Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Eddie Jobson Embarks On First Solo Tour

Eddie Jobson, who's played keyboards and violin with U.K., Roxy Music, Frank Zappa and Jethro Tull, will perform his first ever solo concerts in August with an impressive band of players to back him. Eddie Jobson’s U-Z Project is scheduled for a series of exclusive East Coast and Midwest summer dates on the Ultimate Zero Tour:

August 17 - Jammin' Java, Washington DC
August 18 - B.B. Kings, New York, NY
August 19 - Regent Theatre, Boston, MA
August 20 - North Star, Philadelphia, PA
August 21 - Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH
August 22 - Martyrs, Chicago, IL

As keyboardist, electric violinist, co-founder, producer, and principal writer of U.K., a group he formed with drummer Bill Bruford (Yes, Genesis, King Crimson), singer/bassist John Wetton (King Crimson, Asia), and then-unknown guitar phenom Allan Holdsworth, Jobson's studio and live concert performances have been described as "stunning" and "dazzling.'

Jobson was previously known as the teenage rock prodigy with the early Roxy Music, and as Frank Zappa's right-hand man on both keyboards and electric violin - replacing both Jean Luc Ponty and George Duke at the age of 21.

After appearing on some 60 albums with many of the rock/fusion genre's top musicians, Jobson retired from both studio and live performance for more than 20 years until a recent unannounced appearance in Russia with King Crimson.

Now, Eddie has formed two new projects based on his original U.K. concept: UKZ, a five-piece contemporary rock band, currently receiving rave reviews for their Radiation EP and recent concert tour of Japan; and the newly-announced U-Z Project, an instrumental band of virtuosos from around the world, including Michael Jackson's former guitarist Greg Howe; stick player Michael Bernier (Stick Men); and two world renowned drummers, German drumming sensation Marco Minnemann (UKZ), and British drum legend Simon Phillips (Peter Gabriel, Jeff Beck, Mick Jagger, Toto).

Critics raved after witnessing UKZ’s “One City World Tour” debut concert in New York last January. Calling it “an auspicious beginning indeed, Daily Variety said “Jobson's crew proved to be well stocked in both the brawn and brain departments.” JazzTimes marveled at how this “chops-heavy” band “delivered the goods” with “blistering licks and well-orchestrated bombast.” Added TimeOut New York: “UKZ fuses technical flamboyance with the post-industrial crunch of Nine Inch Nails and Tool.”

Given Jobson's reputation as a musicians' musician, and the high caliber of his previous associations and collaborations (a list that includes Frank Zappa, Ian Anderson, Robert Fripp, Phil Collins, John Entwistle, Tony Levin, Bill Bruford, Terry Bozzio, Steve Hackett, Trey Gunn, Jon Anderson, Allan Holdsworth, Adrian Belew, and many others), it is not surprising that the upcoming U.S. tour would include such an impressive lineup of players. For more information, go to www.ukzband.com and www.eddiejobson.com.

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