Ten Jinn - Ziggy Blackstar: A Tribute To David Bowie (2018) [Hi-Res]

TEN JINN, was formed in the beginning of 1991 by John Paul STRAUSS and Jimmy BOREL. Their first CD, 'WILDMAN', (produced by brothers Ken and Ivor FRANCIS) was recorded during the next couple of years and, after a good deal of delay punctuated by the band doing a good deal of live performance, the record was finally released in 1996. The years between 1993 and 1996 saw a lot of musicians come and go from the band, but by the time they were invited to perform at the "kick-off" party at Baja Prog in Mexicali, Mexico in 1998, the line-up consisted of John Paul STRAUSS on lead vocals and keyboards, Mark WICKLIFFE on drums and backing vocals, Bob NIEMEYER on keyboards and backing vocals, Mike MATIER on guitar and guitar-synthesizer, Matt OVERHOLTZER on bass and Chapman Stick, and Stan WHITAKER in the second guitar spot as a guest performer.

Partially as a result of the performance at Baja Prog 1998, Stan WHITAKER discovered that not only had the fan base for his 1970s progressive rock band, HAPPY THE MAN, not diminished, but had in fact grown and flourished in the underground prog-rock scene. This prompted Stan to get HTM boys back together for a new release. Meanwhile, TEN JINN, off the heady experience of rave reviews for their Baja Prog debut performance, redoubled their efforts and recorded the band's second CD, 'AS ON A DARKLING PLAIN', which was picked up for distribution in America by InsideOut Records and, in Europe, by Sweden Rock Records.

The year 1999 saw a further rise in the band's popularity with performances once again at Baja Prog, this time on the big stage at Teatro Del Estato. The second CD, which had been out just a few months prior, was receiving great reviews, and with a strong live show, as well, the band was invited to headline Prog Day, later that year in North Carolina. The years 1999 and 2000 saw TEN JINN gigging constantly up and down the West Coast from San Diego to Los Angeles to San Francisco. However, Stan WHITAKER was soon to leave the band permanently, and move back to Maryland, where he continued to work with band mates from HAPPY THE MAN on a new CD, as well as with his new band, OBLIVION SUN.

In 2001 the boys were back in the studio again, recording tracks for their third release, 'ALONE', at Ken FRANCIS' studio, Babaji's Cave, when STRAUSS decided to move to Sweden, where the second CD seemed to be doing rather better than it had been in the States, as well as for personal reasons. It was at this time, STRAUSS teamed up with Ken SKOGLUND, who took over Stan WHITAKER's guitar duties, and with the CD partially in-the-bag by the LA crew, the recording, mix and mastering was completed at Skoglund's Studio, "Sound Control Sweden," located in Skutskär, Sweden, just a few hours drive North of Stockholm. ALONE was released on Sweden Rock Records in 2003 and once again, John was out gigging with another line-up, this time with a group of Swedish musicians, which included SKOGLUND as the main axeman.

STRAUSS returned to the States a few years later in 2004 and, once again took a break from live- performance, to get an M.M. (Master's of Music) degree in theory and composition. The culmination of this was a symphonic poem "SISYPHUS," composed for piano and string orchestra. After a several-year homesteading stint, STRAUSS returned to music and reworked 'SISYPHUS', which the band recorded for TEN JINN's fourth release Appearing on this record are band members John STRAUSS, Mark WICKLIFFE, Mike MATIER, and Ken SKOGLUND, along with several guest musicians. 'SISYPHUS' marks the band's first vinyl release, and contains both vocal and instrumental versions of the piece.