Vast Conduit – “Always Be There” (Vast Music Counduit, 2022)
An excellent new progressive rock band from California called Vast Conduit has released a masterfully crafted album titled featuring “Always Be There”. The group is the project of keyboardist and vocalist Bill Jenkins, best known for his work with progressive rock band Enchant and prog metal act Thought Chamber. “Always Be There” is scheduled for release on February 16, 2022.
This recording features exquisite, straight-ahead progressive rock with skillful jazz fusion elements featuring stellar and epic electric guitar, masterful symphonic keyboards, and soaring violin work. The vocals sometimes remind me of the great New York prog band IZZ featuring a mix of male and female vocals. A couple of tracks head in unexpected direction like a feel good jazz piece and an AOR song.
The concept of the album is doing whatever we can to build and cherish all parent/child relationships, irrespective of circumstance. Bill elaborates: “The songs ‘Always Be There’ and also ‘Early Eclipse’ convey the main message of the album. The release date is the 40th anniversary of my father’s passing, which set in motion a path through life and philosophy described by the songs on the album. I had the basic song ideas in place for almost all of these songs sitting around for years and it was simply time to finally make it all happen.”
Although the project started as an EP, it grew into a superb, full album. He recruited a wonderful cast of talented musicians: guitar maestro Michael Harris (Arch Rival, Thought Chamber, Darkology, Michael Harris Tranz-Fusion); drummer Will Jenkins (Ghost and the City, Great Wall); bassist Jeff Plant (Thought Chamber) on electric and fretless bass; violinist Jim Hurley (Ritchie Blackmore, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Ancient Future); and a great versatile male vocalist called Friel.
Guests include Bert Lams (California Guitar Trio); Bill’s brother, Tom Abraira on trumpet on the track “Philly Etymology”; Manon Roem on vocals; and Betsy Walter on vocals.
The digital album is available from https://vastconduit.bandcamp.com/releases and you cans also preorder a physical CD from https://www.vastconduit.com
I’m going to have to listen to this a few times. I hear hints of Yes, Ambrosia, Kansas, and others in there. It is Quite the accomplishment to put together a recording of this quality.