Derek Sherinian "The Phoenix (USA, InsideOut Music, 19739783232)"

The Phoenix is the eighth studio album by keyboardist Derek Sherinian, released on 18 September 2020. It is Sherinian's first solo studio album since Oceana, which was released in 2011.

The Phoenix has been critically well received. Bosco Aguilar of Prog Report stated that "when I finished listening to the album for the first time, I found myself excited for everyone to listen to it. Fantastic production, catchy and powerful songs, each guitarist's personality shined across the album, and of course a Derek Sherinian who shows again why he is one of the greatest prog keyboardists". Rodrigo Altaf Sonic Perspectives stated that "true to their vision, Derek and Simon achieved what is seemingly impossible for an album with so many guests: a unified sound and a clear direction. Perhaps inadvertently, they created THE guitar album of 2020, even though keyboards and drums are the main driving force throughout the compositions". Steph Warren stated that "the riffs and melodies on these tracks are very reminiscent of early Led Zeppelin with great rolling waves of guitar and keyboard, the mix of different inputs create a wide space of sound". Laurence Todd stated that the album will "have a definite appeal to prog fans, given when Sherinian made his name, but it should also appeal to anyone with a fondness for exceptional musicianship of a modern fusion persuasion with some crunching guitar included just for good measure". David Pearce of Rock Poser stated that the album "cements the already high reputation of Derek Sherinian and confirms him as one of the foremost keyboardists of this or any other era".

Track listing

1. "The Phoenix" – 5:24 (Sherinian)
2. "Empyrean Sky" – 3:56 (Sherinian/Phillips)
3. "Clouds of Ganymede" – 6:02 (Sherinian)
4. "Dragonfly" – 3:46 (Sherinian/Phillips)
5. "Temple of Helios" – 6:01 (Sherinian/Phillips)
6. "Them Changes" – 5:28 (Buddy Miles)
7. "Octopus Pedigree" – 5:04 (Sherinian/Phillips)
8. "Pesadelo" – 6:55 (Sherinian/Loureiro/Phillips)

Time:  42:33

Recording information:

Mixed at Phantom Recordings, Ojai, California.

Mastered at Red Mastering.

Simon Philips, Joe Bonamassa and Ernest Tibbs recorded at Carbonite Sound, Ojai, California.

Steve Vai recorded at Harmony Hut.

Ron Thal recorded at Bumblefoot Studios, Princeton, New Jersey.

Kiko Loureiro recorded at his house in Helsinki, Finland.

Billy Sheehan recorded in Nashville, Tennessee.

Zakk Wylde recorded at The Black Vatican.

Derek Sherinian recorded at Beachwood Manor Studios, Burbank, California.

Derek Sherinian "Oceana (Holland, Music Theories Recordings, MTR 7448 2)"

Oceana is the seventh studio album by keyboardist Derek Sherinian, released on September 5, 2011, through Music Theories Recordings. After his recording sessions for the album, guitarist Joe Bonamassa posted on his official forum: "This session was one of the most challenging of my career. To be in the studio with Derek Sherinian and Simon Phillips [is] daunting. A huge thanks to both Derek and Simon for getting me through it. I learned a lot. Oceana is a killer record. Highly recommended."

Track listing

1. "Five Elements" Derek Sherinian, Simon Phillips 4:37
2. "Mercury 7" Sherinian, Phillips 4:29
3. "Mulholland" Sherinian, Phillips 5:56
4. "Euphoria" Sherinian, Phillips 5:34
5. "Ghost Runner" Sherinian, Steve Stevens 4:54
6. "El camino diablo" Sherinian, Doug Aldrich 5:06
7. "I Heard That" Sherinian, Joe Bonamassa, Phillips 4:53
8. "Seven Sins" Sherinian, Phillips 5:56
9. "Oceana" Sherinian, Stevens, Phillips 5:38

Total length: 47:03

Derek Sherinian "Molecular Heinosity (Japan, Avalon, MICP-10829)"

Molecular Heinosity is the sixth studio album by keyboardist Derek Sherinian, released on March 24, 2009, through InsideOut Music.

Track listing

1. "Antarctica" Derek Sherinian, Virgil Donati 5:23
2. "Ascension" Sherinian 2:14
3. "Primal Eleven" Donati 7:58
4. "Wings of Insanity" Sherinian, Brian Tichy 3:50
5. "Frozen by Fire" Sherinian, Rusty Cooley 5:18
6. "The Lone Spaniard" Sherinian 3:08
7. "Molecular Intro" Sherinian 1:01
8. "Molecular Heinosity" Sherinian, Tichy 3:27
9. "So Far Gone" Sherinian, Tichy, Zakk Wylde 7:24

Total length: 39:43

Recording information:

Recorded at Beachwood Manor Studios in Burbank, California.

Mastered at Red Mastering.

Derek Sherinian "Blood Of The Snake (Russia, Soyuz Music, SPV-40872 CD)"

Blood of the Snake is the fifth solo album by keyboard player Derek Sherinian. It has contributions from Billy Idol, Zakk Wylde, Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, John Petrucci of Dream Theater, in addition to previous collaborators Simon Phillips, Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony Franklin, Steve Lukather and Brian Tichy.

A video for a cover version of Mungo Jerry's "In the Summertime", with Sherinian, Idol, Slash, Franklin and Tichy, was released in conjunction with the album. In a reference to Idol, the bass drum is painted with the script "Derek Sherinian and The Rebellious Yellers!".

Sherinian also worked with duduk master Djivan Gasparyan on the song "Prelude to Battle" on the release, written for his great-grandmother, who had survived the Armenian genocide.

Track listing

1. Czar of Steel – 6:01 (Sherinian/Phillips)
2. Man with No Name – 6:55 (Sherinian/Tichy/Wylde)
3. Phantom Shuffle – 4:21 (Sherinian/Phillips)
4. Been Here Before – 4:30 (Sherinian)
5. Blood of the Snake – 6:09 (Sherinian/Tichy)
6. On the Moon – 4:34 (Sherinian/Phillips)
7. The Monsoon – 6:08 (Sherinian/Tichy)
8. Prelude to Battle – 2:55 (Sherinian/Tichy)
9. Viking Massacre – 4:58 (Sherinian/Tichy)
10. In the Summertime – 3:51* (Ray Dorset)

* Note: The official time printed in the CD liner notes is 3:51, but the track actually extends to 6:32, and includes a little hidden audio clip of Sherinian and his friends supposedly celebrating the new album release.

Derek Sherinian "Planet X (USA, Magna Carta, MA-9036-2)"

Planet X is the first studio album by keyboardist Derek Sherinian, released on July 13, 1999 through Magna Carta Records. The album was devised after Sherinian left progressive metal band Dream Theater in January 1999. He then joined drummer Virgil Donati in forming a band also named Planet X, which released their own first album Universe in 2000. Guitarist Brett Garsed, who plays on Planet X, would later return on the band Planet X's album Quantum in 2007.

Glenn Astarita at All About Jazz gave Planet X a positive review, calling it "prog-rock heaven with a few fusion bites thrown in for good measure" and "A highly entertaining effort featuring some almost superhuman ensemble work". He praised the "strong compositional and arranging skills" of Sherinian and Donati, and the "crunching guitar work" of Garsed.

Steve Huey at AllMusic gave the album three stars out of five. He, too, praised each musician's performance, as well as likening the compositional influences to that of Steve Vai and King Crimson.

Track listing

All music is composed by Derek Sherinian and Virgil Donati, except where noted.

1. "Atlantis: Part 1. "Apocalypse 1470 B.C."" 6:59
2. "Atlantis: Part 2. "Sea of Antiquity"" 4:18
3. "Atlantis: Part 3. "Lost Island"" 5:38
4. "Crab Nebulae" 4:07
5. "Box" 5:05
6. "Money Shot" 4:26
7. "Day in the Sun" 4:58
8. "State of Delirium" 2:48
9. "Space Martini" 3:47
10. "Brunei Babylon" (Sherinian, Donati, Brett Garsed) 5:39

Total length: 47:45

Recording information:

Recorded at The Leopard Room - Hollywood Hills, CA

Mixed at Jake's Place - Studio City, CA