GOTAN PROJECT, ZERO 7, JOSE GONZALEZ AND SIA MAKE THEIR HOLLYWOOD BOWL DEBUTS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2006, AT 7 PM
Media Sponsor: KCRW
Innovative forerunners of electronic music Gotan Project, Zero 7, and Matthew Herbert, perform at the Hollywood Bowl as part of the KCRW World Festival series on August 27 at 7 p.m. Hosted by KCRW on-air personality Jason Bentley, this is the fifth of six concerts that comprise the KCRW World Festival, now in its seventh year at the Hollywood Bowl.
Gotan Project's cosmopolitan blend of authentic tango and sublime electronic beats has garnered worldwide affection. Their highly anticipated 2006 release, Lunático, arrives five years after their notable debut La Revancha del Tango. Lunático, named after tango icon Carlo Gardel's champion racehorse of the 1930s, was recorded in Buenos Aires and Paris, reflecting not only the French-Argentinean musical relationship, but also that of Gotan Project's key members, Parisians Philippe Cohen Solal and Christoph H. Meuller, and Argentinean Eduardo Makaroff. With a decidedly stronger emphasis on the more organic roots of tango, Lunático breaks new ground while preserving old traditions. For this performance at the Bowl, the band features additional string instruments, as well as extensive production created especially for this venue.
UK-based duo Zero 7 is sowing the seeds of The Garden for their current North American tour, supporting their critically celebrated third album. Hailed by KCRW programmer Nic Harcourt as "an instant classic," The Garden has received unprecedented praise both in the U.S. and around the world. People commends Zero 7 for creating "a perfectly chilled-out ambience by imbuing the atmospheric surroundings on The Garden with a human warmth." Entertainment Weekly praises the album as "an optimistic vision that, as the title suggests, aims to conjure its own Eden." Performing with Zero 7 is long-time collaborator Sia, who added her mesmerizing drawl to The Garden as well as Zero 7's debut album Simple Things.
Also performing with Zero 7 and in his own set at the top of the show is Argentinean-born Swedish troubadour José González. He also lends his vocals - part João Gilberto, part Nick Drake - to four tracks on Zero 7's The Garden, and beguiles listeners with poetic finger-picked acoustic guitar playing and achingly emotional melodies. Already a star in his native land, González has been steadily gaining a loyal stateside following since his 2005 debut release, Veneer. Uncut says of González, "Mentioning a new artist in the same breath as Nick Drake has become shorthand for anyone with an acoustic guitar who favors melancholy restraint. Such a comparison, however, only hints at the talents of José González. The Swedish singer-songwriter marries Drake's mournful minimalism to deftly picked, Latino guitar. The results - melodic purity, a mesmeric rhythmic drive and stark emotionalism - are extraordinary."
Matthew Herbert, one of Britain's most inventive and prolific electronic composers, opens the show with his inventive jazz-tronic sound. With his new album Scale, Herbert addresses all of his musical identities, from jazz and house, to techno and avant-garde collages.
The KCRW World Festival concludes on Sunday, September 10, with country music legend Willie Nelson joined by alt-country roots-rocker Ryan Adams and singer/songwriter Neko Case.
JOSE GONZÁLEZ is a top-ten chart artist and revered troubadour figure in Sweden. Using just his own dexterously finger-picked classical guitar and captivating voice, José's music is as economical as it is seductive; stark but effortlessly melodious songwriting whose confessional, gently provocative lyrics (all sung in perfect English) are, by turns, poignant, intriguing and life-affirming. With a career only launched in earnest just few years ago, Gonázelez's accomplishments already include an opening slot for the Dalai Lama, a No. 1 U.K. ringtone, and a Sony Bravia TV commercial.
GOTAN PROJECT, Philippe Cohen Solal, Christoph H. Muller, and Eduardo Makaroff, released Lunático five years after breaking new ground in tango and electronica with their debut, La Revancha Del Tango, now having sold in excess of a million copies worldwide. With a decidedly stronger emphasis on the more organic roots of tango, almost to a classical level, Lunático has taken one step backwards in order to move two steps forward in what not only the Gotan Project, but also many of Argentina's top tango musicians, see as the progression of their beloved music's ever-evolving lifespan.
MATTHEW HERBERT's latest album, Scale, is his most accessible and mellifluous song collection to date. In making Scale, Herbert used 723 objects, all cleverly photographed for the record's packaging, that lay subversively below the smooth surface of soulful pop, luxuriant jazz and sumptuous house rhythms. Similar to his last full-length release, Plat Du Jour, Scale is a political concept album, but is subtle and playful - soulful pop made with integrity, intelligence and invention.
SIA's name may not be familiar to millions, but her voice undoubtedly is. Her song "Breathe Me" was featured in the unforgettable final scene of the Six Feet Under series finale, and on the Six Feet Under: Everything Ends, Music from the HBO Original Series - Vol. 2 soundtrack. Sia is also recognized for her work with Zero 7. She added her haunting vocals to two tracks on their Simple Things album, and four tracks on The Garden: "The Pageant of the Bizarre," "You're My Flame," "If I Can't Have You" and "Throw It All Away."
ZERO 7, Sam Hardaker and Henry Binns, released their third album, The Garden, in June. Recorded mainly in Somerset countryside, at Henry's home studio, The Garden was written and produced by Zero 7 and mixed with Phill Brown, (Brian Eno/Talk Talk). Some recording was also done at The Hospital studio in London with Nigel Godrich. This album sees Zero 7 take a more playful, sunny, upbeat musical direction, while still maintaining their trademark sound. José González is featured on the tracks "Futures," "Left Behind," "Today" and a reworking of "Crosses" from his own album, Veneer.
One of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a seating capacity of nearly 18,000, the HOLLYWOOD BOWL has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922, and in 1991 gave its name to the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, a resident ensemble that has filled a special niche in the musical life of Southern California. The 2004 season introduced audiences to a revitalized Hollywood Bowl, featuring a newly-constructed shell and stage and the addition of four stadium screens enhancing stage views in the venue. To this day, $1 buys a seat at the top of the Bowl for many of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's concerts. While the Bowl is best known for its sizzling summer nights, during the day California's youngest patrons enjoy "SummerSounds: Music for Kids at the Hollywood Bowl," the Southland's most popular summer arts festival for children, now in its 37th season. Attendance figures over the past several decades have soared: in 1980 the Bowl first topped the half-million mark and close to one million admissions have been recorded. In February 2005, the Hollywood Bowl was named Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue at the 16th Annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards; it is no wonder that the Bowl's summer music festival has become as much a part of a Southern California summer as beaches and barbecues, the Dodgers, and Disneyland.
EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27 at 7 PM
HOLLYWOOD BOWL, 2301 N. Highland Ave. in Hollywood
In order of appearance
HERBERT
ZERO 7 - SIA & JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ
GOTAN PROJECT
Jason Bentley, host
Media sponsor: KCRW
Tickets ($5 - 93) are on sale now at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office, by calling Ticketmaster at 213.480.3232, at all Ticketmaster outlets (Robinsons May, Tower Records and Ritmo Latino locations), or online at HollywoodBowl.com. Groups of 12 or more may be eligible for a 20% discount, subject to availability; call 323.850.2050 for further details. For general information or to request a brochure, call 323.850.2000.
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Adam Crane, 213.972.3034; Lisa Bellamore, 213.972.3689; For photos: 213.972.3034