Live music preview: Marcus Rezak and Shred is Dead are coming to Austin

A new wave of experimental and improvisational artists are gaining popularity nationwide. Touring progressive music guitarist Marcus Rezak is part of that trend, emerging from the respected music program at Berklee College in Boston to join the ranks of skilled hired guns touring festival stages while working with Digital Tape Machine, Grateful Dead/JGB progressive instrumental act Shred is Dead and Katharsis. Rezak has made his first solo album, “Gateway to the Galaxy” with drummer Kris Myers (Umphrey’s McGee), legendary saxophonist, Bill Evans (Miles Davis), bassist Arthur Barrow (Frank Zappa) and Joel Cummins (Umphrey’s) on keys. Indeed a true super group was assembled for the recording of the record at Third Coast Recording Company in Michigan.

Rezak comes to Austin this Saturday May 4 (May the Fourth be with you too dude) at One-2-One Bar. Tickets for Saturday’s show are available here. The show will be the second stop in Texas for Rezak who plays Sam’s Burger Joint in San Antonio May 2 and Deep Ellum Art Company in Dallas May 5.  Rezak’s Grateful Dead inspired project Shred is Dead will open the show with Bourgeois Mystics sandwiched between that set and headliner Marcus Rezak featuring drummer Jeff Franca (Thievery Corporation) . The music begins at 9:30 p.m. 

Rezak’s debut record has warranted high praise from his collaborators who have worked with some of the world’s best musicians. None other than Frank Zappa’s bassist is impressed with his musical chops.

“Marcus kills it, shreds it, and has it for breakfast with a side of nails.” -Arthur Barrow

Umphrey’s Myers who would normally be touring with Rezak had this to say…

“I’ve had the pleasure of working on many different projects with Marcus. This one truly shows his highest powers as a versatile, world class musician. Way to hit out of the park and into the galaxy Marcus Rezak!” -Kris Myers

We’ve had a listen to record that dropped in November of last year. The music is on point as Myers alluded to. The album demonstrates the gifted guitarist’s versatility (hence the name) while delving into progressive rock, blues and jazz elements in the rather complex compositions. The experimental tone of the music is much like the current jazz-influenced work of Circles Around the Sun and Claypool-Lennon Delirium who represent the new guard of improvisational artists who are gaining a wider audience.

Rezak remarked, “A fun fact for fans of Zappa and epic rock virtuosity: The bass Arthur Barrow used on Frank Zappa’s Joe’s Garage was used on this album. The same lathe cutting machine that cut Dark Side of the Moon at Capitol Records was used to cut the lacquers for this album. The owner of 3rd Coast Recording Co. where I cut the album is owned by Bill Chrysler monitor engineer for Dead and Company.”

With a resume like that, it’s easy to see why Rezak’s peers and mentors are impressed with his first album. As a live artist at heart Rezak’s performance at One-2-One is bound to impress any fan of improvisational music. The venue’s superior PA and sound engineering along with a traditional club stage set-up make it an ideal host for this lineup.

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