by Rayna Monforti | Dec 21, 2021 | News
ProgRock.com’s Essentials is excited to announce Alfonso Johnson and Chester Thompson have joined Unitopia as the band’s new powerhouse rhythm section.
Alfonso Johnson, bass (Weather Report, Santana, David Gilmour) Alphonso Johnson is an iconic musician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania whose contributions with the electric bass set the landscape of music to come. As Weather Report’s bassist, Johnson’s warm tone and fluent chops contributed to the band’s initial breakout from avant-garde into funk fusion. His playing was featured on the songs “Mysterious Traveler”, “Scarlet Woman”, and “Cucumber Slumber” which he co-wrote. Alphonso played with the group Santana and toured with saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist James Beard, drummer Rodney Holmes, and guitarist David Gilmore playing S.R.O. shows that stretched across Europe and Japan. Johnson has taught all over the world and in 2004 was appointed Adjunct Professor of Music at the University of Southern California and Part-Time Lecturer at The California Institute of The Arts.
http://www.embamba.com/
Chester Thompson, drums (Frank Zappa, Weather Report, Genesis, Phil Collins) Chester Thompson is a renowned drummer/percussionist, highly regarded for his ability to move seamlessly between multiple genres. Thompson’s known best for his work with Genesis and Phil Collins, with whom he shared the worldwide stage, as well as time in the studio, for over 30 years. Other notable legends Chester performed or recorded with include Frank Zappa, Weather Report, John Fogerty, Santana, Michael McDonald, Freddie Hubbard, Ahmad Jamal, Kirk Whalum, Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’. He had the privilege recently of recording on the 2018 Grammy Award winning CD called TajMo.
Chester just recorded his latest album, Steppin’, at Sweetwater Music as part of their Recording Workshop Series. It was released on May 1, 2019. The album features Alphonso Johnson on bass, Joe Davidian on piano and keyboards, Rod McGaha on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Tony Carpenter on percussion.
Over the past 20 years when Chester was not performing live, doing sessions, clinics, or writing, he spent his time teaching percussion lessons in the Greater Nashville Area. In addition, from 1998-2018 he served as an Adjunct Professor at the esteemed Belmont University in Nashville, TN teaching drum set.
https://chesterthompson.com/bio/
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About
ProgRock.com’s Essentials is a boutique rock label and distributer from Chicago whose first two releases were, 71319: Val Gracious / Phideaux / Steve Unruh – Live at Monforti Manor and Discipline’s Unfolded Like Staircase – The Terry Brown Mix. ProgRock.com’s Essentials recently announced Unitopia as the first band to sign onto the label.
Media Contact:
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @EssentialProg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/progrockessentials
https://essentials.progrock.com/
by Rayna Monforti | Dec 18, 2021 | News
To further establish themselves as a world-class label after two highly successful album releases, ProgRock.com’s Essentials is excited to announce the signing of the newly reformed UNITOPIA.
UNITOPIA has been a favorite of ours since we first heard them in 2006.” says Rayna Monforti, co-owner of ProgRock.com’s Essentials, “A band quite literally on the opposite side of the globe from down under, 9930 miles from Chicago. This is the first band we flew over an ocean to see. Great prog is well worth the trip!”
The tremendously creative songwriting team of Sean Timms (keyboards) and Mark Truey Trueack (vocals) have created a stellar discography with an intensely loyal worldwide following. With the expanded line-up of Steve Unruh and John Greenwood, and the addition of the soon-to-be-announced powerhouse rhythm section, UNITOPIA is hard at work on their latest epic, ‘Seven Chambers’ scheduled for release on ProgRock.com’s Essentials in mid-2022.
Look for news and updates on ProgRock.com.
About
ProgRock.com’s Essentials is a boutique rock label and distributer from Chicago whose first two releases were, 71319: Val Gracious / Phideaux / Steve Unruh – Live at Monforti Manor and Discipline’s Unfolded Like Staircase – The Terry Brown Mix.
Media Contact:
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @EssentialProg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/progrockessentials
https://essentials.progrock.com/
by Rayna Monforti | Feb 28, 2021 | DJs
Hello listeners! I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s on a strict diet of radio-friendly Pop, Rock, and R&B and then one day I learned Peter Gabriel was in Genesis, and my listening life changed forever. I grew to love progressive music and the community of fans that supported it. One thing I realized very early on in my music exploration was that all my favorite bits didn’t have any singing: I prefer when the music speaks for itself, whether that was prog or funk or metal. I went looking tor a radio show or podcast that featured the instrumental music liked, couldn’t find one, and so the good folks at progrock.com said I could have a go.
Before No Words Music, I was a co-host on the podcast Tabletop Genesis for 5 years. I am a Jersey Girl that lives in Philly, working in global healthcare analytics by day and dreaming of another Phillies World Series win in my lifetime by night.
by Rayna Monforti | Nov 8, 2020 | News
ProgRock.com Listeners,
The new ProgRock.com app for iTunes is now available! If you are an iTunes listener, you app should have automatically updated last week. If it is still not working, please remove and redownload.
Happy listening!
by Rayna Monforti | Sep 19, 2020 | DJs
“Purveyor of the Best of Prog, with a passionate enthusiasm (leaning towards the obsessive) from around the world”
Never afraid to dig into the archives and scour the world for Progressive Rock. Richard spends a big part of his retired life planning and producing his radio show ProgPhonic simply for the Love of Prog. He found Prog as a young teen listening to late night FM radio growing up in NYC. He is married to his long-time wife Deb who is also a progger attending numerous concerts and festivals. Richard grew up in the 70’s and has a love of classic prog and new prog from emerging artists.
Richard also dabbles with concert photography, fishing and believes it’s always a good time to learn something new. Richard and Deb happily split their time between Chicago and Destin, FL with their two small dogs Phoebe and Zooey. He has two married children and one grandchild. Oh and yes, he did manage to squeeze in a prog song for the father-daughter dance at his daughter’s wedding.
