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Gordian Knot was an American rock band directed by bass guitarist Sean Malone. At times its shifting lineup included Steve Hackett of Genesis, Bill Bruford of Yes and King Crimson, Ron Jarzombek from Watchtower and Spastic Ink, as well as Jim Matheos of Fates Warning, several of Malone's former bandmates from Cynic, and John Myung from Dream Theater. Sean Malone died on December 7, 2020.[1]
Gordian Knot | |
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Background information | |
Origin | United States |
Genres | Progressive rock, jazz fusion, progressive metal, alternative rock |
Years active | 1998–2020 |
Past members | Sean Malone |
Musical style
editThe music of Gordian Knot is a stylistic mixture of progressive rock and metal, instrumental music reminiscent of Robert Fripp's Guitar Craft and his solo work (e.g. compare Gordian Knot's song "Grace" with Robert Fripp's "Evening Star"). Notable is their use of counterpoint, often presenting several complex intertwining layers of melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic structures. The music of Gordian Knot also relies heavily on diatonic guitar melodies although sometimes encompassing later resolved dissonances to add a jazz fusion-like flavor. The interaction between the various instruments, all played by accomplished instrumentalists, allows for communication of various melodic lines, harmonies and rhythms among guitar(s), bass, and (concerning rhythms) even drums.
Also, Gordian Knot cannot be categorized without disregarding certain aspects of their music. For example, the piece "Komm, süsser Tod, komm sel'ge" is a transcription of a piece of the same name by Johann Sebastian Bach, while some of their other pieces, most notably "Grace", have a distinct classical, even baroque Bach-like flavor, being constructed in an almost counterpoint-like fashion by interweaving several independent diatonic melodic lines from the Chapman Stick.
Other songs, such as "Muttersprache" (German for "mother tongue") or "Code/Anticode" work with on-beat/off-beat, interplay between two guitars and/or the rhythm and melody section, incorporating jazz chords and dissonant intervals to create tension and form the basis for a mixture of jazz fusion and progressive rock/metal.
Band members
editMalone recruited a different line-up each time when he was recording and playing live with Gordian Knot.
Past members
edit- Sean Malone - bass, fretless bass, sticks, guitars, keyboards, e-bow, echoplex, loops, occasional vocals
Studio members
edit- Sonia Lynn - vocals
- Paul Masvidal - guitar
- Bob Brunin - guitars
- Jason Göbel - guitars
- Glenn Snelwar - guitars, mandolins
- Ron Jarzombek - guitars
- Steve Hackett - guitars
- Adam Levy - guitars
- Jim Matheos - acoustic guitars
- Trey Gunn - warr guitar
- John Myung - chapman stick
- Bill Bruford - drums
- Sean Reinert - drums
Discography
edit- Gordian Knot (1999)
- Emergent (2003)
References
edithttps://www.loudersound.com/news/cynic-bass-player-sean-malone-dead-at-50
- ^ December 2020, Jerry Ewing10 (10 December 2020). "Cynic bass player Sean Malone dead at 50". Prog Magazine. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
External links
edit- (in Italian) Interview with Bill Bruford
- Gordian Knot discography at Discogs