CAROLINA BEACH, NC (Top40 Charts/ Glass Onyon PR) - Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Gregg Rolie, best known for his vocals and keyboard work with legendary music groups
Santana and Journey, has caused a flurry of excitement amongst the music press with the release of his latest CD 'Rain Dance'. This live CD captures Gregg and his all-star band performing at the Sturgis
Motorcycle Rally in 2007. The music press and fans alike have been raving about the new CD and have even compared Rolie's band to that of the original
Santana group, in which Rolie was a founding member.
"The reviews have been great," says Gregg. "The band and I are anxious to get out on the road and play as many cities as possible in 2010, 2011, 2012 and so on..."
'Rain Dance' features electrifying versions of several Santana classics such as :"Evil Ways", "Black Magic Woman" "Soul Sacrifice", "Jingo" and "No One To Depend On" as well as tracks from Rolie's previous effort 'Roots' and new songs. The Gregg Rolie Band consists of founding Santana member Michael Carabello on Congas, Adrian Areas (son of original Santana percussionist Jose Chepito Areas) on Timbales, drummer Ron Wikso (who was also in The Storm), Kurt Griffey on guitars, internationally acclaimed bassist, Chapman Stick artist and Santana alumni Alphonso Johnson and former Jean Luc Ponty keyboardist Wally Minko.
Here's what the music press have been saying about 'Rain Dance':
"To call Gregg Rolie a musical legend is a ridiculous understatement. After all, this is a man who co-founded not one, but two legendary rock bands: the astounding, rock/Latin fusion of Santana and the greatest melodic-rock band ever, Journey. Songs like 'No One To Depend On', 'Gypsy Queen' and 'Oye Como Va' are among the most life-affirming music ever. Works of pure emotion - particularly with a band this good - still cause a shiver to run down my spine after all this time. A couple of tracks from the 'Roots' album slot in seamlessly beside the older material as well. Rolie is still in fine voice and the album overall is an absolute treat." - Andrew Dodge, Blog Critics
"At times, 'Rain Dance' comes across as the worlds best Santana tribute band, and in fact, there were numerous times I thought I was listening to an old Santana live recording from 1971. It's that close to the real thing folks. Also splattered in are a few tunes from Rolie's 2001 solo release 'Roots'. With his swirling Hammond, the layered Latin percussion, Johnson's tasty bass grooves, and Griffey's frightening Santana-ish guitar licks, these tunes sound so close to late '60s/early '70s Santana that it's scary." - Peter Pardo, Sea of Tranquility
"You can take Gregg Rolie out of Latin groove but you can't take Latin groove out of Gregg Rolie whose live band are possessed with the same excitement devils that made his appearance at Woodstock, as Carlos Santana's ensemble's singer and organist, such a storming success. Their smash, 'Soul Sacrifice', is here in all its glory - there's Rolie's old compadre Mike Carabello on congas, opening the proceedings with 'Jingo', alongside two other drummers - as well as other classics including the immortal pairing of Peter Green's 'Black Magic Woman' and Gabor Szabo's 'Gypsy Queen' that sound as fresh as four decades ago when Gregg's star was beginning to rise." - Dimitry Epstein, Let It Rock
'The band is great, because we all really enjoy each other and I think the sound reflects the fun we are having," Gregg recently told Voices of Latin Rock. "We subtitle the band; 'Santana- the way you remember it' And at that gig in New York recently, we had half of the original Santana, that's about the closest you're ever gonna' get, to seeing that band together again! Michael Shrieve came down and sat in and it was fantastic! He is such a lyrical player and he makes me smile when he would do a certain thing or a fill and I'd remember his playing style, very much on the jazzier end but just so stylish. Ron Wikso my regular drummer is heavier and a real solid player too.'
Gregg Rolie 'Rain Dance' CD is available through CD Baby. For more information visit the official website: www.greggrolie.com
