Gentle Giant
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(1970 – 1980)
Gentle Giant formed out of the blues based (and later psychedelic) group Simon Dupree & The Big Sound in 1970, which featured the multi-instrumental Shulman brothers Derek Shulman, Ray Shulman, and Phil Shulman. They joined with guitarist Gary Green, keyboard player Kerry Minnear, and a series of drummers (John Weathers most consistently, also Martin Smith and Malcom Mortimore) to play music beyond the scope of ordinary rock, though with still a hint of blues in Green’s guitar. Minnear’s elaborate arrangements featured elements of both medieval polyphony and twentieth century composition.
In particular, the complex four-part vocal arrangements give the band its unusual character, with each part functioning independently rather than forming simple harmonies. The instrumental parts were just as complex, often featuring interlocking parts often in odd meters, all backed by a solid drum pattern.
Cello, violin, recorder, saxophone, and vibraphone (all handled by band members) figure prominently in the arrangements in addition to Minnear’s keyboards.
The band took their name in tribute to the giant Pantagruel from the satirical Renaissance fiction of Rabelais. The band disbanded in 1980.
Ray Shulman went on to become quite a renowned producer at the alternative scene from the late Eighties and onwards, working with oddball likeminded, but musically extremely competent indie acts such as Icelandic The Sugarcubes and Danish art-pop group The Poets (originally Poets Of The Signature, in the US and Canada known as The Sealand Poets).
In particular, the complex four-part vocal arrangements give the band its unusual character, with each part functioning independently rather than forming simple harmonies. The instrumental parts were just as complex, often featuring interlocking parts often in odd meters, all backed by a solid drum pattern.
Cello, violin, recorder, saxophone, and vibraphone (all handled by band members) figure prominently in the arrangements in addition to Minnear’s keyboards.
The band took their name in tribute to the giant Pantagruel from the satirical Renaissance fiction of Rabelais. The band disbanded in 1980.
Ray Shulman went on to become quite a renowned producer at the alternative scene from the late Eighties and onwards, working with oddball likeminded, but musically extremely competent indie acts such as Icelandic The Sugarcubes and Danish art-pop group The Poets (originally Poets Of The Signature, in the US and Canada known as The Sealand Poets).
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Top Albums
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Octopus
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Gentle Giant
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Acquiring The Taste
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The Power And The Glory
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Shoutbox
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lionizz wrote:
this kind of music is melodic and pleasant. I like.
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pablo323 wrote:
absolutely underrated [2]
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davesantos wrote:
Gentle Giant Caraio!!! [2]
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JLucasACDC wrote:
Gentle Giant Caraio!!!
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pablo323 wrote:
Good job people like Mikael Akerfeldt from Opeth are suggesting these amazing 70's prog bands, like Gentle Giant, to a younger audience. Kids need a bit of musical education these days. [6]
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s434b wrote:
One of four greatest bands ever, with The Beatles, King Crimson & Pink Floyd.
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CasiniProjekt wrote:
Hey, please check out my music, its free! http://cassiniprojekt.bandcamp.com/ or http://www.last.fm/music/The+Cassini+Projekt/Blind+Vision Also check out my new music video, I did the CG http://youtu.be/wL5A88cuxwY
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ProgShine wrote:
http://progshine.com/2012/01/07/gentle-giant-free-hand-e-interview-sao-relancados-em-cddvd-lp/
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GentilGigante wrote:
Che dire? Il mio nickname parla chiaro, il mio avatar (attuale 5/01/12) pure. È la mia band preferita. Mi stupiscono, le loro musica è opera d'arte. Cibo squisito e salutare per le mie orecchie. Maestri del progressive (seppure questo termine sia troppo vago per loro, anzi sia vago in ogni caso). I "Picasso" della musica. Troppo underground, purtroppo, meriterebbero una fama mondiale. Saluti.
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wichobabas wrote:
=) wooooop
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JLucasACDC wrote:
pqp q banda foda!!!!!!!!
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DANIIGUIIMA wrote:
o......o
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Bentwick09 wrote:
this is really quality music...., cranky but brilliant...... & Why Not [2]
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Mistermasyl wrote:
Gentle Giant's first album today in broadcast "za PROGiem"! http://za-progiem.blogspot.com/2011/12/ostatnia-audycja-w-2011-roku.html
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kissesneverdie wrote:
@PsychoLold: Completely agree, but it's refreshing to hear someone like Akerfeldt recommend some awesome music to at least his fans. Because if anyone is going to really love Gentle Giant, it's going to be Opeth's fans.
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CasiniProjekt wrote:
Hey check out my album, its free to download http://www.last.fm/music/The+Cassini+Projekt/Blind+Vision
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PsychoLold wrote:
I think Opeth fans aren't exactly the kind of 'kids' that urgently need some musical education. There are lots of other people that need it really badly.
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HOD2010 wrote:
Good job people like Mikael Akerfeldt from Opeth are suggesting these amazing 70's prog bands, like Gentle Giant, to a younger audience. Kids need a bit of musical education these days. [5]
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rockomotywa wrote:
prog4life, what happend to music?
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Majest1c_ wrote:
New second favourite band? I think so. Fuck, these guys are good.
Videos
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Play
Proclamation
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Three Friends - School Days
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Three Friends
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Words From The Wise
News
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User:LauroEthelbert668
30 Nov 2011 | from www.blazemonger.com/GG/Special:RecentChanges -
30 Nov 2011 | from www.blazemonger.com/GG/Special:RecentChanges -
30 Nov 2011 | from www.blazemonger.com/GG/Special:RecentChanges
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Recent Activity
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wowtaku added Gentle Giant to wowtaku’s library. yesterday evening
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5dave tagged Gentle Giant with uk and progressive rock. yesterday evening
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ZUBIMANELZUBI, hal0022, easytoslipaway and 22 other people added Gentle Giant to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
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Shadop tagged Gentle Giant with ‘progressive rock’. Monday afternoon
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Leoyarzo, greglypoop123, FarqyofFib and 4 other people added Gentle Giant to their libraries. Monday morning
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EmptyBlackBox tagged Gentle Giant with ‘progressive’. Sunday afternoon
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EmptyBlackBox, nibykot, Chombier2 and 6 other people added Gentle Giant to their libraries. Sunday afternoon
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pablo323 tagged Gentle Giant with ‘underrated’. Saturday morning
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FelipeVidal, Marcus1601, SheCanDestroy and 1 other person added Gentle Giant to their libraries. Saturday morning
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WickeRogs tagged Gentle Giant with rock and progressive rock. Friday afternoon
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Groups (157)
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za PROGiem
62 members
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Gentle Giant Fans
226 members
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Eclectic Prog
63 members
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Focus
76 members
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Progressive Forever
146 members
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