PAKT is made up of fretless bass guitar icon Percy Jones, guitarists Alex Skolnick and Tim Motzer, and drummer Kenny Grohowski. They are all very experienced players. Skolnick is best known as the lead guitarist in the thrash metal band Testament; he went on to freelance work, playing jazz with his Alex Skolnick Trio, and experimenting with World Music and Progressive Rock.
Welsh bassist Jones (a New York resident) is known for his tenure in the jazz fusion group Brand X, as well as extensive studio work with Brian Eno, Kate Bush, Suzanne Vega, David Sylvian Motzer has a long background in free improvisation as well, including the bands Bandit65 (with fellow guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel) and Orion Tango, plus many other recorded collaborations for his 1k Recordings label.
Grohowski is one of the busiest drummers in business, and his recent associations include John Zorn, Brand X, Imperial Triumphant, Kilter, Felix Pastorius & Hipster Assassins, John Medeski, Lonny Plaxico, Tony Levin, Beledo, Markus Reuter, and many others.
PAKT recalls the fearless attitude and daring approach that originally defined progressive music: where the magic of the moment always triumphed over preconception. Templates be damned ... this music blazes its own path! This is truly exquisite fare, serving as a reminder to aficionados of what initially drew them to this most creative, visionary of genres.
1. Emergence
2. Over Strange Lands
3. The Mystery
4. The Unsilence
5. Brothers Of Energy
6. Perseverance
7. The Sacred Ladder
8. Drifts & Alignments
9. Nigh Crossings
10. The Great Spirit
11. Departure Sanctuary
12. Cosmic Fire
PERCY JONES - bass guitar
ALEX SKOLNICK - guitar
KENNY GROHOWSKI - drums
TIM MOTZER - guitars, electronics
Recorded live at the ShapeShifter Lab, Brooklyn, NY, August 15, 2020, during the lockdown.
Mixed and mastered by Benjamin Schäfer and Markus Reuter. Mastered by Fabio Trentini and Markus Reuter.
Produced by PAKT and Leonardo Pavkovic.
Executive production by Leonardo Pavkovic.
