World acclaimed keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Sons of Apollo, Black Country Communion), one of the most significant keyboard players of the modern era, is pleased to announce the new album “Vortex” due for release 1st July 2022. Returning alongside Sherinian is legendary drummer Simon Phillips, who once again co-wrote and co-produced the album, as well as Tony Franklin on bass.
Today, Derek is pleased to release the title track from the album.Listen to “The Vortex” below.
Derek Sherinian comments: “I am very happy with the upcoming release of my album “Vortex”. Simon and I always try and out do ourselves with every release, and I am confident we achieved our goal.”
The follow-up to 2020’s “The Phoenix,” “Vortex” includes eight tracks built on his signature chameleonic sound that blends rock with elements of funk, prog, and jazz, which he started writing even before “The Phoenix” was finished. “Vortex is a continuation of The Phoenix ,” Sherinian states. “However, I feel the composition is stronger on the new album, and I would describe it as a modern day 70s style fusion record, but with newer heavier tonality.”
When it came to guitars, Sherinian recruited a who’s who of great players, some of whom he had worked with before – Steve Stevens, Joe Bonamassa, Steve Lukather, Zakk Wylde, Sons Of Apollo band-mate Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal – and a few new allies, in the form of Michael Schenker, Mike Stern and Nuno Bettencourt.
“The choice of guitarist works itself out in the writing,” he explains. “Also, like in the case of Steve Stevens, we co-wrote the song together, so it was natural for him to play on it.” Of his new collaborators, he says of Bettencourt, who appears on the scratchy “Fire Horse”, “I have always been a fan of his playing, and I am glad that we finally got to record together. He has the Van Halen swing and swagger to his playing that I love. We were both born in 1966, the Chinese year of the Fire Horse.”
According to Sherinian, Schenker’s inclusion was a no-brainer. “Michael Schenker has been one of my heroes for many years. He asked me to play on his “Immortal” album, and in return, he agreed to play on “Die Kobra”. I wanted to write a great song inspired by my favorite Schenker tracks. Zakk Wylde added some great additional parts to the song, and Tony Franklin and Simon Phillips sound great, as usual.”
“Vortex” Tracklisting:
1 The Vortex (Featuring Steve Stevens)
2 Fire Horse (Featuring Nuno Bettencourt)
3 Scorpion
4 Seven Seas (Featuring Steve Stevens)
5 Key Lime Blues (Featuring Joe Bonamassa, Steve Lukather)
6 Die Kobra (Featuring Michael Schenker, Zakk Wylde)
7 Nomad’s Land (Featuring Mike Stern)
8 Aurora Australis (Featuring Bumblefoot)
