Instrumental Music Album Mixes Classical Chamber Music with Improvisation

SEE REVIEW: "Cool Spins"

Available May 1, 2008 on Amazon.com and iTunes

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Independent record label Mnemonic Records presents "Quintets" - an instrumental album of original music by Paul James de Benedictis, featuring string quartet, the improvisational work of noted piano virtuosos Ralph Grierson and Michael Lang, jazz pioneer Jeff Lorber, and a variety of soloists including such luminaries as Sussan Deyhim, Branford Marsalis, and Paul McCandless.

The music was composed over several years, with some of the pieces being specifically written for the soloists. In "Prelude" the composition contains musical collaboration with singer Sussan Deyhim contributing vocal improvisations that were then arranged by Paul de Benedictis to form the complete work. On two of the compositions, "Il Lago" (The Lake) and "Remember," Paul's boyhood friends who he grew up with in the 1960's, perform: John Knox on piano and Matt Eakle, a 20-year veteran of the famed David Grisman Quintet, on flute.

"Quintets" is mixed and presented in both stereo CD and surround formats. The package includes a DVD with Dolby Digital and DTS surround versions, along with audiophile-quality 96k 24-bit stereo. DVD-Audio 96k 24-bit disks will also be available through this website. (more...)

Aliquot Piano Solos

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Independent record label Mnemonic Records has also released the 20th anniversary reissue of "Power of One," an album of original solo piano compositions by Paul James de Benedictis performed on his 1889 Bluthner grand piano.

The release is offered as a CD, re-mastered from the original analog master tapes, and as a DVD, with a surround mix that places the piano in a 'small concert hall sound-scape' for an alternative listening experience. The "Power of One" DVD contains audiophile-quality 96k 24-bit stereo, along with the surround mixes in Dolby Digital and DTS formats. (more...)

Available May 1, 2008 on Amazon.com and iTunes

Instrumental Rock

SEE REVIEW: "BlogCritics"

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Independent record label Mnemonic Records released its first title “The Wilted” in 2007 — an instrumental rock album from the band of the same name. Hailing from the heart of Silicon Valley in Menlo Park, California, the band recorded the album during their first few weeks of summer after high school was out. Lead guitarist Julien de Benedictis wrote nine of the instrumentals, including the opening opus “Way Too Late,” while rhythm guitarist Trevor White brought “Make It My Own” to the project. Chris Holyoake rounds out the band manning the drums. (more...)

Check out "The Wilted" at CD Baby and GarageBand.com