From: Mike Flemmer <>
I just heard Niacin's latest CD, "High Bias": Billy Sheehan - Bass;
John Novello - Hammond B3, Piano; Dennis Chambers - Drums
This is a very hot jazz/rock/fusion group! Their latest CD is "High
Bias" and the first 3 tracks is some of the best rock/jazz on B3,
bass and drums I've heard in a long time! John Novello is
smokin on a B3 like their ain't no tomorrow. Billy Sheehan is
certainly one of the greatest bass players alive. On track 3,
"Slapped Silly", I thought I was listening to Chris Squire.
From: "Mark Fonda" <>
Go to http://www.borders.com/
and search for Niacin under music selections, then select one of the
albums. There are Real Audio sound samples for the first S/T album
and High Bias.
From: Mike Flemmer <>
> I had heard that High Bias had some synth from Novello on it,
unlike their excellent self-titled first album. Or is it just
hammond and piano?
Yes, Novello plays some synth ( I think a Mark 2500) and also
electric piano, I think. The occasional synth is nothing
really notable. I kept wanting him to get back on the B3!
There are also some guest artists- like Chick Corea. BTW, Niacin is
so called because niacin is vitamin B3 and Novello's fav instrument
is the Hammond B3. Now, that's a good name for a band if
there ever was one!
From: Brett Rains <>
Greetings! For some killer keyboard fusion, try the 2 releases by
Niacin. If you're not familiar with these guys, they are a trio
(keys, bass, drums) led by virtuoso bassist Billy Sheehan. (Don't let
that scare you off though--Sheehan's playing here is incredible!) All
insrumental, very Hammond intensive, & it may be fusion, but it cooks
like a mother. Great mix of rock, jazz, & prog. Start with their
first self-titled album & see what you think.
From: Gary Davis <>
> > 2: Niacin- "Deep"... A clue to all that this one is now released.
> So did they turn away from jazz based B-3 towards progrock ? This
is what I was hearing was coming ? Should I get this one in your
opinion ?
This album is very solidly in the prog rock vein! ELP fans especially
will drop their jaws when they hear this one. Much of it sounds like
a collection of lost ELP jams, and damn good ones at that. I've got a
soundbite for it up at <>
From:
Proggers-- Here's a cross-post from the Detritus newsletter--
*** L.A. ALIVE! *** by Clay Marshall -A Baked Potato chased with a
healthy dose of Niacin made for a memorable evening of music on Feb.
18. The instrumental fusion trio comprised of Hammond organist John
Novello, drummer Dennis Chambers and bass royalty Billy Sheehan gave
a jam-packed crowd at the Baked Potato Hollywood well over an hour's
worth of reasons to let the music do all the talking. It was the
official "record release party" for their new Magna Carta effort,
DEEP, available on March 7. The group performed several of the tracks
on the album, including "Best Laid Plans," but concentrated on older
material to which many in the crowd enthusiastically responded.
Chambers, whose impressive resume lists stints with George Clinton
and James Brown, again proved to be as rock-solid of a drummer as
humanly possible, as he put on a clinic of effortless and dynamic
drum acrobatics. In fact, his style often proved to be as much visual
as it was audible, something any would-be drum soloer should study.
Sheehan, the textbook definition of a monster bassist, was clearly
having a ball onstage, with an infectious enthusiasm that easily
enchanted the crowd. It was such a joy watching him onstage, smiling
while seeing him enjoy what he was doing, that it seemed he could
have brought new life to any song he tackled. What makes or breaks
Niacin to most listeners is the Hammond B-3, an instrument most music
buffs either love or hate, with very little in-between. Novello
showcased his impressive talents effortlessly, but because the
bass-organ-drums-only sound is foreign to so many ears, Niacin is
definitely not for everyone. Their fans, however, have a loyalty and
appreciation that's nothing less than, er, deep.
From: "all4rains"
<> Subject: Best Of Y2K
Niacin - "Deep" : Another goodie for all the keyboard freaks.
Excellent orgy of Hammond B-3 & one of the tightest rhythm sections
EVER. Still very jazz based, but this is their proggiest release so
far. Saw these guys here in Chicago this year & they really impressed
me. And they even pull off an instrumental Van Halen cover that
works....
From:
August Smarra <> Subject: Re: Michael West - God,
sex and money
Speaking of Niacin...I just saw Mike Stern last week at Yoshi's in
Oakland, CA. He had Dennis Chambers on drums and he just blew me
away. The new Niacin CD hasn't left my player since. Also in the band
Victor Wooten on bass and Bob Franceschini on reeds...Talk about an
Allstar Band. Sorry, no Niacin Boots.
From: "Craig Shipley" <>
Subject: RE: Michael West - God, sex and money
Dug out the Michael West CD since I hadn't heard it in a while. Guy
has a helluva mullet and one of the funkiest ear-adornments (can't
call it a "ring") I have ever seen. This is not a solo outing, as
Bill Berends Mastermind's mastermind) handles the sequencing
and Daren Shaltis is on percussion. Listening to it, I hear Rick
Wakeman (probably because he quotes a bit from "Six Wives" on the end
of "Overture From Physical Love), Keith Emerson (on "Supreme Military
Dictator") and Larry Fast ("Chords") on the title track. While the
music is very serious, it is plain to tell that he is having some fun
in spots with some of the voicing (that springy synth sound that
Emerson used in "Tarkus") and a tropical beat here and there. Overall
a good piece of electronic music that should appeal to most all the
folks here...