HEAVEN & EARTH in the Studio With New Band Lineup Working On Next Album
By: Caryn Robbins Oct. 09, 2014
Coming off last year's acclaimed album Dig and an enthusiastically received 17-date 2014 European concert tour, HEAVEN & EARTH--who masterfully fuse elements of hard rock, blues and bits of classical--are back in the studio working on a new album (produced by Dave Jenkins and available via Quarto Valley Records) for 2015 with a new lineup. The Los Angeles-based band's heralded musicians Stuart Smith (band founder/guitarist) and Joe Retta (vocals) are now joined by Kenny Aronoff (drums), Lynn Sorensen of Paul Rogers/Bad Company (bass/vocals) and Ty Bailie (keyboards).
Stuart Smith, an England-raised protégé of Ritchie Blackmore, is excited to share this news about the new HEAVEN & EARTH album (title and release date are TBA) and line-up. He says: "Joe Retta and I couldn't be more excited that Quarto Valley Records are once again behind us and that we have Lynn, Kenny and Ty on the new album. The writing chemistry between us is great and we have about 20 good ideas in the pot so far which we're working on. I think it's going to be Heaven & Earth's best album yet." HEAVEN & EARTH's new line-up includes: Kenny Aronoff, among the world's most in-demand session drummers, will bring his tremendous drive, enthusiasm and creativity to HEAVEN & EARTH. In the mid-80s, Kenny began to develop an enormously successful career as a studio musician and went on to tour worldwide with artists including The Smashing Pumpkins, Bob Seger, John Fogerty, Melissa Etheridge, Joe Cocker, Willie Nelson, Styx, Goo Goo Dolls, Billy Gibbons, Ringo Starr, Dr. John, Gregg Allman, and many many more.Seasoned bassist/vocalist Lynn Sorensen--who's been Paul Rodgers' long time bass player and backing vocalist for over 10 years and moved over to Bad Company with Paul when he reformed Bad Company in 2008--is excited to join the band: "As a long time fan of Heaven & Earth it is an honor to have the opportunity to play with them. The Dig album simply blows my mind," says Lynn.
Established B3 player/first-class keyboardist and founding member of the award-winning progressive jazz duo Ego Band USA, Ty Bailie brings his exceptional talents to HEAVEN & EARTH. Ty's diverse talent and love of all things music has lead to him performing with a myriad of musical icons including: Steve Cropper (Booker T. and the M.G.'s), Kenny Burrell, Peter Frampton, Robbie Robertson (Bob Dylan, the Band), Wanda Jackson, Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses), Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Ann Wilson (Heart), Ace Frehley (KISS), Counting Crows, Soundgarden, Yes and Tool, among others.
HEAVEN & EARTH connected strongly with music audiences on their 17-date European tour, garnering strong reviews along the way. The band will return to Europe next year when they play the Vasby Festival in Stockholm, Sweden July 17-28, 2015.
HEAVEN & EARTH's last album Dig (released this past April on Quarto Valley Records) was produced by Dave Jenkins--who's turned the knobs for everyone from Metallica to Tower of Power---and features special guests Howard Leese (Heart, Paul Rodgers), Richie Sambora(Bon Jovi) and David Paich (Toto). HEAVEN & EARTH's music comes together explosively on the album's first single "No Money, No Love"and its controversial video which has logged over 500,000 view and can be viewed here: http://tinyurl.com/cdopr5d. Click here to stream Dig.
About HEAVEN & EARTH:
The origins of HEAVEN & EARTH align the band's founder and visionary, Stuart Smith, with a rich lineage of rock's most celebrated musicians. Kelly Hansen (Foreigner), Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow) and Kelly Keeling (King Kobra) all fronted the band at various junctures. Guitarists Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi) and Howard Leese (Heart, Paul Rodgers), singer and bassist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Country Communion), bassist Steve Priest (Sweet) and drummer Carmine Appice (Jeff Beck Group/Vanilla Fudge/Rod Stewart), among others, have each contributed their extraordinary talents to HEAVEN & EARTH's first two albums: Heaven & Earth Featuring Stuart Smith(1994) and Windows to the World (2000). HEAVEN & EARTH's groundbreaking debut album, Heaven & Earth Featuring Stuart Smith, is considered a cult classic and brought Smith to the forefront of the guitar elite being compared in the press to Deep Purple's RitchieBlackmore, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page and garnering Smith the award for "Best Guitarist" and "Best New CD" for three years running at the Los Angeles All Access Music Awards. In the summer of 2012, the guitarist set out to mold HEAVEN & EARTH into a world-class recording and touring band which led to the recording of their new album Dig and now the future has never looked brighter for the band.
Purchase Dig online here: heavenandearthband.com/store/
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