Jasper Wrath
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Jasper Wrath | |
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Origin | Scott Zito Jeff Batter |
Jasper Wrath was a
History
Jasper Wrath formed in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1969. The original lineup consisted of drummer Jeff Cannata of New Haven power trio band Christopher Hawke, as well as keyboardist Michael Soldan, guitarist Robert Giannotti, and bassist Phil Stone from the Connecticut-based band Buckle. Promoter John DuBuque recalls, "I had booked Christopher Hawke for an outdoor show in Milford. In true agency form, another group showed up, Jasper Wrath. I believe it was their first gig. Although upset, I knew, once they started playing, I had never heard or seen anything like this before around here."[1] Uninterested in doing cover material, the band wrote a handful of songs in the next six to eight months and sent a few demos to record companies in New York and Los Angeles. Within a couple of weeks, interest from LA based MGM Records prompted a call to set up a live showcase with their New York office. Weeks later, contracts were negotiated and Jasper Wrath had their first record deal. Their first album was recorded in six weeks at Phil Ramone’s A&R Studio in New York; Wrath was on its way. The self-titled debut was released in 1971.
Just as a national tour was being scheduled, Giannotti left the band. After months of searching for the right replacement, without any luck, the band temporarily split. Cannata and Soldan, influenced by the British progressive art rock scene at the time, decided to move to
After returning to Connecticut, the band set out to find the right chemistry of players to perform the material live. To augment the sound, Phil Stone learned how to play the flute along with bass. Cannata then recruited James Christian from local band HOOKA as their new frontman on lead vocals and guitar. Scott Zito was added to the band on lead guitar, but left after a couple of years. Jeff Batter, who had been classically trained since the age of four, was later added as the group's second keyboardist.[2] It was during this period in the mid-1970s that Jasper Wrath scored a regional No. 1 hit with the song "You". The band quickly became one of the most popular live acts in the area.[3]
Unfortunately, due to commercial and non-commercial musical differences, the members of Jasper Wrath went their separate ways in 1976.
Band members
- Jeff Cannata- drums, percussion, guitar, woodwinds, vocals (1969–1971, 1973-1976)
- Michael Soldan - keyboards, vocals (1969–1971, 1973-1976)
- Phil Stone - bass, flute, vocals (1969–1971, 1973-1976)
- Robert Gianotti - guitar, flute, vocals (1969–1971)
- James Christian - lead vocals, guitar (1973–1976)
- Scott Zito - guitar, keyboards, vocals (1973–1974)
- Jeff Batter - keyboards, vocals (1973–1976)
Discography
Studio albums
- Jasper Wrath (1971)
- Coming Back (1977) as Arden House
- Zoldar & Clark (1977) as Zoldar & Clark
Compilation albums
- Anthology: 1969-1976 (1996)
Singles
- "You" / "General Gunther" (1975)
References
- ^ Cannata, Jeff, Biography of Jasper Wrath
- ^ ProgArchives.com, Jasper Wrath
- ^ Christian, James, James Christian: The Whole Story
- ^ Cannata, Jeff, Jeff Cannata Biography
- ^ Stone, Doug, Arc Angel Biography, archived from the original on October 22, 2004
- ^ Rönnqvist, Greger, Jasper Wrath Anthology
- ^ Ferrucci, Patrick, "Plenty of shows, news and BIG events", New Haven Register