THOM JAYNE: The Forgotten Conquest

Thom Jayne

The Forgotten Conquest

© 2002 Zamas K (783707478920)

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John Lennon Songwriters Award for "Moroccan Blues." Received the WYCE Jammie Award for "Best Local WorldBeat CD of 2002." Ranked #13 on national playlist by New Age Recorder, February 2003. Evocative mix of world, new age, and jazz.

tracks

1 Moroccan Blues
2 The Forgotten Conquest
3 Saharan Caravan
4 Trail of Tears
5 The Magician
6 A Moment in Time
7 Coronado's Dream
8 A Night in Addis
9 View from a Hammock
10 Convergence (Saharan Reprise)

notes

"No longer can the seemingly eccentric styles of jazz be dismissed as mere caprice, for its practitioners have succeeded in realizing their own unique and magnetic presence...Thom Jayne and the Unusual Suspects, aptly titled, are poster children for this form of jazz fusion. Not only does this award-winning group employ such unorthodox instruments as the didgeridoo and Native American flute, but with the help of African percussion as well, MSU professor Thom Jayne fashions a fascinating blend of flamenco, Latin Jazz, and Celtic musical traditions" -- Jonas Greenberg, host of the Jazz Spectrum, The Impact 88.9 FM, Lansing, Michigan.

"A fabulous album" -- Dan Bayer, Music for a New Age, WKAR FM, East Lansing.

"Thom Jayne qualifies as a local artist for us but, honestly, I'd play 'The Forgotten Conquest' if it came from Bosnia. Simply, a disc with bite in an often sleepy genre" -- Matt Jerrells, Music Director, WYCE, Grand Rapids

"Very fresh, and fabulous instrumentation" -- Kathleen Monahan, KDM Promotion

**********

Thom Jayne has recently emerged on the alternative music scene with a hard-to-categorize blend of world music, flamenco, Latin classical, and jazz sounds. His first release, The Forgotten Conquest, has received award-winning recognition in the John Lennon Songwriters Contest, won the 2002 Jammie Award/World Beat category, and was recently featured on Dan Bayer's "Music for a New Age." Jayne, who plays guitar and digeridoo -- sometimes at the same time -- is part of the 'Unusual Suspects' (formerly the 'Free Radicals' until a band in Houston that trademarked the name threatened to sue) featuring:

Rich Illman - trumpet and percussion
Rebeca Garcia Ardis - violin
Heather Kulaga - bass
Jon Weber - percussion and thumb piano
Michael Pelham - keyboards
Steve Wulff - drums

Their live acts are noted for their upbeat, foot-stomping originals, and their primal renditions of popular tunes like "2001 Space Odyssey" and Miles Davis' "So what".

After performing and recording with the band 'Pariah' on the east coast in the late 1970s, Jayne sold everything, joined the Peace Corps, and moved to the jungles of Ghana in West Africa at 24. Several of the compositions on "The Forgotten Conquest" were conceived during his two-year stay in a small village there. Now a professor at Michigan State University, Jayne travels four times a year to places such as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zambia, and is currently collaborating with the Zambian pop star, Ballard Zulu, in a compilation of African beat-flamenco inspired compositions.

More information? email: jayne@msu.edu

reviews

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  • beyond awesome!!
    author: Kim Alexander

    I saw Thom Jayne live. He and his band are amazing! I love driving to this CD -- it takes me away to remote vistas and distant lands. We want more!!!

  • More!
    author: D. Russell

    Phenomenal piece of work! The depth and artistry of this compilation flows through you anew each time you listen. So fulfilling, yet it leaves you yearning for more. I can't wait for their next release.

  • Inspired Arangements
    author: Packer Jon

    Defines world music-not just for the internationality of sound but for the expansive imagery it evokes for me. Has obviously been inspired by early live work with Tappan Zee playing to keen, discerning audiences. From the immediacy of the strings to the haunting horns, it is a sound which cannot be relegated to simple backround music. It calls to the immagination.

  • WOW
    author: Kim Dyer

    Some of the best, most interesting work I've heard in years. This is a highly innovative combinataion of international influences. It's not only one of the best "independent" albums I've heard in a long time, it's one of the best albums PERIOD.

  • The music is a great mix of instrumentation, both common and uncommon.
    author: Rhonda Sebert

    I would seriously recommend this CD to any one. Thom Jayne did a great job in arranging and playing on this CD. The more I listen to this the farther away I am taken each time. It really is a gem!!

  • The more I hear the cd,,,the more I love it.
    author: Jerry Mitchell

    When I first heard the cd,,,Iloved it,,,,and the more I listen to it, I love it even more. The sound quality, and mix/ mastering is fantastic. A real jewel indeed. Jerry Mitchell Sandburr studio/ Culver, IN

  • Awesome - music for the soul.
    author: Fred Armand - Lost Chord Melodies, Inc.

    I first met Thomas in an airplane heading out of Nairobi, Kenya. We discussed music for the entire flight. I loved the CD when it was in its infancy and love it even more now. Order this CD and when you are listening to it - close your eyes and DREAM.

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