Arthur Lee Land
Lyons, Colorado, United States | Established. Jan 01, 1995 | INDIE
Music
Press
Nice quotes from folks who like Arthur!
- --Willy Porter, Musician and Recording Artist
Nice quotes from folks who like Arthur! - --John Farmer, Frontier Airline's Wild Blue Yonder Magazine,
Nice quotes from folk who like Arthur!
- --Steve Szymanski, V.P. of Planet Bluegrass (Promoters of Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Rocky Mo
""Aerosmith’s “Dream On” didn’t become a hit until 3 years after it’s initial release in 1973. There have been countless other “hits” that came a year, two, or three after an album was released … so now might be the best time yet to add this Arthur Lee Land cut to the list of this year’s best "hits." Dude kills!""
Chris Kresge - The Colorado Sound
"Rarely have I listened to a CD by an unknown artist that instantly grabbed hold of my senses and transported me into a special place…..This is one of the best albums I have ever heard."
--Bob Leggett, Los Angeles Examiner
"...brilliantly done and impressive from a musical standpoint....Carol Lee's lyrics are as clever as her husband's music."
--George Graham: The Graham Weekly Album Review #1728
"Arthur Lee Land combines acoustic music with electronica and has bridged the gap between folk rock, world-bluegrass and electronica."
--Scott Iwasaki, The Park Record
“One of the better-kept secrets of Colorado….Lee Land is one of those guys with so much natural talent his jaw-dropping virtuosity seems effortless.”
--John Farmer, Frontier Airline’s Wild Blue Yonder Magazine
“…an amazing musician! His live show is stunning in its use of
electronics, real-time looping and musicality. I can't say enough good about Arthur Lee Land.”
--Willy Porter, Musician and Recording Artist
“This guy exudes musical magic!”
--Steve Szymanski, V.P. of Planet Bluegrass
(Promoters of Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Rocky Mountain Folks Festival)
"...the substance and confidence you hear through its 13 cuts is no illusion, but the product of a guy who's hitting his stride not one minute too soon. Dragonfly showcases Land's buoyant concoction."
--David Kirby, Boulder Weekly
"...fresh musical innovation....Lee Land is moving and captures my imagination."
--Paul J. Goetz, The Canyon Current
"...Land's uplifting hybrid...an earth-toned blend of djembe, congas and every unplugged bluegrass instrument this side of the jug...well-penned...satisfying long-player."
--John La Briola, The Denver Westword
"The Latest Fusion: Afrograss...it is hard denying that this unique vision has great potential."
--Glenn Burnsilver, Fort Collins Weekly
"Dragonfly bubbles with positive energy and coherently covers an impressive range of styles and moods from beginning to end...Arthur has put together one of the best albums of the year!"
--Wilton Elder, Program Director, radioioJAM.com - Various
Discography
Cracked Open CD (2013)
Live Looping In The House DVD (2006)
Dragonfly CD (2005)
Best Of Both Worlds EP (2000)
Lessons Of The Heart (1995)
Photos
Bio
How come my heart feels cracked open... Theres no wonder why Arthur Lee Lands 4th album Cracked Open, offers an exciting invitation for the musically adventurous to discover a boundless, transcendent world. Arthurs groundbreaking style is driven by the integration of sophisticated musical, emotional and spiritual juxtapositions. Its been said; Every one of these songs sticks to your soul.
Whether its our own world or the world at large falling apart around us, Cracked Open speaks of the suffering and the transformation that is taking place in these times of uncertainty. Ironically for Arthur, shortly after finishing the album, it was losing his voice completely, finding a polyp on his vocal cord (and the miraculous healing without surgery 6 months later), relocating back to Colorado and then being diagnosed with Graves (Hyperthyroid) Disease that forced him to wait almost two years to finally release this album. Those experiences ultimately became a test of faith that cracked him open deeply and in the end strengthened him as a person and an artist.
Arthur Lee Land released his 4th album Cracked Open, May 14, 2013 on Perfect Groove Records offering a groundbreaking style that is driven by the integration of sophisticated musical, emotional and spiritual juxtapositions. “Fresh!.... Arthur has a unique creative approach in his music.� Grammy Award winning producer Bil Vorndik (Alison Krauss, Bela Fleck, Doc Watson)
After the release of his previous recording Dragonfly (produced by Grammy nominated songwriter and producer Wendy Waldman), Arthur, wife/lyricist Carol Lee and his label, Perfect Groove Records, felt he was at a pivotal point in his career. He decided to embark on a studio project that expanded upon the sonics he had been creating live for years allowing him to play most all of the instruments including the 6-string banjo which became a central tonal focal point for this album. Songs include the electro/bluegrass title track Cracked Open, the traditional and futuristic juxtaposition of Do You Ever Think Of Me? and Arthurs only lyrically penned autobiographical Good Enough.
Musically speaking, Electro-Americana may best describe Arthur Lee Lands eclectic fusion of folk-rock, worldbeat/bluegrass and electronica, but cannot fully explain the unique dynamics at work when Arthur enters the studio or takes the stage. The multi-talented performer blends elements from distinctive parts of his career for this recording: his longtime wheelhouse as a touring musician playing folk-rock, country and roots; a world beat/bluegrass hybrid, inspired by a tour of West Africa; and his Art of Live-Looping techniques which have defined his solo live shows since the early 2000s. Then add to this mix - co-producer, engineer and DJ Aaron Shier, who brought in his influences of electronic, house and pop music.
From the first day of production, Cracked Open unfolded as a "whole Album" in the truest sense of the word, taking on a life of its own. We recorded one song a week in my home studio, and we didn't know what the next song would be until the day before we recorded it. It was always like "what's next?" We had about 40 songs to choose from but we had no idea what songs were going to end up on the record and we had to trust the process, says Arthur. In fact the song order on the CD is the exact order that the tracks were recorded in. One of Carols lines in the song True North comes to mind: theres something bigger going on, so learn some trustin
Currently based in the small town of Lyons, Colorado, Arthur tours as a multi-instrumental solo act in which he utilizes live looping (live recording) technology to create on the fly, a full band sound by layering guitars, six string banjo, mandolin, bass, African percussion, drum samples, beat boxing and other electronic sonic textures. This guy exudes musical magic!? --Steve Szymanski, V.P. of Planet Bluegrass ?(Promoters of Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Rocky Mountain Folks Festival)
Arthurs intuitive collaboration with his lyricist/wife Carol Lee is an integral part of the artistic landscape of Arthur Lee Land.How come my heart feels so cracked open / When the love is running deep / Someday we all will cross over / Maybe right now is all well ever be.
Band Members
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