Planet Z is a new jazz/rock fusion band inspired by the incendiary collaboration between electric violin virtuoso Susan Aquila and guitarist/composer Rob Tomaro.
“As any of the promoters who pass us CD’s for review will tell you – nearly ALL albums go in the queue & get reviewed in the order they were received… the only time a CD is pushed to the front of the queue is when the energy levels are so significantly notable that it would be unfair (to the whole world) not to let folks know about it. This CD, featuring electric rock violinist Susan Aquila, definitely falls in that category. This music pushes the envelope so hard it will blow your eardrums (not to mention your mind) immediately. Her debut CD is colossal… just scope out the 3rd track, “The Fire of The Planes“, to hear what’s got me so fired up – & do it with ‘phones on at FULL BLAST… this music just RAWKS!
My favorite of the 7 tracks offered up is the superb “Dance of Ecstasy“… Susan’s violin just SOARS, & all the other players (Robert Tomaro on guitar, Irio O’Farrill on bass, Ray Marchica & Paul Pizzuti on drums & Joseph Church & Ted Baker on keyboards) are out in full force. I certainly give this a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED; “EQ” (energy quotient) rating is a top-of-the-line 5.00… and they get the “PICK” of this issue for “best jazz/rock/fusion CD” of 2011! (Keep your ears on this band, folks… you heard it here first – they WILL take over the world)!!! Get more information at www.planetztheband.com”
~ Rotcod Zzaj, Zzaj Productions
“PLANET Z featuring SUSAN AQUILA: You’ve got an interesting bunch of talent on board here that just blows the roof off the sucker. Aquila is a jazz/rock electric violinist with a classical background that sounds more like she’s Jean Luc Ponty’s daughter than Clara does. Kicking it out on the music of Rob Tomaro, also a jazz rocker with a classical background, the two are an incendiary combustion that can’t be denied. The credentials of these two speak for themselves. Simply put, when you want that jazz/rock thing with something extra that just doesn’t quit, this is the set to put at the top of your list. This is hot stuff that just can’t be denied.”
~ Volume 34/Number 277
MIDWEST RECORD
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
Copyright 2011 Midwest Record
“Aquila’s fan base has been growing for years through her appearances with Rock Icons such as Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Elton John, Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Kanye West and Brittnay Spears, and now her fans can finally experience her riveting, world class Electric Violin out front and on fire as she emerges from the studio leading her own band.”
~ Cashbox Magazine
The electric violin was once as popular a lead instrument in rock bands as the guitar, but that was in the 70s when artists such as Frank Zappa, Jefferson Airplane/Starship and Flock brought the instrument to the fore. It has been a long time since then and the electric violin has receded into the background of the sound. But Susan Aquila is a virtuoso on the electric violin and has been performing with a virtual A-Z of pop and rock artists [Led Zeppelin, Billy Joel, Elton John, Metallica, Paul McCartney] over many years but has now finally recorded her own debut solo album. With her own band, Planet Z, and music written by guitarist Rob Tomaro, Ms Aquilo has produced a seven track showcase on how a violin can rock the joint. To be fair, the music is more a hybrid of jazz/fusion with a healthy dose of prog rock mixed in, and I can tell you that this is not a quiet, genteel album. It rocks like a banshee on heat! The music here certainly references that ‘no holds barred’ approach of the 70s when different genres of music butted heads, merged and new sounds were created. The band are: Susan Aquila – electric and acoustic violins, Rob Tomaro – guitars, Irio O’Farrill – bass, Ray Marchica and Paul Pizzuti – drums, Joseph Church – keyboards, Ted Baker
- keyboards. Tracks titles are: Bombay Express, Cajun Queen, The Fire Of The Planes, For Mehera, Appellation Sproing, Dance Of Ecstasy, Horizon’s Edge. It is fair to say that playing this album will give your loudspeakers such a workout that the dust will explode – play it loud and the speakers will be invoking the Geneva Convention. Ms Aquila and her band rock without mercy and this is one hell of an impressive debut album. Highly recommended.
~John M. Peters, Borderland (musicwatch column)
Most folks probably aren’t familiar with Susan Aquila’s name…but they have undoubtedly heard her before. After all, this extraordinarily talented electric rock violinist has played with
a wealth of well-known celebrities including Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, and Britney Spears…and that’s just the beginning. But on this album with her band Planet Z…Susan gets to really loosen up and let the music flow.
~Don Seven, LMNOP Reviews > BabySue
The Viper 6-string violin has done for classical music what the electric guitar did for rock music, broaden its scope and stimulate musicians to use it as a tool to craft new melodic forms. Violinist Susan Aquila has taken the challenge of playing the electric violin and aroused audiences around the world with her skilled ministrations. Accompanied by the band Planet Z, Aquila’s new recording entitled Planet Z, showcases music arranged by band conductor Rob Tomaro and travels from the nursery rhyme motifs of “Cajun Queen” to the rock-themed explosions of “The Fire of the Planes”. Aquila and Planet Z canvass a wide spectrum of material crossing over genres and making classical music sound so electrifying.
The revving motion of the electric chords and the sleek rosin in her bows along “Bombay Express” open up the violin to new musical forms and turns the violin into a synth-type instrument. The melodic shimmers in “For Mehera” bend and shape Aquila’s chords into a microscopic oasis that flexes and changes with natural progressions. “Appellation Sproing” brings the violin into rock territory with torching flusters and thick reverberations amidst the lively drum strikes. The fiery projectiles sprinting across “Dance of Ecstasy” display the ambient tones of the violin which smoothens out into wispy strands ruminating along “Horizons Edge” emitting a gentle, lullaby sonorous.
Susan Aquila takes the electric violin into territories that have been considered foreign to the acoustic violin. With the robust gusts and rapturous reverberations of the electric guitar and the flexibility of the synthesizer, Aquila bucks the trend established by musicians before her and crafts new trends that set the bar higher for classical music artisans.
~Susan Frances, Yahoo Contributor Network
Music by Rob Tomaro features some really choice instrumentals. Some are slightly bluesy, some jazzy, and some tread into the harder rock arena. But no matter what style she’s playing, Aquila always seems to be on top of her game.
Her playing is fluid and exacting…at times so blindingly fast that it’s difficult to keep up. Seven meaty cuts here including “Bombay Express,” “For Mehera,” and “Horizon’s Edge.”
Planet Z’s first CD, composed by Rob Tomaro, features the two drummer battery of Ray Marchica and Paul Pizzuti and the keyboard artistry of album Producer Joe Church, who you may know as the original Music Director/Conductor of Disney’s “The Lion King” on Broadway. Rounding out the line up are bassist Irio O’Farrill and Steely Dan keyboardist Ted Baker.
Their debut disc is gaining national attention for its excitement, originality and “take no prisoners” commitment to smokin’ hot Fusion. Their fan base, fueled by the internet, is already clamoring for the next installment. Maybe it should be called “Return to Planet Z”! Call it what you want; in a world of imitators and poseurs, Planet Z has arrived with something original, heartfelt and deeply moving. Catch them when their orbit intersects with yours.
- Planet Z – Music Clips
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