The John Irvine Band: The progressive rock album that Allan Holdsworth never made!

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The John Irvine Band have released the new and fifth album Psychopomp, and this is a well-produced and well written album with many very good songs. The songs is within the more creative and complex field of prog.

John Irvine Band s a jazzrock project lead by the composer and guitarist John Irvine.

«The progressive rock album that Allan Holdsworth never made»,

René Yedema.

«Intelligently written progressive fusion», Warren Barker (Progression Magazine)

«The John Irvine Band, a daring UK jazz fusion ensemble expertly doing its own thing», Gregory Kemp, La Villa Strangiato.

The John Irvine Band is based in Edinburgh, Scotland.  John Irvine is a composer and writer. His work straddles many genres, idioms and styles, including classical composition, jazz-rock fusion, theater music, poetry, short stories and Sci-Fi novels.

Irvine musical education began in the 80’s at Dartington College Of Arts, after which he studied classical guitar and eventually in the 90’s Music Composition at the University of Edingburgh.

Irvine`s work crosses over into many territories, from theatre and movie music, writing novels, as well as lecturing on music composition at the University of Edingburgh; he and his band though are interesting for fans of progressive fusion as their two released albums up to this date have resemblance to music of Allan Holdsworth.

Tracklist:

1. Changing Worlds (9:52)

2. Psychopomp (5:48)

3. The Devil’s Work (1:44)

4. Esoteric Dimensions (8:14)

5. Weight Of The Heart (4:57)

6. In A Higher Gear (4:47)

7. The Melancholy Martian (4:51)

8. Childhood Jetpack Delirium (8:22)

Total Time 48:35

Credits

John Irvine: Guitar, Keys & Bass and Calum McIntyre: Drums. Drums recorded & final mix/master by Stuart Hamilton @ Castlesound Studios

John Irvine initially trained as a classical guitarist, studying at Dartington College of Arts for two years after leaving school, and then at the Royal Scottish Academy Of Music & Drama (Glasgow) where he studied with Phillip Thorne, gaining a BA in Music Performance (1989) and winning the Guitar Challenge Prize (1988).

Following a Post-Grad Certificate in Performance (1990), he began a PhD in music composition, with Nigel Osborne at the University of Edinburgh, in 1992. This was completed in 1999. At this time, he was also working in Scottish theatre where he wrote music for over 40 productions, 20 of which were for the Traverse Theatre (Edinburgh).

He has taught at St Mary’s Music School (Edinburgh) and The City of Edinburgh Music School (where he currently works) and lectured for two years (2008-10) at Edinburgh Napier University, where he was asked to redesign their ‘Music, Creativity & Communication’ course for the BA in Popular Music. He also works as a PSA in Edinburgh Schools.

The John Irvine Band was formed in the summer of 2011 and has released four critically acclaimed CDs of progressive jazz-rock music: ‘Wait & See’ (2011), ‘Next Stop’ (2013), ‘Metaphysical Attractions’ (2018) and his latest album ‘The Machinery Of The Heavens’ (2020).

All four albums have received awards and plaudits from many magazines and websites. Several tracks have been played on internet and terra firma radio stations, such as: The Prog Rock Palace, Xymphonia, El Ritorno Del Gigante, Canvas Prog Hour, Friday Night Progressive, La Villa Strangiato and many more.

John has written 3 novels – part of a humorous sci-fi trilogy entitled The Mikita Smith Chronicles. Inspired by the books of Terry Prattchet and Douglas Adams, each book is filled to the brim with irreverence and takes space opera situations to their logical conclusions of ridiculousness.

John is also a published poet and short-story writer, having had works included in several journals and web-zines such as Poetry Scotland, The Open Mouse, Blinking Cursor, Essence, Ink, Sweat & Tears, A Handful of Stones, South and Streetcake Magazine, amongst others.

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