Anyone know these groups?

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by Yesspaz

I was doing some research here and there on the web and was wondering if anyone has albums by any of these artists. If so, what do you think of them?

Kazumi Watanabe
Los Straitjackets
Nexus
Pelican
Red Sparowes
Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet
The Mercury Program
Tribal Tech

Kazumi Watanabe has been active since the early 70's. His early records were shredders, but if you like your fusion, he's the MAN. He has two records in the late 80's called "the Spice of Life" and "The Spice of Life Too". I have them both, and they should be on the Moon (if they're not). I'll get them up if they're not.

Both records have Kazumi with Bill Bruford and Jeff Berlin....the second adds peter Vettesse in keys (from the early 80's Tull). Now THAT's a lineup! Great stuff. Of late, he's more and more jazz. I also have "Mo Bop", which I played once on the show. It's awesome.

My friend from high school who lives in Japan has interviewed him, and says he's the nicest man he's ever met. One time when I saw Bill Bruford's Earthworks, we saw bruford unloading his bus hours before the show. Someone asked him "How's ol Kazumi Watanabe doing"

Nexus is proggy, but they sound a lot like Rush. Power keys and heavily guitared with a sexy female lead singer. My sister has Metanoia (second record). They were band one on day two of Nearfest. The program says they opened up for IQ in Buenos Aires. Not sure what they're up to now.

Tribal tech is Scott McGill, Vic Stevens, and I think Michael Manring. Fusion shredding type of stuff.

Others I'm not familiar with.