KDB (Kithairon Deluxe Band): PAUL HANSON & RAZE THE MAZE

The first single from Paul Hanson and Raze The Maze from their new album
"CALLIOPE" released 9.18.24. Featuring Billy Cobham, Chase Jackson, Gene Coye, Lhan Zhao, Ruslan Sirota, Haroun Serang and Eric Levy. Produced and mixed by Haroun Serang and mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge. Available at https://paulhanson1.bandcamp.com/

World renown Electric Bassoonist Paul Hanson (Jon Batiste, Billy Cobham, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones) teams up with Progressive Rock legends Raze The Maze (formerly of Moetar) with vocals by Moorea Dickason and lyrics and bass by Tarik Ragab. Fiery electric bassoon solos and riffs meet expansive, though-provoking lyrics sung by a virtuoso lead singer. You can find this album on https://paulhanson1.bandcamp.com/ and also purchase CDs and LP there. YOu can also find them on the streaming services.

Jazz fusion meets progressive rock in CALLIOPE, the highly anticipated album born from a two-year collaboration between virtuoso electric bassoonist Paul Hanson (Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Billy Cobham, Jon Batiste) with Tarik Ragab and Moorea Dickason from the cutting-edge progressive rock band Raze The Maze. This release marks a milestone for Hanson, who has envisioned this project since the 1980s—a groundbreaking fusion of complex contemporary jazz with the dynamic energy of progressive rock, centered on soul-stirring vocals and intricate compositions.

CALLIOPE offers listeners a unique musical journey that blends the fire and sophistication of jazz fusion with the emotional resonance of powerful vocal performances. The result? A sound that is as thought-provoking as it is electrifying. As Moorea described it, the album is "beautifully complicated, like the intoxicating and wild ride of your first relationship."

This genre-defying record addresses the human condition of the 2020s, with lyrical themes that explore the psyche, the tension between the id and the superego, the concept of time poverty, discovery, depression, and even the supernatural. The vocals are complemented by intricate drum ‘n’ bass grooves, odd-meter progressive rock rhythms, and funk influences, all while Hanson’s near-four-octave range on both acoustic and electric bassoon provides captivating riffs, melodies, harmonies, and fiery solos. Guest musicians on keyboards and guitar add to the album’s expansive sound, and what might first be mistaken for guitar solos are actually Hanson's masterful electric bassoon performances.