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06/24:Thanks for a great show Wassabi From the Chameleon Project!


The Chameleon

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Friday, June 24, 2005

BC's Wassabi Collective CD Release Party

www.wassabi.net

w/Chameleon Project & Rollin' Cash

www.chameleonproject.com

www.djrollincash.com

El Mocambo (downstairs)

464 Spadina (@College)

www.elmocambo.ca

WASSABI COLLECTIVE RELEASES "CATO"

After months of rehearsals and arranging sessions, The Wassabi Collective proundly unveils its' first studio EP., "CATO" in March 2005. Recorded in Kelowna over five busy days, the album documents the band at the beginning of a new era. The five songs take The Wassabi' Collective's creativity to a new level, and are divided by interlude edits for a consistent listening experience.

Originally forming as a loose arts collective in the winter of 2000, jam sessions in a Penticton basement would sow the seeds for what has become one of Canada's best live independent bands today. Over the course of four years, Wassabi Collective has enthralled audiences from coast to coast with a rotating cast of members and a positive message of environmental and social activism.

The latest incarnation of the band is its most potent yet. Longtime members Scott Milne (bass) and Melissa Meretsky (vocals and percussion) welcomed Brent "Gisto" Hongisto (vocals and guitar) to the fold in 2003. In the spring of 2004 the band relocated to Nelson B.C., where they found Jimmy Lewis (vocals and drums). Wassabi's newest member is old friend and dj Rahj "Mahal" Levinson, on keys and guitar.

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The new line up remains committed to building on a strong foundation of over 400 live shows played and strong sales of their first and second albums "The Masquerade Sessions" and "Blue". With a series of live shows for sale on their last Ontario tour, sales have been in excess of 6500 units. Within four national tours and numerous regional outings, Wassabi has appeared at the Victoria Folk Fest, Penticton Peach Fest, and Koots Roots Festival in the Kooteneys. In 2003 they recieved wide acclaim for their sets at the North Country Fair in Alberta, Come Together Festival in Ontario, and Evolve 4 Music and Awareness Festival in Nova Scotia. In addition to appearences on Breakfast Television, Global, and a half-hour feature "Inside Pandora's Box" (Chum Television), Wassabi headlined a nationally broadcast New Year's Eve show with Randy Bachman and Hot Hot Heat on the New VI Network.

The winter of 2005 was their sixth national tour, which futher elevated Wassabi's national reputation. Performing alongside Michael Franti and Spearhead, Doc Martin, Simply Jeff, Eccodek, The Electrician, The Phat Conductor Wassabi headlined key underground festivals across Canada including: Om Festival, The Come Together Festival, EVOLVE Festival, and Shambhala Music Festival, which furthered solidified the group as unique Canadian Underground Phenomenon.

www.evolvefestival.com www.elmocambo.ca

THANKS FOR A GHREAT SHOW< AMAZING MUSIC AND WICKED WIBES> HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO IT AGAIN SOMETIME! SEE YOU AT EVOLVE!

:thumbup: :thumbup:

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We (The Chameleon Project) are looking forward to providing the local vibe at Wassabi's stop in the T-dot.

[color:red]Should be all killer and no filler and as always all live and no jive!

for those who are not farmilliar with our weird little band here is some info....

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[color:blue]Jazz + drum & bass, dub, breaks, funk, disco

=Intelligent groove

Improvisation keeps it engaging. It’s at the heart of all

great music… and it’s in the DNA of the members of the

Chameleon Project (CP).

CPs guitarist Josh Laing says the band is about using the

musical tools pioneered by the masters of the past coupled

with the innovations and technology of the present, to create

music for the future. “We’re all trained jazz musicians who’ve

been heavily influenced by groove-oriented music of everyone

from Art Blakey and Charlie Parker to James Brown and

the Meters, to Lee Scratch Perry, Amon Tobin, Grooverider

and the most frenetic drum & bass and free jazz.”

The band as tuned into the growing audience that appreciates

a wide range of improvised styles from straight ahead jazz to

the propulsive rhythms of electronic music. The band is not

afraid to take chances night after night and brings loyal

followers wherever they play.

Chameleon_Casual.jpg

WWW.CHAMELEONPROJECT.COM

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You know how we do SmoothedShredda.

And if y'all don't come to da show, ya' gots ta deal wit' her....

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And you don't want that playa!

I've been watching way more BET and Chapelle's show than one white man should be allowed. Ahhh..SKEET SKEET SKEET SKEET SKEET!!!

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PS WASSABI WIL BE PERFORMING AT FRONTIER TOWN ON SATURDAY NIGHT>> COME ON FRIDAY AND GET THE DETAILS>

I'm pretty sure the people at "that place" in Durham, ON have asked that these parties not be advertised or mentioned on jambands.ca... Since we are lucky enough to still be able to party up there, it would be nice if we respected their wishes...

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NOW MAGAZINE REVIEW

http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2005-06-23/music_discs17.php

THE WASSABI COLLECTIVE Cato EP (independent) Rating: NNN

Well-produced and -recorded and tastefully played, Cato features Melissa Meretsky, her cool voice restrained enough to keep the album from sounding too much like Dee-Lite, as can happen with vocalized funk and/or jam bands. The BC arts collective named after a Japanese condiment incorporate folk, psych and dub styles, and often sink into some really cool riffs and grooves, but sometimes they come in with that cock-rock or weird Depeche Mode sound. Still, there's substantial talent here. The Cato EP is a mostly successful effort to negotiate a style of music that could go horribly, cheesily wrong.

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