Derek Sherinian - Oceana

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Derek Sherinian - Oceana

Derek Sherinian has made pure gold here with his latest release Oceana, a nine track instrumental extravaganza.
There is a notable assembly of musicians as well who play some of the finest works you will hear this year on a cd. Favouring a jazz/rock guitar fusion approach, this cd creates an energy that sets him apart and will appeal to a wide stream audience.
Collaborators on this work are Steve Lukather, Joe Bonamassa, Tony McAlpine, Steve Stevens, Simon Phillips, Doug Aldrich, Jimmy Johnson and Tony Franklin.
Five Elements opens up with a great guitar riff from McAlpine with menacing keys from Derek and scintilating drumming from Phillips, the similar formula hits the mark with the classy Mercury 7.
Lukather shows his skill on three tracks on here Mulholland, Euphoria and Seven Sins, less frenetic than the previous tracks , the playing on these tracks is sublime.  Doug Aldrich makes an appearance on the wonderful El Camino Diablo with glorious  duet sections with Derek on this track.
Bonamassa lays down a smooth blues groove on the guitar for the track I Heard That, the two BCC members clearly enjoying working together on projects, if they continue to produce results like this then I see a very fruitful musical future here.
The Satrianiesque track Ghost Runner features Franklin and Johnson on a real rocker of a track that will make a great tv/film theme if used properly. The same personnel are on the title track and very beautiful Oceana, one of the best instrumental pieces you will ever listen to , it is just exquisite.
Seven of the tracks on the cd are co-written with co-producer and top musician Simon Phillips, whose work on it is worthy of a special mention, classy drumming all the way.
Derek Sherinian has enhanced his already growing legacy as a keyboard player and songwriter with this work. There are rumours of a tour for early 2012 and if that is so then I will be attending one of those gigs.
Top marks from me for Oceana, this is going to be on my playlist for a very long time.

Oceana is released on 5th September 2011

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