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EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Nicholas Llerandi – ‘Cracked’

I’ve noted a couple of times in the past year about the immense skill and talent of guitarist Nicholas Llerandi (Ever Forthright, Stimpy Lockjaw). His playing blends a masterful

10 years ago

Llerandi Poster

I’ve noted a couple of times in the past year about the immense skill and talent of guitarist Nicholas Llerandi (Ever Forthright, Stimpy Lockjaw). His playing blends a masterful technicality with a keen sense of composition and form. So it comes as no surprise that Llerandi is releasing a solo EP, nor that it continues the more jazz fusion-y direction of Stimpy Lockjaw and goes further into straight-up jazz. What is surprising is that Llerandi will be donating a significant amount of sales from the album to charity in support of children and the arts. Learn more about this and hear some exclusive new material from the album after the jump!

For those who cannot watch, Llerandi will be donating all money from first-week sales of his upcoming solo album to the International Child Arts Foundation, a highly reputable children’s charity that seeks to enrich and empower children around the world through the arts. That means any purchases made through Llerandi’s Bandcamp page between the day of its release on April 14th and April 21st will go directly to the ICAF. Additionally, from today to April 14th, any album pre-sales past $1,500 will also be donated to ICAF.

Sounds great, right? But what about the music itself? We are very pleased to be able to present to you all two tracks from the EP, ‘Memphis’ and ‘Cracked.’ Llerandi released ‘Memphis’ a few weeks back via Youtube, but if you haven’t heard that yet definitely take a listen to that as well.

What is there even to say about these? The same sense of groove and brilliant playing that defined much of Stimpy Lockjaw is here in spades, which makes sense given that several members of the group are featured throughout the EP. Though the heavier elements are stripped, there is still a very strong progressive fusion energy flowing through here. Where ‘Memphis’ is smooth and enticing though, ‘Cracked’ is choppy and momentous, swelling to an addictively head-nodding conclusion. Though these both are largely improvisational, not enough can be said about the adventurous songwriting from Llerandi that forms the spine of these tracks.

And as if that wasn’t enough, Nick has also shared a drum playthrough of ‘Cracked’ from Stimpy drummer Zach Marks, which you can view below:

So, to sum up: great music for a great cause. Pre-order the 5-song EP now, or wait to purchase it until the first week of its release on April 14th to improve the lives of children around the world through the power of art. Either way buy this album and listen to it because it’s going to be fantastic.

-NC

Nick Cusworth

Published 10 years ago