Finally! Progress! - posted 2.8.2013My New Year's resolution was (and is) to work diligently on my third release, entitled "Blatant Thievery". Five years ago, I began and failed. Repeat that three times, add a couple of computer crashes and here we are! I've officially completed the first of thirteen songs.
There may be more production involved but I think now is as good a time as any to crack a beer, crank the volume and bow the walls. It's a techno tune. It's the ONLY techno tune that will be on this recording, so soak it up and get it out of your system. The rest of the material is for fans of the avante ;-)
The Meters Experience - posted 6.25.2011I recently had the honor of opening for The Meters Experience (Leo Nocentelli, CR Gruver, Bill Dickens and Jamal Batiste). My deepest thanks go out to band leader
Robert Hynes for inviting me to perform with him as well as my friends and family who came to hear us play. The Montrose Room is a beautiful venue and their sound system is stellar!
Video of the first few songs from our opening time slot is available
here. Now that I know more about the acoustics there, I can prepare more equipment to capture a full-length live performance. Robert Hynes has two recordings that are sale-ready and I'm sure that a live video would be icing on the cake.
The Meters Experience can be heard performing today (6.25.2011) at the Green Music Festival in Wicker Park. Drummer Jamal Batiste was kind enough to text me some info for a little backstage socializing. This marks another great moment in my already blessed and fortunate career!
Music, Travel And Code - posted 11.2.2010My electronic project is still in the works and I'll be flexing an effort toward it's development in coming weeks. I have a personal formula for how I'm approaching each individual track that involves blatant thievery (smirk). Keep checking back for the latest preview material!
Meanwhile, I'm traveling frequently to Cincinnati in an effort to coordinate a new project led by one Mr. Andrew Scorti. The new band, code named "
Hometown Statistic", is set to record a demo on November 10th. My intention to visit friends while there remains, so be in touch!
Alternate priorities in my life, such as a template system for this website that other bands can make use of, are on pause while I get through upcoming holiday chaos. I've yet to perfect the prototype that you're currently viewing. Once finished, I'll begin constructing a code generator for others to incorporate.
Raw Material Available - posted 10.9.2010I'm opting to occasionally post raw DEMO material from my next release in video format. The album, currently entitled "Blatant Thievery", features Robert Hynes, Nate Lepine and Wes Cichosz amongst others. Dig in!
Brian Schwab Saves The Day - posted 9.15.2010I want to take a moment to thank trumpet player and studio extraordinaire
Brian Schwab for his outstanding professionalism.
In 2005 I recorded a jazz CD (my latest to date). Brian's mastering services are what made it marketable. Immediately after completion, I began sifting through internet resources to sell it on a per-order basis. At that time my options were minimal, so I opted to use
CafePress.
Before signing up, I contacted them to find out as much as I could about their manufacturing process. My understanding of digital media was that it was exactly that: digital, meaning zeros and ones, a completely lossless format. The man on the other end of the phone plainly stated that they use a "bit-for-bit method to insure an exact clone of the master recording".
I didn't know enough about it then but he was lying. Compact discs are not quite as digital as one might think. Rather, they are a smaller, more "electrified" version of what old school vinyl used to be. I blindly trusted CafePress and sent them my master copy fully aware that I would NOT be getting it back (they destroy all master copies).
Hop into a
Delorean and grab yourself 1.21 gigawatts of five-years-wiser and you've got a very concerned, albeit sexier version of myself. My thoughts as of recent were that I need to have a lossless, file-based (wav or aiff) copy of my project for future production and changes to the media environment. Brian, after five years, still had those files and was more than willing to deliver.
Thank you, my friend!
Drummer/composer Robin Dean brings a rare light to Chicago's independent music scene. Dean's original composition presents a familiar improvisational platform with a unique vigor. Transforming ideas into music, he demonstrates a bold and creative style. Fine-tuned orchestrations, unbound improvisation and an adventurous approach are all part of Dean's distinctive feel.
A jazz and studio performance graduate of the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, Dean's repertoire hints of influences from a variety of composers and genres. Intrepid drumming, angular bass lines, rich harmonic textures and lyrical melodies nod to the popular works of Miles Davis, Bill Evans and John Mclaughlin. Modern artists including Kenny Garrett, Bela Fleck and Amon Tobin are entitled to Dean's avante respects.
Dean's debut fusion recording features four prominent musicians. Guitarist Moto Makino (Los Lobos, Sugar Blue) delivers extraordinary virtuous sound. Eric Levy (Fareed Haque, Garaj Mahal) opens chordal doorways on keyboards. Chris Clemente's (Kick the Cat, Amazing Headgear) bass shows no mercy, careening listeners toward the stage. Novelty and proficiency are Dean's percussive power on drums. Their talents meld an elaborate tonal palette.
Dean's latest release, "Shadows Need Light", introduces newcomers Chris Madsen on saxophone, Paul Mutzabaugh on piano and Jon Wegge on upright bass. Recorded for the sheer pleasure of traditional jazz, this ensemble exudes pure spirit. Each soloist glides seamlessly through robust kinetic aesthetics. Under the assisted production of Wes Cichosz, this recording will mark its place in time.
New projects evolve under Dean's name. His most recent is in the electronica genre, featuring over thirty-five Chicago musicians. MIDI programming, samplers, outboard effects and turntable guru DJ X-Ray (Ang13) amount to an energizing experience of thunderous proportions. Dean himself is responsible for the performance, recording and production of this sonic extravaganza which is anticipated for release in coming months.
Dean has shared the stage with major artists Victor Wooten, Charlie Hunter, Stanley Jordan, The Aquarium Rescue Unit, Billy Cobham and Jazz-is-Dead, Big Ass truck and Colonel Bruce Hampton. His band has performed at Chicago's Elbo Room, Lyon's Den, The Mutiny, Quenchers Saloon and Northern Illinois University. Nationwide promotions and touring are in Dean's upcoming plans.
A lively artistic presence, organized commercial appeal and active networking are Robin Dean's trademarks. Dean is also a member of Chicago's Alpha Artist Alliance promotional collaborative. Clubs booking Dean will experience an incendiary spark of affiliated bands and music-seekers. At the forefront of Chicago's independent music scene, Dean's connections will catalyze a club's promotional success.
