DANNEY ALKANA: Rock the Bach

Danney Alkana

Rock the Bach

© 1999 Four Winds Entertainment, Inc. (754612200623)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

Slashing rock guitarist meets the Classical Masters...will Beethoven ever be the same?

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Danney Alkana
Biography

Danney Alkana, a skilled guitar player from Southern California, put down his axe "forever" in 1981, when his band Excalibur broke up. The band had enjoyed strong regional album sales, and sold out shows for several years from L.A. to San Diego. However, frustrated by exploitative management and a lack of national success, they finally called it quits. Fourteen years go by, and a still bitter Alkana is working part time in a music store. An old fan visits the shop one day, and begs him to please play some of the Excalibur hits on guitar. Danney reluctantly obliges, and wonderfully, a rekindling of his love of making music is reborn.

Brought together with Lee Smith from Four Winds Records, Alkana is encouraged to record a totally unique and demanding project... a rock set of songs by classical composers. The result is Rock the Bach; an amazing ten tracks that will lift your spirits, blending virtuoso guitar with the time tested melodies and intricate orchestration of Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, Bach, and more. The multi talented Alkana produces the album, and also provides all the instrumentation, mixing his guitars with an electric orchestra ranging from synthesized woodwinds and brass to strings, pipe organ, and drums.

A classical music lover, and musician from a young age, Danney sees the Baroque period of composing as a heavy influence on his music. He is inspired by all aspects of that time... "I started playing piano at four years old, and I loved playing classical. After that, the Beatles came along, and I got heavy into drums. Then I kind of got lost in pop music. I never forgot classical music, though. It's just something that's part of me, especially the Baroque era. The clothing, everything really fascinates me." His respect for art and the meaning of art is a testament to his experimental nature; a nature that he hopes has a positive influence on a music scene that, in a way, he sees bereft of artistic integrity.

Explains Alkana, "I would like you to know that I truly mean no disrespect by playing music by some of the greatest composers the world has ever known! My intentions are to promote the Masters to a listener who may never have been exposed to classical music otherwise. For the rocker, my greatest desire and hope is that you wear out the CD, experience many hours of enjoyment, and want to hear more. If so, I will be there."

Rock the Bach has become a cult album on the Internet, with two songs Beethoven's 5th
and Vivaldi: Spring reaching #1 on the MP3.COM Classical Cross Over chart, and his
Mozart: A Little Serenade reaching the top 20 on the Pop/Rock chart.

reviews

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  • Great CD!
    author: Silviano

    I like the classic music and the rock. The combination is perfect. I love the CD !

  • Chicken Skin ...
    author: BenCoo

    Great artist and performer; please more of this : Traditional Christmassongs ?

  • Incredible Guitarist!
    author: TIXSations.com

    Danney Alkana is an incredible guitarist that shines like a superstar at its max - So magical. This is what Transiberian Orchestra should sound like. Also is like a Gary Moore with a visit from Vinnie. ;) This is not all fast - It is substance, tells a story and most of all succeeds. He carries and grasps his instrument to bleed his emotion like a handel meets Paganini - The Paganini piece here is like a Midori/Vanessa Mae piece and this is how special it is - Like a Julliard pro. AAA+ ;)

  • What other neoclassical albums aspire to when they grow up
    author: Tim Chase

    Having listened to plenty of neoclassical, this one takes the cake...what many other neoclassical artists want to be when they grow up. I can't tell whether it's Alkana, Barrera (co-producer) or Smith (exec. producer) or a combination of them that get the credit for the full-bodied mix. Unlike many other neoclassical albums I've heard, the synth backup doesn't sound cheesy but simply acts as quality supporting-cast to Alkana's masterfully smooth fretwork. Track #3 (Vivaldi's Concerto for Strings) stands head and shoulders above the rest with a hook that would make a DJ jealous, and the only complaint that, after less than 3 minutes, it's over too quickly--though fault Vivaldi, not Alkana for that. The album clearly shows that the talent is there without needing to resort to overly egotistical flash, and has yet to grow tiresome. Bring on more of this good stuff!

  • now that's what i call classic rock!!!
    author: pilgrim

    this release proves that music should not be compartmentalized. only an extremely advanced guitarist could pull this off.

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