Sound Liberation, an eclectic chamber ensemble/band, was formed in 1996. The band has gained exposure in the New York city area and has generated a loyal core following playing such notable venues as Joe's Pub, Wetlands, Knitting Factory, The Blue Note, Downtime, New Music Cafe, Cutting Room, Le Poisson Rouge and many other performing spaces.
Sound Liberation's musical philosophy, developed by band founder Gene Pritsker, is based upon "ending the segregation of sound vibration (i.e. musical Genres)". The group incorporates its philosophy by performing compositions that encompass a diverse range of musical genre, heavily influenced by hip-hop and rock rhythms. This enables one to hear elements from classical music to Jazz to music of various cultures at a Sound Liberation show.
​
The group performed at the Outreach Festival '06 and '07 and ’14 in Schwaz, Austria. In '07 Sound Liberation performed at the Estonian House and presented Gene Pritsker's Opera 'Money' at the Players Theatre and Flea Theatre in New York. In May of '08 'Money' was performed at the Etna music Festival in Catania, Sicily and Sound Liberation played in Ragusa, Sicily. In July '08 they performed at the Blaine jazz Festival in Blaine, Wa. In May of '09 Sound Liberation presented 2 nights at the Flea theater, performing Gene Pritsker's one hour VRE Suite written for the Sound Liberation Quintet and a concert with B3+ of music from their albums on Col-Legno records. In September 2011 they performed at the Bremen Musik Fest in Germany. In past years the group was part of the Peekaboo Festival of New Music, 21st Century Schizoid at Cornelia Street Cafe, and Theater and has toured Newfoundland, Canada in April of '99.
In August of '09 the Song No Truth was featured in the Universal Home Videos motion picture 'The Wedding Bothers'. In the fall of 2010 'Human Condition' was featured on PBS's Road Trip Nation series. The band played a very publicized concert at New York's Le Poisson Rouge in January '10, the New Yorker wrote: "Pritsker, a rule-breaking composer-guitarist (and rapper) who impresses funk and rock beats onto classical structures, fronts this eclectic jazz-type combo of singers and instrumentalists"
The group has released these albums:
1. Sound Liberation (self released)
2. Open Up Your ears & Get Some (Col Legno Records)
3. VRE suite (Innova Records)
4. Days (Composers Concrodacen Records)
5. Rite Through an Eclectic Spectrum (Composers Concrodacen Records)
6. Money (self released)
7. Let's Save The World Suite (Composers Concrodacen Records)
8. Better Now (Composers Concrodacen Records)
​
​
“Sound Liberation display a level of multi-instrumental virtuosity
and imagination that makes middleweight prog acts seem positively
pedestrian by comparison. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea for sure but for
the open-minded muso, there’s weeks and weeks of musical nourishment t
o feast upon in these thirteen tracks.“
- Jodi Mullen, This is Not A Scene, Jul. 2012 -
​
"Unexpected twists and turns...The result my have you seeing visions...
strains of jazz,contemporary classical music, minimalism, and even
hip-hop and African rhythms "
- John Ephland, Downbeat, Nov. 2010 - FULL REVIEW (page 59 of the pdf)
​
​
​
​
"Pritsker’s muse is a restless one and through it he very successfully balances the roles of artist and militant,
contemporary composer and free improviser, guttural rocker and aerial jazzer." "Erik T. Johnson, whose words
and declamation are utterly contemporary. Behind and through Johnson’s powerful spoken word performances, Pritsker’s music soars, testifies and exemplifies the struggle." "Once the improv section takes flight, Pritsker
channels the expressionist soundscapes of Robert Fripp, but one hears John McLaughlin and bits of Jimi Hendrix too."
- The New York City Jazz Record by John Pietaro 11/22 FULL REVIEW
​
"A brilliant collision of instrumentation and vocals,
that sonically take your ears on a journey of pure bliss!”
- Bound 2 Hip Hop, Feb. 2014
"Days, loaded with mind-blowing compositions rich
with stylistic variation and raw musical talent"
- Niji Magazine, Feb. 2014 Full Review & Interview
"Gene Pritsker, a composer without musical boundaries…"
- United-Mutations, Feb. 2014 Full Review
"Literally one of the best Hybrid Hip Hop/R&B/Electric music
albums we have ever heard"
- undergroundhiphopblog.com, Jan. 2014
“When a composer gets into R&B/Rock/Pop you expect something interesting. And with Gene Pritsker's
Sound Liberation you get it."..."It's not just that things are combined that don't ordinarily come together, it is that they do so with a musical result that grabs you and does not let go" -
- Gapplegate Guitar & Bass Blog writes in Nov. 2010/2013 Full Review
"Pushing boundaries by creating a style of sound & music that is like no other…incredibly unique & original to the point where it will make your head spin!"
- - Jimmy Rae - Skope magazine - Full Review
"Chanda Rule...gorgeously arranged ballads that mix strings, brass and rhythm to passionately expressed messages. I could listen to this lady all day. "
- jazzweekly.com
The members of Sound Liberation include:
Gene “Noizepunk” Pritsker
(composer, guitarist, rapper)
David “Criminal Cello” Gotay R.I.P
(rapper, cellist)
Greg “B-man” Baker (guitarist)
Charles “Das Krooner” Coleman (singer)
Chanda Rule (voice)
Franz Hackl (trumpet)
Mat Fieldes (bassist)
David Rosenblatt (drummer)
Jose Moura (bass)
Joe Abba (drummer)
as well as guest performers such as:
John Clark (horn)
Dave Taylor (trombone)
Damien Bassman (drums)
Lara St. John (violin)
Valery Ponomarev (trumpet)
James “The Prophet” Gotay (rapper)
Vessko Gellev (violinist)
Mychio Suzuki (clarinetist)
Margaret Lancaster (flutist)
Melenie Mitrano (voice)
More REVIEWS & FEATURES
​
​
http://www.muzicnotez.com/magazine/2014/01/sound-liberation-video-for-breath/
​
​
Reviews of Sound Liberations album: VRE Suite
All About Jazz
gapplegateguitar.blogspot
Downbeat
United-Mutations
Review of 'Open Up Your Ears... album in New Music Connoisseur
Review of Rite Through An Eclectic Spectrum on Conteporry Fusion
"Literally one of the best Hybrid Hip Hop/R&B/Electric music albums we have ever heard"…"Superior Production with heavy orchestra style acoustical flavors, Quality Overwhelming R&B vocals (Chanda Rule) & Heavily Electric sounds who would have known ingredients like this would create such a memorable and comforting album to vibe out to"…"We are positive when this album is launched it will be an instant success and become a true CLASSIC Album for all music fans to enjoy. "
- undergroundhiphopblog.com, Jan. 2014 - FULL REVIEW
"Pushing boundaries by creating a style of sound & music that is like no other…incredibly unique & original to the point where it will make your head spin!…Sound Liberation blends so many different genres together but makes all the parts & pieces fit together perfectly…Their music is breaking musical barriers by taking the audience on an unforgettable ride full of pleasant surprises and places they’ve never been before..‘Days’ has huge potential to become a game-changing Hit!"
- Jimmy Rae - Skope magazine - Full Review
"A brilliant collision of instrumentation and vocals, that sonically take your ears on a journey of pure bliss!”
- Bound 2 Hip Hop, Jan. 2014
"Days, loaded with mind-blowing compositions rich with stylistic variation and raw musical talent; a combination that is sure to create a unique and innovational addition to anyone’s musical repertoire."
- Niji Magazine, Jan. 2014 - Full Review & Interview
"Gene Pritsker, a composer without musical boundaries, blends soulful rhythm 'n blues with chamber music strings and hip-hop rhymes. And he might add some bop jazz guitar lines on the spot…My favorite track is 'What Shall I Do', a beautiful song that features the superb voice of Chanda Rule, accompanied by a string quartet and a guitar. Worth checking out."- United-mutations, Feb. 2014 - Full Review
When a composer gets into R&B/Rock/Pop you expect something interesting. And with Gene Pritsker's Sound Liberation you get it. The singles "Need" and "Breath" from the upcoming album Days (Composer's Concordance) give you something of substance. Chanda Rule has a very appealing and original voice and she is out front on both songs. The songs in turn have nice twists and turns you'd expect from Gene. And the arrangements have grit and musicality, with some especially good cello writing.
So what else to say except this is nice music that you should give a listen to. I wish Sound Liberation all success on this one!
- Grego Applegate Edwards, Gapplegate, Oct. 2012
“Sound Liberation display a level of multi-instrumental virtuosity and imagination that makes middleweight prog acts seem positively pedestrian by comparison. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea for sure but for the open-minded muso, there’s weeks and weeks of musical nourishment to feast upon in these thirteen tracks.“
- Jodi Mullen, This is Not A Scene, Jul. 2012 - FULL REVIEW
​
‘Rite Through an Eclectic Spectrum’ on Composers Concordance Records.
Released in Jan. of 2018: http://noizepunk.wixsite.com/riteeclecticspectrum
“Serious high energy virtuosic jazz by a truly driven and dedicated group”…”What is very clear is that these musicians are having a lot of fun”…”Gene Pritsker strikes again.”…”This is a very appealing album “
- New Music Buff, 12/17
​
“…a fine tribute to Stravinsky's courage…mixes and remixes the original themes brilliantly…a nice surprise”
- Réjean Beaucage VOIR, 1/18
​
“pretty exciting and tribal,…Modern classical teams with urban inner cities and Soweto on this wide ranging gig.”
- George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly, 1/18
​
'In his typical eclectic style, mixing hip-hop and beats with jazz, Gene Pritsker gives ‘The Rite Of Spring’ a contemporary twist."Rite Through An Eclectic Spectrum". I like it. ‘
- Peter Van Laarhoven , United-mutations, 11/17
​
“A remarkable CD...Big sound with an impressive punch...impressive solos and a compelling dynamism…piercingly intense guitar solo…intending to make music dangerous again.”
Paul H. Muller, Sequenza21, 1/18
​
“Pritsker and his fellow musicians gleefully crash through borders and smash conventions in this performance. In world dominated by safe, carefully calculated music-making—calculated to make money, this CD is refreshing. If it tweaks our collective noses, perhaps they deserve tweaking. This might be on my Want List at the end of the year.
-Fanfare, Raymond Tuttle 5/18
​
'Open Up Your Ears and Get Some' on Col Legno Records:
"an exceptionally complex and challenging record that lays down a gauntlet to the listener. After listening to a the album on and off for a week, I feel that I’ve only just started to get under the skin of Sound Liberation "
- Jodi Mullen, This is Not A Scene
"The freedom of sounds, as the name su∞ggests, is truly implemented in a masterful way"
- Thorsten Bendnarz - Jazzethic Magazine
In July 2010 Innova Records released Sound Liberations 3rd album:
Gene Pritsker's 'VRE Suite' written for the quintet portion of Sound Liberation:
"Sound Liberation are afraid of nothing, mixing rhythm and genre to the point where the listener simply gives up on labels and enjoys the ride!....grab this indie gem now!"
- RootdownFM.com
"4 stars" "unexpected twists and turns...The result my have you seeing visions...strains of jazz, contemporary classical music, minimalism, and even hip-hop and and African rhythms"
- John Ephland, Downbeat
​
In 2014 the band released their 4th studio album entitled 'Days’.
Songs from the album have been featured on radio stations across America and the CD has received extremely positive reviews:
"Literally one of the best Hybrid Hip Hop/R&B/Electric music albums we have ever heard"
- Underground Hip Hop Blog
"Days, loaded with mind-blowing compositions rich with stylistic variation and raw musical talent
- Niji Magazine
"Pushing boundaries by creating a style of sound & music that is like no other…
incredibly unique & original to the point where it will make your head spin!"
- Skope Magazine