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Product Description Variable Unit's debut 'Seven Grain' is seven talented musicians; Ron E Beck / Drums (Tower of Power), Gregory Howe/guitar, Matt Montgomery/bass, Kat Ouano/keys, Jon Birdsong /Trumpet (Beck), MC Azeem and DJ Zeph (Lyrics Born) CMJ #2 Hip-Hop Album Review "This album will definitely expand your preconceived notions of hip-hop's contribution to music, and subsequently what its legacy will be." -- CMJ Music Magazine"VU's sounds drift from genre to genre, intermingling styles and influences while bringing their own unique vibe to the table." -- Elemental"Variable Unit, the most talented band the States has to offer." -- Straight No Chaser"[Abandon] ideas you may have about hip-hop or jazz...V.U. is proof that good music will outlive plastic pop crap." -- San Francisco Examiner From the Artist "It's in the new interesting combinations of samples, sounds, instruments, and players that musical boundaries are expanding most." - Greg Howe. About the Artist Variable Unit is more than a band. It is a community dedicated to the musical merging of breaks, hip-hop, down tempo, dub, classical, rock and soul. As the name suggests, the members of Variable Unit fluctuate over time. Although the personnel vary, there remains continuity in both the band's sound and feel; with a consistent, musical consistency, where high production is the standard for the group's evolution, the instrumentation is dedicated to the direction of the composition. Gregory Howe, as both producer and member of Variable Unit, has completely vested himself in the vibrant Bay Area music scene that continues to create the artistic community which has become the core of Wide Hive Records. In his production style, Gregory remains dedicated to bringing together young branching-out artists with musical legends. He plays guitar, percussion, and orchestrated arrangements and composed numerous pieces for all of the five Variable Unit productions. His influences are best felt on picks such a "Jumentous" and "Sirens". Matt Montgomery stands as the only musician on every Wide Hive full release for a reason. He has an unusual rhythmic and melodic blend that resonates incredibly well on bass. On Seven Grain, Matt delivers haunting, melodic grooves which perfectly compliment the foundation poured by Ron E. Beck. Matt's versatility on the upright bass provides an invaluable source of emotion for V.U. He provides a solid backbone for all of Variable Unit's live shows, and has performed with many talented musicians in the Bay Area including local legends Calvin Keys, Faye Carol, Mark Levine, and Graham Connah. Tracks such as "Seven Grain" bear his sonic touch. DJ Zeph has strongly contributed to Seven Grain. His edgy beats and cautious cutting instill a hardness found from the foundry of his hip-hop roots. For Zeph's sound, check out tracks like "Short Bread" and "Dr. J. Dub". Prodigy Kat Ouano has been playing piano since the age of six. As the keyboardist for the Bay Area live hip-hop group Crown City Rockers (formerly MISSION:), Kat has honed her skills recording and touring world-wide. Having studied at the Berkeley College Of Music, the 23-year-old's sound derives from classical and jazz traditions. Kat speaks a musical language that is specific and languid and brings a classical foundation into a jazz hip-hop era hungry for categorical blending. After growing up in a successful musical family in Omaha, Variable Unit drummer Ron E. Beck headed west at the age of eighteen to broaden his musical horizons. Within a year, in 1971, Ron E. found himself laying foundation for soul legend Clifford Coulter on Impuse rare-groove classic "Do It Now, Worry About It Later". Soon a Bay Area first-call sessionist, Ron E. proceeded to weave musical web with masters as diverse as John Lee Hooker and Carlos Santana before settling in with funk icons Tower Of Power. Most recently he recorded with blues diva Sister Monica, between giged dates with soul-jazz legends, Big John Patton and Calvin Keys. In Ron E. Beck's long and tenuous career, an early journey through the essential rudiments makes him one of the most highly demanded drummers in the Bay Area. Other special guest include: Natalie Sanchez on vocals and Babak Tondre on percussion on "Sirens". Azeem on vocals on "The Promise" and "Eighties Product". "Pyramid Scheme" and "Jumentous" feature Jon Birdsong on trumpet and tuba, Joe Cohen on saxophone, Michael Rinta on trombone, Ben Conrad on percussion and guitar, and Paul Hanson on Bassoon. "Short Bread" features Calvin Keys on lead guitar. See more