers (Hal Leonard) - 2018 USA Best Book Winner Award 

Guitar Encyclopedia (Allworth Press) - 2014 USA Best Book Winner Award 

Guitar Amplifier Encyclopedia (Allworth Press) - 2017 USA Best Book Finalist Award 

Stomp on This: The Guitar Pedal Effects Guidebook (Cengage) - 2015 USA Best Book Finalist Award 

Insider’s Guide to Home Recording (Allworth Press) - 2015 USA Best Book Finalist Award 

Insider’s Guide to Music Licensing (Allworth Press) - 2014 USA Best Book Finalist Award 

Recording Techniques of the Guitar Masters (Cengage) interviews with Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson.

Brian Tarquin and fellow composers Terry Walker and Jerry Pilato won Emmys for their work in General Hospital in 2002, 2003, 2005  

“Love for Sale” from Buffalo Rock City-II

A tribute to the late Phil Naro, “Love for Sale” features

Talas bandmates including bassist Billy Sheehan

The first single from the upcoming studio album, “Buffalo Rock City-II” is a cover of Peter Criss’s “Love for Sale” is  available as a digital download, exclusively on Bandcamp at https://buffalorockcity.bandcamp.com/track/love-for-sale. “Buffalo Rock City II” will be released this September on digital media, and as a physical CD, and via Bandcamp.

“Buffalo Rock City II” follows the critically acclaimed KISS tribute album, "Buffalo Rock City – Western New York's Tribute To KISS" cited as “the Best KISS tribute album ever" by “Music and Food,” and the 2022 live album, "Buffalo Rock City ALIVE!” “Buffalo Rock City II” will also be a musical tribute to all things KISS. "Buffalo Rock City II" is spearheaded by Buffalo, New York native, John Jeffrey, who co-produced the first two releases.

John is the “Ace” member of KISS THIS!, and--along with bandmates Kevin Blakita as “The Starchild,” Taylor Stursa as “The Demon,” and Julius Giambelluca as “The Fox”-- they join cream of the crop Western New York musicians including “Buffalo Rock City” contributors Gene Schmidt, Jody Velletta, Shawn Przybylak, Nat Peace, Joe Teresi, and Debbie Knight from “Buffalo Rock City ALIVE!” Newcomers to “Buffalo Rock City-II” are Buffalo’s Larry Kremer, Kylie Velletta, and Valentino Rockgod, plus international favorites; these are players who’ve toured and recorded with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, Alice Cooper, Motley Crue, Accept, the Hollywood Vampires, Ozzy Osbourne, Journey, the Plasmatics, the Ramones, Lillian Axe, Stryper, Tesla, Winger, Yngwie Malmsteen, Sons of Apollo, Hardline, Alcatrazz, Warlock, Mr. Big, Winery Dogs, and David Lee Roth. The “Love for Sale” single was mixed by Rochester native, C.Wood (Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Wayne Shepherd….).

The release date of May 3 for “Love for Sale” is significant, as it marks the 2 year anniversary of the passing of singer Phil Naro. A Rochester native, Phil was best known as the lead singer of Buffalo’s Talas (Version 2 aka “V2”), which toured with many top hard rock attractions, including Anthrax, White Lion, Quiet Riot, and Iron Maiden. Phil was also the lead singer for CRISS, the solo band of the original drummer from KISS. Naro wrote songs, performed, and recorded with CRISS in the early 1990s, but left the group prior to the release of their sole record in 1994.

One of the CRISS songs Phil contributed to was "Love for Sale." He eventually recorded an unrefined version of the song in the late 1990s. This forgetten gem was finally remembered by Phil's bandmates from Talas – bassist Billy Sheehan, drummer Mark Miller & guitarist Kire Najdovski; they recorded their new version of “Love for Sale” for "Buffalo Rock City II" as a dedication to the memory and legacy of Phil Naro. Though he doesn’t appear on this song, Journey’s drummer, Deen Castronovo suggested vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen, Journey, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Sons of Apollo with Billy Sheehan) to sing for the song. (Deen plays on another song on "Buffalo Rock City II"!)
.
Watch the YouTube teaser clip, with a foreword from surviving members of Talas (V2):

https://youtu.be/COpm4mIA5Yk

All proceeds from the single and the forthcoming album will go to the Maria Love Convalescent Fund, a Buffalo-based charity, which provides interim financial assistance for the people in the community with convalescent care needs.

For more information, go to: www.BuffaloRockCity.com.

David LaDuke's "Pschedelic Sandwich" co-write with the late great Phil Naro

Renowned Hard Rocker David LaDuke's "Psychedelic Sandwich" appears on Bongo Boy T.V.'s 6th Episode,  on 72+ Terrestrial T.V. Channels in the U.S.A.

And in the UK, Canada with ROKU Go Indie T.V. Channel. Stay tuned to the channel at https://vimeo.com/channels/bongoboytv. 

The music video is not on the 5th Episode (which is hip-hop) as previously announced.

  

 The video, made up of cartoon graphics and silhouettes of hi-heeled ladies with lingerie model figures, could be construed as a psychedelic trip.

 

"Psychedelic Sandwich" is a co-write with David and the late Phil Naro (Talas, Peter Criss, Druckfarben). David handled the music and Phil the lyrics. Phil said a "Psychedelic Sandwich" is a "Love drug. It produces intense physical sensations that can make even the slightest touch feel like the most erotic pleasure." 

 

Vocally, David sings hard rock "hiccups" like his favorite rock star, Elvis Presley. He combines hard, heavy & punk rock with pure rock 'n' roll influences from the King of Rock and Roll, Rolling Stones, AC/DC, including guitar styling inspired by a range of players from Jimi Hendrix and Chicago's Terry Kath to Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page.

 

David and Phil have been friends since the 1990s. The Rochester/Canadian-based singer passed this past May 3, 2021. David pays tribute to his friend, "He was an awesome talent that didn't sound like anyone else. Passionate, Creative, Honest & Sincere.” In 1995, Phil sent some of his music to David's then publication Ballbuster Magazine and record label Sinbad Recordings, and they hit it off. Phil's music appears on 3 Ballbuster compilations: Ballbuster Strike 1 and 2 and Unforgotten Rock. "Psychedelic Sandwich" also appears on recent Bongo Boy Records' hard rock compilations Kryp II Knight and their Various Artists’ FYC 63rd Grammy Album.  

 

David is getting ready to release a new album, Put Up LA Dukes this fall. It will feature remastered tracks, Guitar Rocker "Psychedelic Sandwich," Hard Rocker "Hey There, Who am I," and The Memphis Metal track "Love My Baby," plus unreleased demos and recordings, including a few rough tracks and mixes from the original 1977 Columbia Studios Nashville SINBAD session's featuring the LaDuke written song "Doomsday" produce by Mike Figlio (R.E.O. Speedwagon)

 

David LaDuke has been playing roots/metal/rock n' roll since 1973. He and his group Sinbad have released several critical acclaim L.P.s, E.P.s, and C.D.s. His album SINBAD was on the California-based indie label Azra International (Overkill, Liege Lord, Jag Panzer Axemaster). His solo releases are Have Rock Will Travel, Ball Bustin Guitar Rock!, plus two live EPs: Absolutely Raw (Nothing more. Nothing less.), Absolute Rock (In the buff.), and the CDs: Rock Hard Rocker and Rock with Balls.

He would develop a unique style of traditional hard rock and blues, eventually compared to The Clash to Jimmy Page to Elvis Presley through the years. Respected German journalist/D.J. Lord Litter once described La Duke's music as being played in a very "Link Wray-ish style, very raw, harsh and always right to the point."

 

By the end of the 1980s, Sinbad Productions was born. After leaving the stage in 1991 to raise his son, David continued to record and release CDs and EPs. He also published BallBuster Hard Music Magazine, which was available in stores and bookshops worldwide until 2000, and has since supported The International rock scene—partly through his renowned website, BallBusterMusic.com.  

 

PSYCHEDELIC SANDWICH

(David LaDuke, Phil Naro) 

 

(1st verse)

You get me through my darkest night

You get me through my days

You feed me with your body talk

Let's get down and play

Any way you slice it

You melt my blues away

 

(Chorus)

I want to sink my teeth in you my Psychedelic Sandwich

No better woman I choose my Psychedelic Sandwich

 

(2 verse)

Ambush me with open arms

No, I'm not afraid 

My appetite is your delight

I love you, Maggie May

 

(Chorus)

I want to sink my teeth in you my Psychedelic Sandwich

No better woman I choose my Psychedelic Sandwich

 

(3rd verse)

Morning noon or dinner time 

There's always room for you

CLT is what I crave 

I taste your lovin' tune

In between your lusty buns

That's the bottom line

Let me bite in your buns

Baby sucks my mind

 

(Repeat Chorus) 

I want to sink my teeth in you my Psychedelic Sandwich

No better woman I choose my Psychedelic, Psychedelic, 

Psychedelic, Psychedelic, Sandwich!

  

Re-Introduction to Midwest Rocker, David LaDuke

I’ve been a cheerleader for a range of independent Midwestern rock stars through the years. One was Louisville, Kentucky's David LaDuke. His energetic hard rock & roll guitar and screeching lead vocals adorning meat and potatoes' songs excited me. I still love his unique blend of '70s' guitar Zeppelin meets Elvis Presley’s stylings. Yearnful, intimate, rocking.

To quote Soundtrack Journal, “LaDuke's Pure Raw, Electric, Emotion! Music transcends your intellect and hits the gut on an intuitive level!”

The '70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, Millennium underground rocker emerged with two electrical charged reissued and remastered original tracks. "Psychedelic Sandwich" co-written by Metal Blade rocker Phil Naro (Talas, Druckfarben) and "Hey Three (Who Am I)” premiere on Bongo Boy Records’ new Hard Rock/Metal collection Kryp II Knight Vol. I (Various Artists). 

The album features international hard rockers Chris Scheler, Candlelight Chaos, Oblivia, Rykers Law, Lyia, and many more! Kryp II Knight Vol. 1 is being submitted for your consideration (FYC) to the Recording Academy for the 63rd Grammy® season. Fans can order Kryp II Knight Volume 1 online at Bongoboyrecords.com/krypIIKnight.  

David LaDuke has been playing roots/metal/rock n' roll since 1973. He and his group Sinbad have released several LPs, EPs and CDs. His album SINBAD was (on the California based indie label Azra International (Overkill, Liege Lord, Intruder, Jag Panzer). His solo releases Have Rock Will Travel, Ball Bustin Guitar Rock! (plus two live EP's), Absolutely Raw (Nothing more. Nothing less.), Absolute Rock (In the buff.) including the CDs: Rock Hard Rocker and Rock with Balls. His unique blend of '70s' guitar rock, with an Elvis Presley-influenced grove, has gained him a great reputation in Magazines and on Radio Stations around the world.

By the end of the '80s, Sinbad Productions was born.  After leaving the stage, in 1991 to raise his Son, David continued to record, release CDs and Eps. He also published BallBuster Magazine, which was available in stores worldwide until 1998 and has since supported The International rock scene—partly through his renowned website, BallBusterMusic.com.  

There is a lyric video for “Hey There, Who Am I,” produced by Johnny Naro (Phil’s son). 

Druckfarben's SECOND SOUND Called "Best Album of the Year"

Druckfarben photo by Julia Li

(and wins other high praise from critics and industry)

A who's who of the international prog rock community has been responding to Druckfarben’s sophomore album, Second Sound, with acclaim and accolades. A&R man Michael Caplan (who discovered Echolyn, Matisyahu, Los Lonely Boys and Keb’ Mo’) says it’s "the best album of the year so far!"

Prog Rock journal Expose's editor Peter Thelen writes "The entire band is a pretty impressive unit... This will definite be of interest to all fans of classic prog, and particularly bands like Gentle Giant, Kansas, vintage Saga and CTTE (Close To the Edge) era Yes." 

Pop Culture Classic's Paul Freeman calls Second Sound an "impressive album." Powerline writes that Druckfarben is "truly a band to watch." Michelle Wilson of Ink19 says “If you're a prog rock fan, this one is not to be missed.” The Phantom Tollbooth compares Druckfarben to "Yes, Rush, Gentle Giant and Kansas, all mixed together with some Celtic and residual metal flavors on top." Bass Musician Magazine states, “Though the modern Prog band is usually a by-musicians-for-musicians band, Druckfarben is a fantastic exception to this rule and is not only listenable, but also enjoyable to just about anyone.”

Mark Lettieri, guitarist for 2014 Grammy award-winners Snarky Puppy, says: "Druckfarben is a ridiculously intense progstravaganza of a rock band. It's like Yes meets Zappa meets Canadian poutine!"

Tyrone Buccione of T-Mak World writes: “What a great album! I give this bad boy 5/5 stars for just being a bold and powerful progressive rock album with track crossfading and killer tones and another 5/5 for having such amazing written parts and melodies. That’s right, 10/5 stars! I thought Druckfarben’s Second Sound really captured the true essence of rock and roll, and I know it will be well received in the rock community.”

Druckfarben is led by guitarist Ed Bernard and includes bassist Peter Murray (Surrender Dorothy, Ron Sexsmith), keyboardist William Hare (Crystal Shawanda, Abraham's Children), drummer Troy Feener (Full Nine, Tom Cochrane) and vocalist Phil Naro (Talas, Peter Criss, DDrive).

In German, the word Druckfarben means "coloured printing ink." As teenagers growing up in suburban Ontario, Ed and Troy stumbled upon those letters stenciled on mysterious black barrels in their rehearsal space. Although at the time they had no idea what "Druckfarben" meant, they decided it would make a great band name. Many years later, as their dream progressive rock band came together, they knew what to call it.

All five members grew up with a shared love of classic progressive rock. They played their first show in 2008, released their self-titled debut in 2011, and put out a live DVD (Artifact) in 2013. Fans include Kim Mitchell, Nick D’Virgilio (Spock’s Beard), and Maurizio Guarini of Italy's Goblin, plus producers Terry Brown (Rush) and David Bendeth (Bruce Hornsby, Paramore).

Songs from Second Sound cited by the media include "Dandelion," "In Disbelief," and the 19-minute epic title track that closes the album. 

www.druckfarben.ca

Twitter @druckfarben

facebook.com/druckfarben

Canadian Prog Rockers Druckfarben to release Second Sound CD

Left to Right: Phil Naro, Peter Murray, Ed Bernard,
Troy Feener and William Hare

Canadian progressive rock band Druckfarben will release their sophomore album, Second Sound, worldwide on March 22. The record will be available in CD form from their website (druckfarben.ca) and CD Baby, and digitally from iTunes and Bandcamp.

Second Sound features bold new colours in such songs as “An Answer Dreaming”, “In Disbelief” and “Liberated Dream”, and concludes with the 19-minute “Second Sound” suite. “This is a natural progression from our first album,” says guitarist Ed Bernard, “but also introduces musical elements that might be surprising to those who know our music so far.”

Bernard leads the group, which was formed in 2008 along with bassist Peter Murray (Surrender Dorothy, Ron Sexsmith), keyboardist William Hare (Crystal Shawanda, Angelica DiCastro, Abraham's Children), drummer Troy Feener (Full Nine, Tom Cochrane) and singer Phil Naro (Talas, Peter Criss, DDrive). In German, Druckfarben means “coloured ink used for printing on textiles or other media.” In the mid-80s, teenaged Ed and Troy had no idea what the word meant when they discovered it stencilled on mysterious black barrels in their rehearsal studio. But many years later it resurfaced as the name of Canada’s great new prog export.

All five members of Druckfarben grew up with a shared love of classic progressive rock music, such as Yes, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Rush, King Crimson and Kansas. They played their first show on March 1, 2008 in Port Credit, Ontario. Their self-titled debut was released in October 2011, followed by a live DVD (Artifact) in 2013. They quickly built up an international following, including supporters such as Kim Mitchell, Nick D’Virgilio (Spock’s Beard), and Maurizio Guarini of Italy's Goblin, as well as producers Terry Brown (Rush) and David Bendeth (Bruce Hornsby, Paramore).

The band is eager to perform the exciting new material from Second Sound live throughout 2014 and beyond. 

For news and updates, follow:

Official site: www.druckfarben.ca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/druckfarben

Twitter: www.twitter.com/druckfarben