University’s Bachelor of Science in Music Production
degree program. Full Sail launched that degree program
in
, and with it came an influx of composers and
musicians both local and from around the country.
Like a toddler with a machine gun, Ism’s sound doesn’t
aim in one direction for long, and they don’t care, spraying in the general area between funk and modern jazz,
with tight rhythm changes, unconventional instrumentation, and forays into mixed meter. Occasionally Hip-hop
and Salsa wind up casualties of war too. The consistent
strain, though, is that this is music in motion, party music
that may relax its pace a bit, only so you can catch your
breath for the next up-tempo romp.
Ism is a young group, but they have the experience and
attitude of seasoned professionals, trained to read music.
Ready to play and ready to learn, they are musicians’ musicians, without the drawback of diva tensions. Individuals
have played throughout the country for years, done hard
time at Disney, recorded albums everywhere and engineered them too. As their backgrounds are diverse, so
their eclecticism derives in part from the writing and arranging styles of its members.
Ian McLeod did a lot of the early arranging and writing.
But Scott Dickinson, Ism’s trumpet player who was hired
by Full Sail just shy of his doctorate at the University of
Miami’s Frost School of Music for his facility with arranging, has contributed tunes too. Increasingly, writing credits expanded to include more and more members of the
group, reflecting McLeod’s easy-going leadership style.
Individual contributions are welcome, and the group
gives all ideas an earnest shot.
Veit Renn, Ism’s German-born keyboard player teaches
mixing at Full Sail and was recruited in part because he
has written and produced for artists such as N’Sync and
the Backstreet Boys. Under the name F te he recently released “Overdue”, an R&B album of his own songs featuring himself as vocalist. Renn is the mix engineer for Ism’s
yet untitled album that will be released at a performance
party at Will’s Pub on July at pm
(
North Mills Avenue, Orlando).
Ism is:
Ian McLeod - Vibraphone/MIDI Vibes
Scott Dickinson - Trumpet
Jeremy Fratti - Tenor Sax
Derrick Harris - Trombone
Veit Renn - Keys/Vocals
Greg Jungbluth - Bass
Nik Ritchie – Drums
Bob Patterson - Guitar
You can see more at:
ism-band.com
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