Personnel: Frank Briggs: composer, drums, keyboards, programming; Brian Price: guitar (1-7,9); Kit Walker: Fender Rhodes, synths (1, 3, 7, 8); Steve Weingart: piano, Fender Rhodes, synths (2-4, 6, 9); Ric Fierabracci: bass (1-3, 5, 7, 10); Mitchel Forman: Fender Rhodes, blowtorch, piano (5, 10); Frank Gambale: guitar (10); Mark Doyle: guitar (8); Travis Carlton: bass (4); Chris Golden: bass (6, 8); Jeff Babko: Fender Rhodes, synths (9); Jimmy Earl: bass (9). Rich Breen; mix engineer, all tracks
Liner Notes by Jeffrey Davis Drummer, Composer Frank Briggs is joined by an All-Star group of musical soul mates on his first solo release; a breathtaking collection of compositions that celebrate the power of hope amid adversity. Inspired by a spectacular desert oasis, China Ranch takes us on a journey of musical exploration and virtuosity as expressed by an artist blessed with curiosity, compassion … and serious chops.
China Ranch is a real place, a family owned date farm in the Mojave Desert, not far from Southern Death Valley. But channeled through this music, China Ranch is not merely a destination; it is a journey into the soul, navigated by a performer at the peak of his talents.
Briggs and his amazing bandmates (Steve Weingart, Brian Price, Ric Fierabracci, Mitchel Forman, Kit Walker, Frank Gambale, Jimmy Earl, Jeff Babko, Chris Golden, Jeff Miley, Mark Doyle, Travis Carlton and Michito Sanchez) have pulled off an astonishing feat: The technique is mesmerizing and masterful while also maintaining an emotional truth that makes a cohesive statement.
Supple melodies dance over shape-shifting modes and contrasting instrumental voicings. The players carve deep jazz- and funk-based grooves while playfully displacing beats and inverting expectations around every corner. Driving everything is the deft and explosive pulse created by the composer, producer and engineer of this project.
Musically inventive and as sonically lush as the desert flowers that inspire these tracks, China Ranch is Frank Briggs’ musical thank you note to a locale which proves that even the most barren and forbidding places we know can bear fruit of remarkable sweetness. ...
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Customer Reviews...
A Great Listen.
author: Steve Hass (John Scofield, Ravi Coltrane).
Great tunes, killer playing, and I dig the loops!! Congrats on a superb final product. China Ranch is a great listen. :-)
OMG!!
author: Tom
I don't have the words (or qualifications) to accurately describe how impressed I am with the China Ranch CD and with Frank as a drummer and composer. Suffice it to say I love it.
I Love this Album.
author: Anna
Hello from London! China Ranch has been playing at my house for weeks now. Everytime I listen I hear something new. I love this music and so many great solos. Beautiful guitars...thank you!!
Wow Frank!
author: Rob K.
I'm blown away by this CD, I just finished listening! This is a deep record, with some serious blowin' throughout and will require some repeated listening. What a adventurous and soaring vibe.... I love the tunes and of course the playing, production and recorded quality are on the highest level! Congratulations on a spectacular debut and I wish you all the success that you deserve with it! China Ranch, I wanna go too...
China Ranch
author: Steve R.
This album is a solid reminder to me of why I love this music so much �” thank you Frank and company.
A Classic
author: John F
I predict that “China Ranch” will find it's way into every music lover's collection. This CD is SO good. Great music, stellar playing and just awesome sounding. Top notch in every way. I feel like I did when I discovered Pat Metheny or Return to Forever. This is special. Thank you.
fat, funky and in the pocket!
author: Mike
I really like the drumming style- fat, funky and in the pocket! The tunes are just the style that I enjoy most. And, what a line up of players!! I wish you much success with this great release!
Holy Smokes!
author: David Northrup (Travis Tritt)
.....and so the inspiration continues........this CD is freaking amazing.....musical as hell!!!!!!!! I am so pysched. Great stuff and Frank is playing his ass off as always.....
CD sounds KILLER!
author: JB
thanks so much!!!! great work!!
WOW!
author: Doane Perry (Jethro Tull)
Wow - phenomenal........fantastic playing, writing and arranging and that was just the first listening!!! You should feel very good about it. I am really looking forward to digging in to it on my overseas trip! Very inspiring!
Absolutely excellent work...
author: B Johnson
Absolutely excellent work... pristine drumming. The supporting cast of musicians shows killer taste in sidemen. It is cool to hear Travis Carlton on this- I just saw him on tour with Robben Ford and his Dad (Larry Carlton), Novak was on drums. Damn. Killer player with a bright future (Travis I mean, we all know about the rest of those names). I also keep seeing Ric Fierabracci's name popping up with great players and rightly so. The production is superb and the drumming is so inspiring. Great drum sound! Completely badass work, Mr. Briggs. Thumbs up!
I'm totally and completely blown away with China Ranch
author: K Sterling
Frank has clearly carved his own “voice” as a musician. Quite frankly, I'm just completely blown away with the whole cd in every respect. Frank's playing is at a level few musicians ever reach - the compositions area great and take me on a journey, musically and otherwise. So many things I hear recently are “okay” or maybe not even okay, and they don't take me anywhere. Oddly enough, some of them are by some of the most well known musicians, too! Each of these compositions takes me on a journey and it's the greatest thing, man!
China Ranch… the entire album
author: Jeff Abbe
To rate China Ranch as “World Class” just doesn’t say enough. Ladies and Gentlemen… this is “TOP SHELF World Class”.
Gear Istanbul Agop Cymbals, DW Drums & Hardware, Regal Tip Sticks, Attack Heads, Shure Mics. Mac G5,
Press Reviews
On China Ranch, Frank Briggs writes a Return To Forever-esque treatment of ten killer tracks that
display strong drumming, Rhodes and synths, guitar and bass soloing. The compositions, inspired by
a visit to the family-owned date farm in the Mojave Desert, keep an eye on the jazz-rock fusion
tradition pioneered by such influences as Herbie Hancock, Weather Report, Pat Metheny and others,
while still moving the genre forward.
On “Desert Flower” the solos run the gamut from lush, modern electronics and
dramatic
harmonies to wide-open solo sections for Kit Walker on Synth and Brian
Price on
guitar. Briggs' powerful and rhythmic drumming keeps this song musically focused, energetic and
shifting freely between the jazz and rock elements.
“Tecopa Moon” may be too hip for the room, as they say, since its laid-back
ambience and
walking bass lines is an example of how Briggs' arrangement takes an electronic marvel to another
level
of melodic excellence. The feel shifts from the very beginning and the tempo ranges from Briggs'
moderately slow drumming and soundscapes to the lightning fast guitar licks of both Price and Jeff
Miley.
The title track, “China Ranch” features twists and turns with surprises and a funky
groove that
will have both the band and their listeners enjoying themselves through this musical ride.
The
entire recording is beautifully conceived, expertly crafted and is a must for fans of jazz-rock
fusion
Paula Edelstein; All Music Guide
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Strong and melodic. Powerful and introspective. Pure. That pretty much says it all
about this
album. Frank has covered all the bases with China Ranch. This CD will be appreciated by jazz purists
simply for the approach and production and the way in which each piece has been handled with pure
artistry. The melodies and traditional-sounding lines found on these various pieces are simply
beautiful.
The musicianship is flawless. Why shouldn°t it be? Besides being a world-class drummer, Frank is a
gregarious young man. He has enlisted for this project, players that are among the best to be found
anywhere. China Ranch is one of those albums that allows the listener the luxury of not having a
favorite cut. As you listen to each track you find something very cool about each one that just stays
with you. Here is my take on a few of the tunes.
The second selection, °Tecopa Moon° is reminiscent of Billy Cobham's °Spectrum°
L.P. I do
not mean that from a plageristic standpoint, not at all. It is just the feel and the attitude with which
the
piece is delivered that invokes mystery and a dark atmosphere. Very cool.
“Melonie” the third track, is produced in a traditional manner, with pure
instrumentation. It
begins as a serious piano piece that falls into a really hip, romantic swing carried by pianist
Steve
Weingart. The tandem melody played by guitar and piano is magical. As this piece moves
along
there is a beautiful bass solo by Ric Fierabracci followed by a perfectly pure guitar
solo
provided by Brian Price. The interplay throughout this piece is remarkable. This
compostion is
one that any serious student of music will appreciate both as a listener and as a piece to study.
The title cut, °China Ranch° is a funky one. Heavy and slightly dark with what I
would say is a
Miles inspired line. Cool vibes and keys. This one is on the other end of the spectrum from the afore-
mentioned °Melonie°. I suggest it be played loud.
Okay, I am going to get a bit heady with this one °Spirit Rider° is aptly named for
sure. It is a
breathy piece that gives the listener a sense of sailing high above the western landscape and taking in
all of the majestic beauty below. It comes back to ground with the rhythm section playing a °Frank
Zappa-ish° kind of reggae style melodic line over which there is the perfect compliment of fiery
guitar
solo performed by Mark Doyle.
So bottom line is this °China Ranch contains 10 remarkable instrumental cuts that you have
to
hear. It takes you to a lot of different places musically and you will enjoy the trip.
Gary Dean Smith, Lone Lee Radio Show (Boulder CO)
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