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Sean Malone is known by many as the bassist from the technical progressive band Cynic. Since that group's disbanding in 1994, Sean has appeared on many recordings, including the Rush tribute Working Man and the Guitars That Rule the World 2 CD, and now his first solo CD Cortlandt.
Cortlandt, like the source from which its' name comes, is a collection of pieces that represent a larger whole. The CD is not only a technical tour de force of Sean's bass and Stick playing, it is also a glimpse of his compositional diversity; a sum of the influences on his writing style. Drawing from influences as disparate as the harmonic depth of Coltrane, to the contrapuntal independance of Bach, to the progressive indulgences of King Crimson, Sean offers eight pieces that are not purely one style or another, they are in combination with his own compositional voice.
The CD highlights his virtuosity on bass and Chapman Stick - a 12 string tapping instrument that has a range similar to a piano. Many of the chording and melody playing in pieces such as Fisher's Gambit and At Taliesin may be confused with a guitar when in fact it is the Stick.
Joining him on drums is his former bandmate from Cynic, Sean Reinert, legendary in the underground technical metal scene for his speed and agility, showing the breadth of his skills in this 'progressive fusion' setting. On guitar is Bob Bunin, a veteran of fusion and bebop bands, adding his 'full compass' style of playing. The two guests on Cortlandt are known the world over for their work with King Crimson and David Bowie: Trey Gunn and Reeves Gabrels.
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