Backhand

 

Short Bio

4 Giants from the Venezuelan music scene and a great singer from Canada merge their talents and passion for music into an exceptional eclectic prog band that delivers all the power and subtleness needed for a sure success in the contemporary progressive rock category. The first of their type in Venezuela.

Pablo Mendoza
Guitarist and Venezuelan Musician, it is considered as one of the best soloists of the modern guitar in Venezuela, their style is bound to the rock-jazz fusion with progressive tendencies to the blues and the symphonic music and also known as the teacher of the electric guitar in Venezuela.

Their early music was strongly influenced by Steve Vai, Frank Gambale, Joe Satriani, among others of the same caliber. In the latter days, much more personal work is denoted and characterized by the accent on blues classic and state of the art-rock.

Their repertoire consists of instrumental pieces of electric guitar and was sponsored by the brands Ernie Ball of world fame and British amplifiers Laney who support to several of the best guitarists and musicians of the world. May of 2010, he enters to be part as an artist of the house of guitars MUSIC MAN. In 2009 it was considered as one of the 500 new talents of the guitar shred and consequently one of the best talents of the guitar at world level by the web and specialized forums. At the moment he is directing their own academy of music “Academy of Music Pablo Mendoza” (AMPM).

Adolfo Herrera
He is born in Caracas, Venezuela, on June 15, 1975. From a very early age, it showed musical interests, being the electronic organ their first instrument. To the 14 years, he has their first contact with the drums, the one which finally adopted as their main instrument.

It begins their formal studies of music in the Roland Learning Center of Caracas, under the guidance of the Teacher Andrés Briceño. Emerges like a drummer at the time that begins to play with different juvenile bands of Pop, Rock, and Latin music.

During five years the music alternated with its university studies. He obtains the Graduate’s title in Social Communication at the Central University of Venezuela. Later on, he travels to Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. where it enters Berklee College of Music, where he studies drums with the professors: Kenwood Denard, Yoron Israel, Cacey Scheuerell and Jackie Santos. Of equal forms studies harmony and arrangements. It leaves Boston to work as a musician of the plant of the cruise Sovereign On The Seas during one year.

It returns to Venezuela to continue studying and growing as a drummer. He studied African-American-Venezuelan percussion with the Teacher Manuel Moreno and flamenco cajón with the Teacher Diego “El Negro” Álvarez. To their 35 years old, he bills with a wide career like accompanying musician and session drummer. He has recorded with artists like: Aldemaro Romero, Johnny Thunder (The Drifters), Aquiles Báez (Guitarist), Gerry Weil (Pianist), Huáscar Barradas (flute), Ed Simon (Pianist), María Fernanda Márquez, Hugo Fuguet (Guitarist), Oscar Fanegas (Bass), Leo Blanco (Pianist) C4 Trio, Alfredo José Requena (Clarinetist), Daniela Tugues, Anita Loynaz, Gonzalo Teppa, Cesar Muñoz, Rigel Michelena, A.5, Voz Véis, Rafael (El Pollo) Brito, Frank Quintero, Beverly Rego, Kiara, Antonieta, Divine, Elisa Rego, Pedro Castillo, Guillermo Carrasco, Alexis Cárdenas (violinist), Siudy Garrido (Flamenco), Alban Arthuan, The Astrolabes, Tártara, Doppler, José Alfonso Quiñones, Esperanza Márquez, Ofelia del Rosal, Mena, Winda Pierral, among others. It was invited to the 2do International Festival of Drummers of Caracas and it is already invited to the 3ra edition to be carried out this year. He is a member of Wahala, pop band, with 3 CDs already. Adolfo also is in the process of preparation of a particular work. He shared honors with Jordan Rudess “Explorations”, debut concert in Caracas.

Adrián van Woerkom
Of Dutch nationality, he begins their musical studies of Piano, Organ, Theory in 1975 with the Professor Gaston Bertocco. – In 1978 is part of the group of symphonic rock Relief, which carries out several concerts, presentations in T.V. and festivals of Rock in Caracas and inland. In 1981 form the group of Jazz-rock Krasis.

Studies: – In 1982 part towards Boston to study Composition, Orchestration and Orchestral Direction with specialization in Music for Cinema in Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts. During this period he studies with big musicians like Gary Burton (Improvisation), Jeronimous Kaszinkas and David.Callagan (orchestral direction) and Tom McGah (Composition and Analysis of the Music). During the 7 years in Boston, it is presented as much as soloist like in several groups of Rock and Jazz, giving concerts in Berklee and in several nights local of the city.

Work: – From 1985 he acts As Composer of Music for Cine,Teatro, Programs of TV, Commercial and Documental, time in which have been granted numerous prizes and recognitions at national and International level.

Oscar Fanega
A bass player born in Curazao in the year 1967. Graduated in 1998 in the “Workshop of Musicians from Barcelona” (Spain), as “Interpreter” and “Composer and Arreglista”. There study with important figures of the Jazz like Jeff Ballard, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ben Street, Mario Rossy and Javier Hill among others. It is one of the most sought-after bassoonists inside the musical environment of Caracas and it has developed their work in different groupings guided toward the jazz, the rock, the Latin music and Venezuelan accompanying grateful artists like Alfredo Orange tree, Gonzalo Micó, Roberto Shred, Gerardo Rosebushes, Rigel Michelena, Hugo Fuguet, Adrenaline Caribbean, Luz Marina, Frank Farmer, Leo Blanco, Baby Farmer, Doppler, Eon, etc.

In the year 2003 published their first disk as titled soloist SOLO/BASS recorded in their entirety with their electric first floor and with the help of electronic processors, in which develops an own and innovative language that integrates unusual elements of the electronic music.

In their new production BASS & PERCUSSION, published in 2009, Fanega reinvents its interpretation of the Electric First floor beside some of the best percussionists in Venezuela. As much SOLO/BASS as BASS & PERCUSSION, excellent critics have generated among the experts and he/she has wakened up a great curiosity in the most avant-garde audiences. Without a doubt an extraordinary material worthy of Contemporary Venezuelan Music’s collection and for the world.

At the moment he directs the “Workshop of Jazz Caracas”, noted institution dedicated to the formation of professionals in Music. Producing and playing bass for La Suki. Two EP by far. “Oscar Fanega personifies, better than any other national instrumentalist of its specialty, the unusual technical, sound, conceptual and technological evolution that the electric bass has developed in its sixty years of exciting history.”

Phil Naro
Phil Naro is a Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award-Winning Performer and one of the most sought after vocalist in the world as well as being an internationally acclaimed composer, singer, guitar player, songwriter and producer.

Phil Has recorded with some of the biggest names in the music business: Billy Sheehan, Peter Criss, Don Mancuso, Lou Gramm, among others.  

Naro is never one to sit still he is very active in the music scene from recording, producing, and touring. Current bands and Projects include: Unified Past, DDrive, and The Phil & John Show.

Band Members

Adrián van Woerkom: Keyboards, Lead & Backing Vocals
Pablo Mendoza: Guitars & Backing Vocals
Oscar Fanega: Bass & Backing Vocals
Adolfo Herrera: Drums, Percussion & Backing Vocals
Phil Naro: Lead & Backing Vocals

Discography

Through The Turbulence (2014)

Music

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