Jaco Pastorious, Jeff Beck, Ted Nugent, Brecker Bros, Whip Yer Ass, Steve Miller, George Clinton, Mike Stern, THE DEAD!, Bootsy Collins, Steve Via, Scott Henderson, Jean Luc Ponty, Birds of Fire, Dare We Go ON...???
Oh... and...
The moon, The sun, The stars, The earth ~ and all that jazz too. * smile *
These two exceptionally talented multi-instrumentalists combine for a unique blend of original alt-elemental acoustic grooves. From centered Americana vibes to free form fusion instrumentals, this energetic all-original duo lays it out, accelerates on corners, and blows out the walls!
On Sherri Thal:
An exceptional music teacher (voice, violin, and theory) and talented vocal arranger, Ms. Thal put the gloss on the first Lava Jam Band CD "In the Beginning". Additionally she played violin and percussion throughout the disc. She has taught and performed in Europe, the US and the UK; handled the music duties for Playback Theater Hawaii; has been the Musical Director of the Belfast Community Circus and The HICCUP childrens' Circus, creating their first youth bands and co-composing original material for performance in their shows. Sherri is an accomplished performer of classical, jazz, and rock since 1980. Her venues have run the gamut from the San Francisco Bay Area Chamber Choir to guest violin player with Michelle Shocked. She has a degree in Music (Summa cum Laude) from California State University, Hayward. Currently a music educator in both the public and private sectors, Ms. Thal continues to perform and arrange in Lava Jam Band, as well as composing and performing with her partner Brent in The Elementalz.
On Brent Magstadt:
Guitar has been the primary focus of Brent since the early days of 1976. He has toured through Slovenija & Italy as a duet, played festivals, B & B Inns and pubs along the way, composed for radio, television commercials, film trailers and CD-Rom sales pitches for software companies. Magstadt has studied jazz, classical, and is - similar to Ms. Thal - an accomplished multi-instrumentalist. A vinyl release in 1985 was subsequently followed by extensive ensemble performances, including stage shares with Andy Narrell, Carl Fontana, and Randy Brecker. The year 2005 finally brought Brent to the studio, resulting in his first solo CD release "Brent Magstadt". Currently writing and recording with Ms. Thal for his next release, Brent continues to perform with The Elementalz, and as a sideman in Lava Jam Band.
Sherri Thal vocal arrangements on "In The Beginning" (Lava Jam Band - 2001) - CD Baby
Brent Magstadt solo CD "Brent Magstadt" (Slippina Disc - 2005) - CD Baby
Brent Magstadt and Sherri Thal – The Elementalz – bring their signature blend of voice and instruments to every piece they play…and it’s a meandering range of everything from protest folk to savage rock, instrumental funk, show tunes and standards. They fear no genre and, in so doing, create their own. Brent’s percolator guitar virtuosity is formidably matched by Sherri’s throbbing violin in Magstadt’s original Samba De Los Rocos. Thal’s sweetly powerful voice transforms The Grateful Dead’s "Stella Blue" into a mesmerizing haunt of a ballad. And, they apply this conversion tactic to every piece they tackle, holding their audience in a heightened state of surprise and delight.
Holding audience with The Elementalz is an intimate, dramatic and playful experience – an opportunity that should be seized any time it’s presented. -- Susan McCabe, VPD, Vashon Island, WA
Press Blurb from the Michelle Shocked show on Vashon Island - 2004:
Folkworks - September-October 2004 (page 6)
"Tied to the Tracks" - by Larry Wines
... Leaving Marymoor early took me from northeast of Seattle to it's southwest extremes, and two minutes to spare for the Fauntleroy ferryboat to Vashon Island. There, L.A-resident Michelle Shocked played a sold-out charity benefit. It was the second appearance of her bold new "jam with Michelle" participation concert, begun the previous night in Milwaukee. It allows local musicians to register and get the set list on-line, then join her on stage for the performance. Hard to believe, but it worked so well she played the entire show with her impromptu ensemble band, and it wasn't just the locals who rated it as a fine, solid and fun show. Locals included Andre Sapp of the Nettle Cats, and visiting fiddle player Sherri Thal of the Lava Jam Band - from Hawaii - bringing recognition that all the "island" musicians were first-rate."
Hey yous guys..thanks for the request and wonderful music...great vibes. Could use a gig your way around February when the winds are blowing wet weather into the Washington coast. Be well, Chris
Hello...Thank you very much..I know the band comments can be pretty cheesy, but we had to say Hi to all our new friends...since you and others gave us a chance...and we care very much about people giving us their time...thanks again
