Dukes Of The Orient - Seasons Will Change

What do you get when you match a Brit from London who loves American AOR with an American from California who grew up on British Prog? DUKES OF THE ORIENT is the masterful pairing of vocalist John Payne (ex-ASIA, GPS) with keyboardist Erik Norlander (LAST IN LINE, LANA LANE) who now present their eponymous debut album, ten years in the making. Payne’s powerful arena-seasoned vocals carry soaring melodies and lush harmonies over the sea of classic synthesizers and keyboards artfully painted with Norlander’s signature sonic palette.

The two are backed by a world-renown ensemble of top musicians including Jeff Kollman, Guthrie Govan, Moni Scaria and Bruce Bouillet on guitar and Jay Schellen on drums. Payne provides bass guitar and additional lead and rhythm guitar parts to complete the audiophile production. The album was mixed on a traditional analog console to preserve and enhance the natural depth, clarity and soul of the tracks with great care taken to avoid over-compression, extreme equalization and distortion.

DUKES OF THE ORIENT has its origins in 2007 as “ASIA Featuring John Payne,” a band that continued on after ASIA keyboardist, Geoff Downes, left to re-form the original 1982 lineup. Payne recruited Norlander to join Guthrie Govan and Jay Schellen for tour dates in the US and initial recordings, some of which endured to appear on the DUKES OF THE ORIENT album here. Govan left the band to form THE ARISTOCRATS and was replaced by guitarist Bruce Bouillet followed by Jeff Kollman and Moni Scaria. The final lineup resulted in the track, “Seasons Will Change,” released as a video in 2013 and also now appears on the DUKES OF THE ORIENT album. Following the death of original ASIA vocalist, John Wetton, in early 2017, Payne and Norlander decided that these recordings should give birth to a new band, both out of respect for Wetton and for clarity with the Downes-led “ASIA”.

DUKES OF THE ORIENT releases their eponymous debut album with stunning cover art by Rodney Matthews on February 23, 2018 with select tour dates to follow.

Enjoy today's tune "Seasons Will Change".



More info @

Official Dukes Of The Orient Web

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Intelligent Music Project III - Sky

Stars shine more brightly

The closer I get to the sky.

Life shows politely

It’s worth livin’ when you fly

That's the first line on the brand new tune from the upcoming album "Touching The Divine" with INTELLIGENT MUSIC PROJECT III. A project featuring members like John Payne, Simon Phillips, Joseph Williams, Nathan East and Tim Pierce

"Touching The Divine" is the third studio album from Intelligent Music Project and the second all-star line-up, creating a remarkable infusion by its author and producer’s musically erudite and unconventional style, and the full creative input of the legendary musicians. The production features session aces Simon Phillips (drums and percussion), Nathan East (bass) & Tim Pierce (guitars), and the remarkable voices of John Payne (ex-ASIA) and TOTOs Joseph Williams, who bring their own flavor to all 14 equally outstanding pieces in the album.

The bands overall musicianship blends impressively with the complexity of musical arrangements, including unforgettable symphonic expansions. Matching the classic rock energy and instrumental charge with his lyrical patterns, rapt and diverse music theme development is the signature style that propels this all-star project of Milen Vrabevski, author and producer of "Touching The Divine".

INTELLIGENT MUSIC PROJECT III - featuring:

Simon Phillips - drums and percussion
Nathan East (appears courtesy of Yamaha Entertainment Group) - bass
John Payne - lead & backing vocals
Joseph Williams - lead & backing vocals
Carl Sentance - backing vocals & ad-libs, lead vocal part on track 7.
Tim Pierce - guitars
All: Invaluable full creative input!


Producer’s note:

The Icarus legend is no longer applicable if you learn to live for the others. The status of care is THE flight of your soul whose wings no heat could melt. Then you float down the mainstream of your ability to be in constant spiritual satisfaction. You would not need a fortune-teller then – you will know all the answers about your life. It becomes purposeful – an open door to understanding its meaning.

Today's tune "Sky" is the second tune out from the upcoming 3:rd album "Touching The Divine"



More info @

Official Intelligent Music Project III Web

No Spotify yet, will update up on release!

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