Van Gordon Martin
Chicago native Van Gordon Martin will be playing at Clyde's on Main Friday, Oct. 6. VGM's music captures the spirits of Reggae, Dub, and Classic Roots Reggae, while showcasing his unique musicianship, which was developed from his mentorship under legendary keyboardist, Bernie Worrell (Parliament Funkadelic, Talking Heads).
Their most recent offering, "Let It Grow," was released digitally via Sony Records / The Orchard on Aug. 25.
Review for Van Gordon Martin:
At the tender age of seven years, Van Gordon Martin started his musical journey.
Growing up in Chicago the musical soil was very rich and as a young boy his first job was polishing and stringing guitars in local music shop the Musicians Network. Due to his apparent musical talent Van Gordon Martin was discovered early on and later mentored by the legendary Parliament Funkadelic and Talking Heads keyboardist, Bernie Worrell. It was this background and mentoring that set the tone for Van’s new musical existence. An existence that has lasted and developed for over a decade of making Van Gordon Martin and becoming veterans of the east coast touring scene.
VGM works full time with his own solo project as well as many others including; the Boston based Reggae collective Dub Apocalypse, Moroccan/Jazz/ Electronic group Club D’elf, Hip Hop legend Big Daddy Kane’s Live band, Paul Wolstencroft of Slightly Stoopid’s Organically Good Trio, The Naya Rockers and many others. VGM is also founding member of Spiritual Rez, a project witch he toured with extensively up until 2011. The Wailers, Steel Pulse, Gregory Isaacs, Toots and the Maytals, Barrington Levy, Israel Vibration, as well as a national tour with The Skatalites. In a backing band setting VGM has worked with Half Pint, Admiral Tibet , Sleepy Wonder and Puma Ptah of Thievery Corporation, Kenyatta “Jr Culture”, and Tousaint the Liberator.
Fast forward to the present and you will find Van Gordon preparing to tour a new record titled Let it Grow. Where once again he will share his remarkable guitar style backed by a band who transforms their instruments’ sounds into otherworldly sonic vibrations, while reaching new fans and places out in the musical stratosphere. Van Gordon Martin works as a musical chameleon playing many styles, while maintaining a deep love for Reggae, Dub, and Classic Roots Music.
“My musical goal is to share my story, and love for guitar with the world," said VGM. "It has been always been the thing that makes me feel connected to the spirit realm. Rasta music, reggae, soul, jazz, blues, roots music - it speaks the truth.”
And the truth will be spoken with a release on Sony Records / The Orchard and subsequent U.S. tour this fall.
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