Five Times Surprise, by Henry Kaiser / Anthony Pirog / Jeff Sipe / Tracy Silverman / Andy West

Five Times Surprise

by Henry Kaiser / Anthony Pirog / Jeff Sipe / Tracy Silverman / Andy West

supported by

more...

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

This download purchase includes a digital booklet with credits, photos and information.

Purchasable with gift card

$10 USD or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Compact Disc (CD) + digital album + streaming

Includes unlimited streaming of Five Times Surprise via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 3 days

Purchasable with gift card

$16.50 USD or more

1.	Haboob 10:02
2.	Slicer 06:58
3.	You Know You Know 07:02
4.	Earthshine 09:16
5.	My Brothers How's 01:58
6.	24 Liars 08:46
7.	A Realm Of Paradise 04:13
8.	Why Starfish Why 03:26
9.	Torch Shadows 08:10
10.	Maneki Neko 12:52
11.	Twilight Of The Space Gods [bonus track] 40:21	buy track

about

Five Times Surprise brings together a volatile mix of longtime compatriots and newly forged relationships. The distinguished improvisers all boast exceptionally diverse resumes. More than finding common ground, they reveal a vast universe of possibilities fueled by creative conflagration and genre blurring. “We’re improvisers who can walk into a room and create something together,” says the project's original instigator Henry Kaiser, who then listed the salient qualities of his fellow players here: the ability to listen, kindness, generosity, and—rare in this electric realm—a sense of humor. All those factors were at work on this new recording.

Kaiser regards many of his musical projects as “fun, experimental science projects” and this band came to life when he was offered a week to rehearse and then record in a professional studio with whomever he wanted aboard! This gave all of these musical masters of the free the chance to play exactly what they wanted to play in an electric jazz/rock context.

Five Times Surprise comprises a wealth of six-stringers: Kaiser on guitars and effects; his friend, the DC-based unorthodox guitarist Anthony Pirog, who is currently reaching a new audience as a member of The Messthetics, which features half of DC legends Fugazi; six-string bassist Andy West who was a founding member of the legendary Dixie Dregs (formed in the ‘70s and steeped in hard, southern rock with a heavy-meets-classical sound); and renowned fusion six-string electric violinist Tracy Silverman who has worked with Turtle String Quartet and Bach To The Future and progressively beyond.

Add volcanic drummer Jeff Sipe [who has recorded with Shawn Lane & Jonas Hellborg, co-founded Aquarium Rescue Unit and toured as the opener to John McLaughlin’s last US tour] to the mix and you get the full background to the formation of the band who recorded intense and complex music that owes something to the influence to John McLaughlin’s pioneering jazz-fusion band Mahavishnu Orchestra. “It’s not a tribute to John and the group,” Kaiser says. “It’s our personal experiences of that music that resulted in the processes that brought us all together. We all loved that music. All the 5XS tunes are originals that we collectively wrote, except for one Mahavishnu cover, ‘You Know You Know’”

credits

released May 10, 2019

Henry Kaiser: six-string guitar
Anthony Pirog: six-string guitar
Tracy Silverman: six-string electric violin
Jeff Sipe: drums
Andy West: six-string bass

Produced by Ed Pettersen.
Recorded in September 2018 by Taylor Phillips and John Parkison at Pogo Studio, Nashville, TN. Chief Engineer: Bob Olhsson. Mixed by Jeremy Goody and Henry Kaiser at Megasonic Sound, Oakland, CA.

art direction: Brandy Gale
photo credit: Ed Pettersen

All tunes are by Henry Kaiser, Anthony Pirog, Tracy Silverman, Jeff Sipe, Andy West (published by: Fractal Music, BMI + Conjured Music ASCAP + Gut Music, ASCAP + Zambi Publishing, BMI + KWBL LLC, BMI) with the exception of “You Know You Know” by John McLaughlin (published by Warner-Tamerlane Pub Corp. OBO Basque Music, Inc.).

Special thanks to Rainbow Sipe, Steve Fishell for the loan of The Blue Demon, Premier Guitar and Ted Drozdowski for the Rig Rundown, Toshihiko Tanabe, D’Addario Strings, Joe Glaser (who built the violin), and Carter Vintage in Nashville.

license

about

Cuneiform Records Washington, D.C.

Cuneiform Records is an independent record label releasing adventurous, boundary-bursting music by artists from around the world.

Founded in 1984.
Based in Washington D.C.

Recommendations

contact / help

Contact Cuneiform Records

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

Cuneiform Records recommends:

The Gift of Purpose [Hopper Family Benefit Album]
by Bone (Nick Didkovsky / Hugh Hopper / John Roulat)

The BENEFIT ALBUM for Hugh Hopper's family is now on Bandcamp! Cuneiform Records
go to album

If you like Five Times Surprise, you may also like:

Percy Jones, Alex Skolnick, Kenny Grohowski, Tim Motzer
by PAKT - Percy Jones, Alex Skolnick, Kenny Grohowski, Tim Motzer

supported by 34 fans who also own “Five Times Surprise”

My favorite is Cosmic Fire. Great stuff! podglaze
go to album
Fractal Guitar 2
by Stephan Thelen

supported by 30 fans who also own “Five Times Surprise”

An amazing follow-up to Fractal Guitar. I came across Fractal Guitar as a fan of Markus Reuter, and after downloading that had to go ahead and download all the other music Stephan has on Bandcamp. Love this stuff... crimlarks
go to album
Tentacles
by Stick Men

supported by 27 fans who also own “Five Times Surprise”

Another stellar release from this long-lived ensemble. Though the King Crimson influence is obvious & that comparison unavoidable, these guys have made many great recordings that can't be categorized as 'mere copies'. The perfect balance of aggressive riffing and serene soundscapes. Stephen Roberts
go to album
Furvent
by Le Grand Sbam

Progressive music ensemble The Grand Sbam's bombastic compositions defy tempo, genre, and description. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 17, 2020
go to album
Spirit Breeze
by Dylan Gilbert

On “Spirit Breeze,” Dylan Gilbert starts from folk roots, but gradually adorns his songs with rich textural elements. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 19, 2022
go to album