DATE: JUNE 20, 2024

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/MARCEE RONDAN, SRO PR

ROSS VALORY
TODAY MARKS THE SUMMER SOLSTICE
WITH THE RELEASE OF HIS INTERPRETATION OF
WAR’S “LOW RIDER”
THE CLASSIC CRUISING ANTHEM IS FEATURED ON
THE ORIGINAL JOURNEY BASSIST
AND SONGWRITER’S DEBUT SOLO ALBUM
‘ALL OF THE ABOVE’
WATCH THE DAZZLING VIDEO HERE

ROSS VALORY today (June 20) marks the summer solstice by rolling out a dazzling video for his interpretation of funk-rockers War’s classic cruising anthem “Low Rider.” It’s one of the highlights from the original Journey bassist and songwriter’s current debut solo album ALL OF THE ABOVE (OID Music). Watch the video HERE.

“Low Rider” is another visually colorful delight directed by Michael Cotten, who lensed the album’s three other videos. It was premiered yesterday by Ultimate Classic Rock.

Says ROSS: “Michael Cotten has done exceptional work on the videos for every song on the album. It may be obvious to all that he is greatly inspired by my music. Michael and I are naturally in sync. Michael hears what I see. He sees what I hear. And, likewise! “With the exception of a few strategic edits recommended on my part,” he adds, “Michael Cotten ran with the ball on this song from the beginning.”

Cotten outlines how he envisioned the video: “We could say that this visual treatment of the classic song is an homage to the great tradition of Mexican/American car culture. We wanted to heighten the brilliant baroque sensibility that Lowrider cars and bikes display!”

“Low Rider” gets a sturdy makeover as ROSS is joined by Josh Ramos of the Storm providing the proper Puerto Rican vocals. Hall of Famer Gregg Errico of Sly and the Family Stone handles drums, with additional percussion by Karl Perazzo from Carlos Santana’s band. Canadian reality TV star Les Stroud, the original “Survivorman,” an old friend of Valory’s, adds harmonica, and Marc Russo ties everything together on soprano sax, which by the end of the track, turns into a party. The other players lighting up “Low Rider” are Eric Levy (ogan, clavinet, synth) and guitarist Vernon “Ice” Black.

ROSS VALORY
Photo credit: Jérôme Brunet

What was ROSS’ inspiration to cover “Low Rider”? “As I had just completed the basic tracks, in 2018, for the first cover tune, “Incident at Neshabur/Senior Blue,” I said to the boys that there was one more cool cover tune that I had always wanted to do. They all said, ‘let’s do it.’”

“I first arranged the session by inviting Greg Errico, who was the perfect drummer for the song,” ROSS continues. “Les ‘Survivorman’ Stroud, who recorded the harp, just happened to be passing through town. I brought in guitarist Josh Ramos, who has the perfect voice for this song, to cut the vocal tracks. The basic tracks were completed with Vernon ‘Ice’ Black, who brought the perfect touch for such a tune. The overdubs were completed by veterans Marc Russo, on saxes, and Karl Perazzo on percussion. The whole recording experience was fast and easy, as a song like ‘Low Rider’ should be!

“Low Rider” marks the fourth video and track from the debut album from one of rock’s best bass guitarists and an original member of the multi-platinum band Journey. It follows the album’s three previous videos which Cotten created for “Tomland” (the album’s hypnotic first single), “Wild Kingdom (with its Latin-fired intensity), and “Windmill” (defined by its Brazilian flair).

ALL OF THE ABOVE was produced by VALORY and co-produced by Eric Levy and Jacob Stowe. The nine tracks on the album represent the full maturity of VALORY’s musical gifts, cutting a broad swath through the instrumental territory the music travels. He plays keyboards, guitar, and, of course, many basses in a display of cultivated virtuosity across a palette far broader than could be found in his work with Journey. He is stepping out from behind his bass and, for the first time in his more than half-century as a professional musician, representing his vision and his compositions.

VALORY left Journey in 2020 and the band members worked out their issues in a peaceful mediated settlement. VALORY, who spent most of his life as a member of Journey, has no regrets. He counts his blessings at having spent an amazing career with a remarkable group of musicians who succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.

Album cover for ALL OF THE ABOVE
Credit: Prairie Prince

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###

DATE:

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/MARCEE RONDAN, SRO PR

ROSS VALORY
UNVEILS VISUALLY THRILLING VIDEO FOR
“WINDMILL
FROM ‘ALL OF THE ABOVE’
OUT THIS FRIDAY APRIL 12

“WINDMILL”
MARKS THE THIRD RELEASE
FROM THE ORIGINAL JOURNEY BASSIST
AND SONGWRITER’S DEBUT SOLO ALBUM

WATCH HERE

Album cover for ALL OF THE ABOVE
Credit: Prairie Prince

To coincide with the release of his ALL OF THE ABOVE album out this Friday (April 12) on OID Music, ROSS VALORY has unveiled a new video for “Windmill.” Directed by Michael Cotten, the visually thrilling video leans into the song’s Brazilian flair with live action to animation video with tropical seascapes, samba dancers, and picturesque city scenes, alongside ROSS and the other musicians playing the song. Watch the video HERE.

“’Windmill’ is another Latin-inspired tune [from the album] that dances across Brazil!” ROSS says. “It was written on guitar and as a result this is the first time I’ve recorded guitar.”

He continues, “This is the third music video release, on which I am so very happy to be collaborating with Michael Cotten. His work is unique and sophisticated, and I’m honored to have my music paired with his visual  magic. Michael and I are continuing to develop video concepts for the entire album.”

“Creating the videos for Ross Valory’s new music ‘All Of The Above’ has been both challenging and thrilling!” Michael Cotten adds. “To have such great musical inspiration is a dream project for my video art.  Regarding ‘Windmill,’ Ross has created a musical playground that brings to mind a fantasy ‘Sambascape’ that celebrates the spirit of Brazil in an engaging visual party.”

For the track, VALORY brought in Celso Alberti, the brilliant Brazilian drummer from the Steve Winwood band, who lit up the piece, laying down a track where Karl Perazzo [from Santana] added his percussion. Core team member and acclaimed keyboardist Eric Levy added piano and synths. The original guitar part that VALORY played on his Godin nylon-string electric remained, as did some other electric guitar parts he played. VALORY dropped a new bass part on the track and saxophonist Marc Russo finished the piece.

“Windmill” marks the third video and track from the debut album from one of rock’s best bass guitarists and an original member of the multi-platinum band Journey until his 2020 departure. It follows the album’s two previous Cotten created for “Wild Kingdom (with its Latin-fired intensity) and “Tomland” (the album’s hypnotic first single).

The track’s credits are as follows:

WINDMILL
(Ross Valory)
Ross Valory – Bass Guitar, Guitars
Eric Levy – Piano, Synths
Karl Perazzo – Percussion
Celso Alberti – Drums
Marc Russo – Alto Saxophone

Single artwork
Credit: Prairie Prince

ROSS VALORY
Photo credit: Jérôme Brunet

ROSS VALORY always had pieces of music tucked away that he had written, although songwriting contributions to Journey slipped away after the first three “experimental” albums. As a member of Journey, VALORY concentrated on shaping the rhythm section and contributing his baritone vocals to the background blend.

During the band’s second coming following the 1995 reunion album Trial By Fire, VALORY began sorting through his files and polishing up some of his old notes. In between tour dates, he pulled together a tight-knit group of collaborators and slowly began to finish what he started. After a lifetime in music, VALORY scrupulously etched ALL OF THE ABOVE. The album was produced by VALORY and co-produced by Jacob Stowe and Eric Levy.

VALORY developed a repertory company of musicians over the years that came together at his studio. He cultivated individual numbers like sprawling projects, experimenting with different arrangements played by an assortment of musicians. Sometimes spending years jamming on these ideas, the pieces took shape slowly. Different ideas were tried and discarded, remodeled and refurbished. The basic concept was to find the heart of the material and expand upon it until VALORY could refine and shape the music’s path to his supreme satisfaction. He cast specific musicians to specific parts. The studio became his laboratory and the compositions his experiments.

From the Latin-fired intensity of “Wild Kingdom” to the ethereal dirge of “No One Wins a War,” the raucous party on “Low Rider” or the brilliant reprise of Santana’s “Incident of Neshabur,” the album presents an evolved artist fully in command of his vision, a lifetime of experience behind the project, augmenting his core associates with guest musicians such as Gregg Errico of Sly & the Family Stone, drummer Steve Smith, and saxophonist Marc Russo. The nine tracks on the album represent the full maturity of VALORY’s musical gifts, cutting a broad swath through the instrumental territory the music travels. He plays keyboards, guitar, and, of course, many basses in a display of cultivated virtuosity across a palette far broader than could be found in his work with Journey. He is stepping out from behind his bass and, for the first time in his more than half-century as a professional musician, representing his vision and his compositions.

VALORY left Journey in 2020 and the band members worked out their issues in a peaceful mediated settlement. VALORY, who spent most of his life as a member of Journey, has no regrets. He counts his blessings at having spent an amazing career with a remarkable group of musicians who succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.

The ALL OF THE ABOVE track listing is as follows:

Wild Kingdom
Nightflower
Tomland
Touched, Part II
Windmill
Incident at Neshabur
Low Rider
No One Wins a War

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SRO Press Releases + Assets HERE

Contact:

SRO PR
Mitch Schneider, mschneider@sropr.com
Marcee Rondan, marcee@sropr.com

###

DATE: FEBRUARY 27, 2024

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/MARCEE RONDAN, SRO PR

ROSS VALORY
ROLLS OUT DAZZLING SURREAL VIDEO FOR
THE LATIN-FIRED “WILD KINGDOM”
MARKS THE SECOND OFFERING
FROM THE ACCLAIMED ORIGINAL JOURNEY BASSIST
AND SONGWRITER’S DEBUT SOLO ALBUM
‘ALL OF THE ABOVE’
DUE OUT APRIL 12

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
FOR THE SINGLE
OUT THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 1

Album cover for ALL OF THE ABOVE
Credit: Prairie Prince

“After waiting several decades, I’m very happy to be finally sharing my music with the world! ‘All of the Above is a reflection of so many musical influences in my life, and my hope is to reach a vast and varied audience, possibly beyond the popular music I am known for.”– ROSS VALORY, 2024

ROSS VALORY is regarded as one of rock’s best bass guitarists and an original member of the multi-platinum band Journey until his 2020 departure. Today (February 27), he shares the dazzling, imagery-rich surreal video for “Wild Kingdom.” Brimming with Latin-fired intensity, the track will be available at all streaming platforms this Friday, March 1. It marks the second single from his debut solo album ALL OF THE ABOVE that’s due out April 12 on OID Music. Watch the video HERE.

The video for “Wild Kingdom” was directed by Michael Cotten, who did the same honors for the album’s first single and video “Tomland.” Watching the “Wild Kingdom” video—premiered earlier this week by Ultimate Classic Rock—is an engaging experience as it takes the viewer, through the eyes of a young girl, on a mysterious train ride into an exotic and colorful world where all kinds of animals live and thrive. The imagery is fascinatingly intertwined with the music that VALORY has written with collaborator Eric Levy, an alumnus of Garage Mahal who’s currently a touring member of Night Ranger. The track’s credits are as follows:

“WILD KINGDOM”
(Ross Valory, Eric Levy)
Ross Valory – Caliope, Bass Guitar
Eric Levy – Rhodes, Synth Flute, Singing Bowl
Karl Perazzo – Percussion
Walfredo Reyes, Jr. – Drums
Marc Russo – Alto Saxophone

VALORY says that “Wild Kingdom” is “definitely a good example of the variety of songs on this first album. I wrote the piece on a Calliope in the mid ‘80s and had the privilege of developing the arrangement with Karl Perazzo, master percussionist with Santana, in 2012. ‘Wild Kingdom’ became my first venture in recording with authentic Latin rhythms.”

Perazzo brought his Santana bandmate, Cuban drummer Walfredo Reyes Jr., to hold down the groove, which keyboardist Levy and saxophonist Marc Russo gently take slightly outside. But the calliope riff is always there to bring them home. Russo would be one of the key contributors to the VALORY sessions. Veteran of jazz-rock specialists Yellowjackets and for the past 25 years, a member of the touring band of the Doobie Brothers, Russo brings his fierce, angular sax style to the blend, perfectly suited to pair with Levy, who has played with jazz-rock fusion band Garage Mahal since 2000.

“Wild Kingdom” Single artwork
Credit: Prairie Prince

ROSS VALORY
Photo credit: Jérôme Brunet

ROSS VALORY always had pieces of music tucked away that he had written, although songwriting contributions to Journey slipped away after the first three “experimental” albums. As a member of Journey, VALORY concentrated on shaping the rhythm section and contributing his baritone vocals to the background blend.

During the band’s second coming following the 1995 reunion album Trial By Fire, VALORY began sorting through his files and polishing up some of his old notes. In between tour dates, he pulled together a tight-knit group of collaborators and slowly began to finish what he started. After a lifetime in music, VALORY scrupulously etched ALL OF THE ABOVE. The album was produced by VALORY and co-produced by Jacob Stowe and Eric Levy.

VALORY developed a repertory company of musicians over the years that came together at his studio. He cultivated individual numbers like sprawling projects, experimenting with different arrangements played by an assortment of musicians. Sometimes spending years jamming on these ideas, the pieces took shape slowly. Different ideas were tried and discarded, remodeled and refurbished. The basic concept was to find the heart of the material and expand upon it until VALORY could refine and shape the music’s path to his supreme satisfaction. He cast specific musicians to specific parts. The studio became his laboratory and the compositions his experiments.

From the Latin-fired intensity of “Wild Kingdom” to the ethereal dirge of “No One Wins a War,” the raucous party on “Low Rider” or the brilliant reprise of Santana’s “Incident of Neshabur,” the album presents an evolved artist fully in command of his vision, a lifetime of experience behind the project, augmenting his core associates with guest musicians such as Gregg Errico of Sly & the Family Stone, drummer Steve Smith, and saxophonist Marc Russo. The nine tracks on the album represent the full maturity of VALORY’s musical gifts, cutting a broad swath through the instrumental territory the music travels. He plays keyboards, guitar, and, of course, many basses in a display of cultivated virtuosity across a palette far broader than could be found in his work with Journey. He is stepping out from behind his bass and, for the first time in his more than half-century as a professional musician, representing his vision and his compositions.

VALORY left Journey in 2020 and the band members worked out their issues in a peaceful mediated settlement. VALORY, who spent most of his life as a member of Journey, has no regrets. He counts his blessings at having spent an amazing career with a remarkable group of musicians who succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.

The ALL OF THE ABOVE track listing is as follows:
Wild Kingdom
Nightflower
Tomland
Touched, Part II
Windmill
Incident at Neshabur
Low Rider
No One Wins a War

FACEBOOK
X
INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE

SRO Press Releases + Assets HERE

Contact:
SRO PR
Mitch Schneider, mschneider@sropr.com
Marcee Rondan, marcee@sropr.com

###

DATE: JANUARY 17, 2024

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/MARCEE RONDAN, SRO PR

ROSS VALORY
TODAY (JANUARY 17) RELEASES FIRST VIDEO FOR
“TOMLAND”

MARKS THE FIRST SINGLE
FROM THE ACCLAIMED BASSIST AND FORMER ORIGINAL
MEMBER OF JOURNEY’S DEBUT SOLO ALBUM
‘ALL OF THE ABOVE’
DUE OUT THIS APRIL

WATCH THE MOVINGLY ATMOSPHERIC VIDEO HERE
FOR THE NEW SINGLE
WHICH IS SET FOR RELEASE THIS FRIDAY

Album cover for ALL OF THE ABOVE
Credit:  Prairie Prince

“I have been revisiting material that has been accumulating, and I am sharing some of my favorite songs for the first time!”
– ROSS VALORY, 2024

ROSS VALORY, regarded as one of rock’s best bass guitarists and an original member of the multi-platinum band Journey until his 2020 departure, returns today (January 17) with the video for “Tomland.” It’s the hypnotic first single from the bassist and songwriter’s debut solo album ALL OF THE ABOVE due out this April (exact date TBA) on OID Music. Watch the movingly atmospheric video, directed by Michael Cotten, HERE, for the single which is out this Friday (January 19).

Single artwork
Credit:  Prairie Prince

Penned by VALORY, the all-instrumental “Tomland” marks the second piece recorded for the project—and the first done entirely at his new studio in the East Bay area of Northern California. The track builds to a ripping, climactic solo by red-hot guitarist Miles Schon, drummer Prairie Prince and keyboardist Eric Levy. VALORY had the basic parts kicking around since shortly after leaving the Steve Miller Band in 1972, a bluesey set of chords that roll into each other mellifluously, something he had jammed on a lot over the years. He pulled it out to fashion a piece that not only recalls the passing of collaborator Tom Size (accomplished engineer known for his work with Mr. Big, Y&T, and Aerosmith), but also offers an affirmation of resolve to move forward, the sunlight of optimism illuminating the process.

ROSS VALORY
Photo credit: Jérôme Brunet

ROSS VALORY always had pieces of music tucked away that he had written, although songwriting contributions to Journey slipped away after the first three “experimental” albums. As a member of Journey, VALORY concentrated on shaping the rhythm section and contributing his baritone vocals to the background blend.

During the band’s second coming following the 1995 reunion album Trial By Fire, VALORY began sorting through his files and polishing up some of his old notes. In between tour dates, he pulled together a tight-knit group of collaborators and slowly began to finish what he started. After a lifetime in music, VALORY scrupulously etched ALL OF THE ABOVE. The album was produced by VALORY and co-produced by Jacob Stowe and Eric Levy.

VALORY developed a repertory company of musicians over the years that came together at his studio. He cultivated individual numbers like sprawling projects, experimenting with different arrangements played by an assortment of musicians. Sometimes spending years jamming on these ideas, the pieces took shape slowly. Different ideas were tried and discarded, remodeled and refurbished. The basic concept was to find the heart of the material and expand upon it until VALORY could refine and shape the music’s path to his supreme satisfaction. He cast specific musicians to specific parts. The studio became his laboratory and the compositions his experiments.

From the Latin-fired intensity of “Wild Kingdom” to the ethereal dirge of “No One Wins a War,” the raucous party on “Low Rider” or the brilliant reprise of Santana’s “Incident of Neshabur,” the album presents an evolved artist fully in command of his vision, a lifetime of experience behind the project, augmenting his core associates with guest musicians such as Gregg Errico of Sly & the Family Stone, drummer Steve Smith, and saxophonist Marc Russo. The nine tracks on the album represent the full maturity of VALORY’s musical gifts, cutting a broad swath through the instrumental territory the music travels. He plays keyboards, guitar, and, of course, many basses in a display of cultivated virtuosity across a palette far broader than could be found in his work with Journey. He is stepping out from behind his bass and, for the first time in his more than half-century as a professional musician, representing his vision and his compositions.

VALORY left Journey in 2020 and the band members worked out their issues in a peaceful mediated settlement. VALORY, who spent most of his life as a member of Journey, has no regrets. He counts his blessings at having spent an amazing career with a remarkable group of musicians who succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.

The ALL OF THE ABOVE track listing is as follows:

Wild Kingdom
Nightflower
Tomland
Touched, Part II
Windmill
Incident at Neshabur
Low Rider
No One Wins a War

FACEBOOK
X
INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE

Contact:

SRO PR
Mitch Schneider, mschneider@sropr.com
Marcee Rondan, marcee@sropr.com

###