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Forum Name: Welcome artists
Forum Description: Introduce yourself and tell us about you and your music
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=94106 Printed Date: November 23 2024 at 04:23 Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: CT fusion band Frank Varela & UpstreamPosted By: UpstreamJazz
Subject: CT fusion band Frank Varela & Upstream
Date Posted: June 19 2013 at 00:38
I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this, but I'm here now on ProgArchives (and plan on staying/contributing to this community, free time permitting) on behalf of an
incredible jazz-rock/fusion/blues band from Connecticut known as Upstream,
featuring Frank Varela on guitar, Bob Laramie on electric bass, and
Ricky Marshall on drums (and vocals, on occasion).
If you're from the CT area, they host an outstanding jazz open jam night every Sunday at
the Hartford Road Cafe in Manchester from 7pm to 10pm. I have been
following their music for a while now and have also developed/designed
their current website as one of my first professional projects.
I did receive permission from the band to go ahead and attempt to garner some interest in what they do, as they've been very busy playing and I figured I could help them out by making some posts on some forums.
Anyway, they have a CD out
called "Grandma's Revenge" under the name Frank Varela. In my
opinion, the CD and this band is general are one of the best kept secrets on the fusion/jazz-rock/blues scene.
Their guitarist also plays solo in what he calls his "One Man Trio", where he plays guitar with his hands, bass guitar with his toes on one foot, and tambourine with his remaining foot.
If you'd like to check out their website, it exists currently at either http://frankvarela.com" rel="nofollow - http://frankvarela.com or http://www.upstreamjazz.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.upstreamjazz.com .
I
definitely recommend them to fans of guitarists like Larry Coryell and
George Benson, and anyone who likes guitar virtuosos in general, or powerful and driving jazz-fusion jam bands.
Thank you all very much for your time. This sort of "promotion" thing isn't usually my thing but I do love prog myself and had noticed before signing up that some users here like fusion guitar playing.
P.S. - attached below are live videos of two of Frank's original songs written by him for the band as well as a video of the "One Man Trio" that I mentioned.