Bebop Headbangers From Outer Space

featuring:

Dave Anderson, Thierry Arpino, Victor Bailey, Nick Bariluk, Joe Bonadio, Phil Bowler, Randy Brecker, Stephen Davis, Lawrence Feldman, Freddie Hendrix, Rodney Holmes, Leo Huppert, Kevin Jenkins, Tony Kadleck, Brian Keane, David Mann, Federico Pena, Steve Roach, Joel Rosenblatt, Ada Rovatti, Eduard Train, Chris Wabich

The Bebop Headbangers From Outer Space project might be considered interplanetary musical contraband by commercial standards. Unique, progressive, jazz inspired, rock powered, multi-harmonic sophisticated compositions, pushing the boundaries of music. Unusual pyrotechnical riffs, from some of the best musicians on the planet, and innovative electronic sound colors that are seemingly from outside of our planet, (or an outer space movie score). The arrangements were designed for a basic ensemble consisting of electric guitar, bass, drums, 2 keyboards, sax, trumpet, and trombone. There is little else confining the musical creativity. The music has elements of big band, progressive rock, jazz, electronic, and modern classical, but defies market categorization.

The Bebop Headbangers From Outer Space was the brain child of guitarist/ composer/ producer Brian Keane, who began his career as a professional guitarist in the 1970’s, recording and touring in a duo with jazz guitarist Larry Coryell for several years. Performing with Paco DeLucia, Bobby McFerrin, Joe Pass, Michael Urbaniak, the Brubecks, Jeremy Steig and Eddie Gomez, and with a number of other well known jazz artists, as well as a solo artist. Brian was signed as a recording artist to Capitol/ Blue Note/ Manhattan records in 1991. His debut Blue Note CD, “Common Planet” was a number one smooth jazz radio record in 1992.

The only problem was that by the time Capitol records signed him, Brian had become the foremost composer in the emerging world of documentaries, a highly in demand record producer, and a father of two young boys. He didn’t have much time to tour, or promote a career as a recording artist, nor did he really wish to be pigeon-holed into being a smooth jazz artist, (which is what the record companies wanted at the time). So Keane, who was 39 at the time, decided that he would walk away from being a recording and touring artist. To fulfill his contract, Brian decided to create something so musically progressive, that there wouldn’t be a category to market it in. Keane was reasonably confident that Capitol records would drop him as an artist for creating artistic music instead of commercially oriented music, and he could continue his career as a top composer and producer, unimpeded.

Thus, The Bebop Headbangers From Outer Space was initially formed about 30 years ago to get out of Keane's recording contract. The band that Brian put together for this, included the late great Victor Bailey on Bass, a young Rodney Holmes on drums, David Mann on saxophones, Nick Bariluk on Keyboards, and Brian on guitar, and additional keyboards.

The plan worked. Capitol dropped Brian as an artist, and Brian Keane went on to become a multiple Emmy, Peabody, Oscar winning composer, and Grammy winning producer. The Bebop Headbangers recording was never finished, until now.

The recording was rediscovered in 2022, when a semi-retired Keane hired a young engineer, right out of college, to do backup engineering work at his studio in Connecticut. The recovery of the original tracks and midi parts for the Bebop Headbangers project was chosen as a training project.

It turned out that the Bebop Headbangers tracks, which were created solely on a musical basis, without regard for the barriers of commercial conformity, (in fact to intentionally violate them), were if anything, more fresh today than they were 30 years ago! Brian decided to go ahead and complete the project, "just to plant this flag on the musical moon, so to speak". A few of the original tracks from 30 years ago are included.



The Bebop Headbangers From Outer Space

1. Bleepin' Out There (5:33) - (copyright 2022, Brian Keane ASCAP, Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Processed electric guitars, synthesizers, Randy Brecker - Trumpet and electric trumpet solo, Ada Rovatti - Tenor sax, and electric sax solo, Rodney Holmes - Drums, Eduard Train - European micro synths, Dave Anderson - Fretless bass, Stephen Davis - Trombone

Mixed by Phil Magnotti

2. Attack of the Human Brain (4:22) - (copyright 1992, Brian Keane ASCAP, Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Electric guitars and keyboards, David Mann - Soprano saxophone, Rodney Holmes - Drums, Dave Anderson - Fretless bass, Tony Kadleck - Trumpet, Stephen Davis - Trombone, Eduard Train - European micro synths, Steve Roach - Space atmospheres

Mixed by Phil Magnotti

3. Premonition (5:31) - (copyright 1992, Brian Keane ASCAP, Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Electric guitar, piano, synth pad, Rodney Holmes - Drums, Ken Gioffre - Tenor sax solo, Dave Anderson - Fretless bass, Tony Kadleck - Trumpets, David Mann - Alto sax, Stephen Davis - Trombone

Mixed by The Jedi Master

4. Space Fun (8:10) - (copyright 1992, Brian Keane ASCAP, Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Electric guitar, echoed slide guitar, keyboards, drum programming, Tony Kadleck - Muted trumpet, Stephen Davis - Trombone and wah trombone, David Mann - Soprano saxophone, Kevin Jenkins - Electric bass, Chris Wabich - Drums and percussion. Eduard Train - European micro synths,

Mixed by Phil Magnotti

5. Down and Out (6:30) - (copyright 1999, Brian Keane ASCAP, Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Jazz guitar, keyboards, Tony Kadleck - Trumpet and muted trumpet, Lawrence Feldman - Tenor saxophone, Stephen Davis - Trombone, Dave Anderson - Fretless bass, Thierry Arpino - Drums

Mixed by Jeffrey Lesser

6. X-Bop (3:26) - (copyright 2006, Brian Keane ASCAP, Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Jazz guitar, piano, synth pads, David Mann - Tenor sax, Tony Kadleck - Muted trumpet, Stephen Davis - Trombone, Leo Huppert - Acoustic bass, Joe Bonadio - Drums.

Mixed by Brian Keane and Jeff Frez-Albrecht

7. Vegas in Space (5:37) - (copyright 2022, Brian Keane ASCAP, Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Jazz guitar, synthesizers, sound effects, Freddie Hendrix - Trumpet, Lawrence Feldman - Tenor sax, Stephen Davis - Trombone and processed trombone, Dave Anderson - Fretless bass, Joe Bonadio - Drums, Jeffery Lesser - additional sound effects,

Mixed by Jeffrey Lesser

8. Logical Solution (6:05) - (copyright 1978, Brian Keane ASCAP, Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Electric guitar, synthesizers, organ, Rodney Holmes - Drums, Dave Anderson - Fretless bass, David Mann - Tenor and soprano saxophones, Tony Kadleck - Trumpet, Stephen Davis - Trombone, Eduard Train - European micro synths,

Mixed by The Jedi Master

9. Band Can’t Get It (7:41) - (copyright 1992, Brian Keane ASCAP, Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Electric guitar, keyboard and drum programming, David Mann - Alto saxophone, Victor Bailey - Electric Bass, Rodney Holmes - Drums, Nick Bariluk - Acoustic piano, Tony Kadleck - Trumpet, Stephen Davis - Trombone

Mixed by Phil Magnotti

10. Star Gazing (3:57) - (copyright 2022, Brian Keane ASCAP, Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Jazz guitar, piano, keyboards, Lawrence Feldman - Tenor saxophone, Tony Kadleck - Trumpet and muted trumpet, Stephen Davis - Trombone, Phil Bowler - Acoustic bass, Joel Rosenblatt - Brush drums

Mixed by Jeffrey Lesser

11. Ode To Joy (7:48) - (Ludwig Von Beethoven, copyright 2022, arr. by Brian Keane ASCAP, Brian Keane Music Inc. ASCAP, and Federico Pena ASCAP, Urutino Music ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Electric Guitar, additional synthesizers, horn arrangements, Federico Pena - Synthesizers, piano, synth solo, Joel Rosenblatt - Drums, David Mann - Tenor and alto saxophones, Tony Kadleck - Trumpets, Stephen Davis - Trombones, Dave Anderson - Fretless bass, Eduard Train - European micro synths, Steve Roach - Sound worlds,

Mixed by Jeffrey Lesser

Total running time: (65:00)



The Bebop Headbangers From Outer Space was produced and arranged by Brian Keane

Frank Perri - Copyist

Mastered by Scott Hull at Masterdisk, Peekskill, NY

"Attack of the Human Brain", and "Band Can’t Get It” are the original tracks recorded for the Bebop Headbanger’s project in 1992 at John Mozzi studios, Trumbull CT. John Mozzi and Keith Chirgwin engineers. Those productions are what Brian used to get out of his recording contract. A few tracks were added in 2022 at Brian Keane Music Inc..

“Premonition”, and “Space Fun” were restored by Brian Keane, Jeff Frez-Albrecht, and Jeremy Bahr, from 1992 midi archives at Brian Keane Music Inc. and produced in 2022.

“Logical Solution” was composed in 1978, and first released as a guitar duet with Larry Coryell on the 1981 WEA release “At The Airport” (vinyl only). Rearranged in 2022 for this project.

“Down and Out” was originally composed for the Ric Burns history of “New York” documentary series, and recorded by pianist Cyrus Chestnut. Rearranged in 2022 for this project.

“X-Bop” recorded in 2006 at Brian Keane Music Inc. Studios, Monroe, CT - Jeff Frez-Albrecht, Keith Chirgwin engineers. Has been used in the soundtracks of several movie projects. A version is on the 2020 Oliver Sacks soundtrack on Valley-Entertainment.

“Bleepin' Out There” was composed in 2022 from atonal micro synth sequences (bleeps), edited into compositional form, adding heavily processed electric guitar improvisations, and composing a piece around the results.The musicians then improvised to that compositional form, and additional effects were added in the mix stage.

All other tracks recorded March - May 2022 at the following studios:

Brian Keane Music Inc. Studios, Monroe, CT - Jeff Frez-Albrecht, Jeremy Bahr - engineers

Carriage House Recording Studio, Stamford, CT - McLee Mathias, Johnny Montagnese - engineers

Flying Squirrel Studio, New Fairfield, CT - Dave Anderson- engineer

Electric Wildlife Studios, Northampton, PA - Rodney Holmes - engineer

Train Wreckords, Milford, PA - Eduard Train - engineer

The Timeroom, Tucson, Arizona - Steve Roach - engineer

HamptonSound Studio, East Hampton, NY - Ada Rovatti - engineer

Home Bass Studio, Brooklyn, NY - Kevin Jenkins - engineer

ADW Studios, Los Angeles, CA - Chris Wabich - engineer

Special thanks to Bonnie Erickson for being a wonderful studio host. Thanks to the incredibly talented musicians, and engineers, and to whatever connected me to the inspiration to hear this crazy project so that I could translate it, granted, some 30 years later. Apologies to Capitol Blue Note Records. David Wilkes, and Danny Weiss. They didn’t deserve my lack of allegiance to commercialism, but it had to be done. Thanks to the many directors and record companies that have hired me over the years to create music for them too. It’s been a wonderful ride.

For someone who doesn’t know squat in the scheme of things, (and I’m pretty sure that nobody else does either by the way), stuck like an ant on an ant hill on a floating rock, endlessly circling one, in some 20 trillion stars, for its entire existence, (like everyone else we’ve ever known or heard about here), I feel like I’ve been very fortunate, and I’m extremely grateful.