DEREK SHERINIAN
Jazz Rock/Fusion • United States
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Born August 25, 1966 (Laguna Beach, California, USA)
DEREK SHERINIAN is an American keyboardist well known for a prolific recording and touring career, and has played as a side man to numerous musicians on tour, many very well known in the rock industry, such as BILLY IDOL, ALIC COOPER, ALICE IN CHAINS, and others. In the studio, he can be found on records from many bands, both his and others' projects, such as DREAM THEATER , PLANET X , PLATYPUS , and others. In conjunction with this, he has had an active solo career for over a decade, producing hard-hitting jazz rock albums with a metal edge. Many often feature famous guest musicians that he'd toured with.
SHERINIAN began playing piano at age five. He received a scholarship to the esteemed Berklee College of Music while in high school, and he went on to room and meet with many soon-to-be-famous musicians, such as future MEGADETH and SAVATAGE guitarist Al PITERLI, and the three founding members of DREAM THEATER. After leaving Boston, SHERINIAN made his first success in touring with ALICE COOPER in 1989. He went on to tour with many bands during that period.
In 1994, SHERINIAN was called by his former schoolmates John PETRUCCI, John MYUNG, and Mike PORTNOY to ask him to replace former keyboardist Kevin MOORE during their 1994 "Waking up the World" tour in support of their third studio album "Awake." After a successful tour (despite singer James LaBRIE's wrecked vocal chords during the tour), the band asked him to remain as their permanent keyboardist. He went on to record the "A Change of Seasons" EP, "Falling into Infinity," and "Once in a LIVEtime" with the band, before being asked to leave the band. He was replaced with Jordan RUDESS, whose style the band thought would better suit their music.
After his stint with DREAM THEATER, SHERINIAN went on to begin a prolific recording career. Beginning in 1998 with he, John MYUNG (of DREAM THEATER), Rod MORGENSTEIN (of DIXIE DREGS), and Ty TABOR (of KING'S X) began the recording project PLATYPUS and released two albums, "When Pus Comes to Shove" in 1998 and "Ice Cycles" in 2000, after which the band broke up (only to reform under the moniker THE JELLY JAM without SHERINIAN).
This was followed finally by t...read more
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DEREK SHERINIAN discography
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DEREK SHERINIAN top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
3.91 | 105 ratings
Planet X 1999 |
3.50 | 67 ratings
Inertia 2001 |
3.48 | 103 ratings
Black Utopia 2003 |
3.57 | 80 ratings
Mythology 2004 |
4.06 | 103 ratings
Blood of the Snake 2006 |
3.85 | 104 ratings
Molecular Heinosity 2009 |
3.96 | 140 ratings
Oceana 2011 |
3.95 | 60 ratings
The Phoenix 2020 |
4.03 | 33 ratings
Vortex 2022 |
DEREK SHERINIAN Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
DEREK SHERINIAN Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)
DEREK SHERINIAN Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
DEREK SHERINIAN Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)
3.50 | 2 ratings
In the Summertime 2006 |
DEREK SHERINIAN Reviews
Showing last 10 reviews only
Derek Sherinian Jazz Rock/Fusion
Review by
kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer
That is a lot of power on the frets, with each guitarist adding their own particular styles, but while Vai stands out a mile on "Clouds of Ganymede" it is still very much a Sherinian song although he allows Steve a great deal of latitude. Towards the end Derek finally breaks free with a blistering run, which Vai responds to, showing they are both masters of their own instruments as they duel yet musically it all makes sense with the overall theme. I could have done without the fadeout at the end but that is just down to personal preference. "Dragonfly" commences with complex staccato piano alongside Simon, until they are joined by a warm bass, but it is a great example of Sherinian's skill and its simplicity and complexity make for a great combination, very jazz in its nature.
Sherinian has a definitive style, and it is wonderful to hear a new solo album from him after so long. Let us hope it is not another 9 years until the next one.
Derek Sherinian Jazz Rock/Fusion
Review by Heart of the Matter
Derek Sherinian Jazz Rock/Fusion
Review by sgtpepper
On a more negative side, the compositions are memorable which is at the expense of the band not trying hard enough to challenge themselves as a fusion-prog pack. Fortunately, the album is not too long and offers even acoustic moments.
Overall, it is a pleasant album to listen to but it seems to be a lighter effort by all its musicians. And I would wish to hear more Derek solos.
Derek Sherinian Jazz Rock/Fusion
Review by martindavey87
Now, I love heavy music, I have a bit of a taste for what's called "fusion", though I could never totally come to grasps with what that really means, and enjoy a bit of guitar shredding. But none of it seems coherent on this album. You have guys like Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Lukather, Al Di Meola and Zakk Wylde all on one record, and yet, with the exception of a few passages, it feels like they're all just going through the motions.
There's an abundance of great riffs though, which is evident in massive headbangers like 'The Sons of Anu' and the title track, 'Black Utopia', while songs like 'Starcycle' and 'Gypsy Moth' have some nice, exotic flavors to them. But overall, while none of the tracks are bad, I struggle to really listen to any of them all the way through without being bored.
And then of course, there's Mr. Sherinian himself. The fact I've discussed the guitar playing more than the keyboards pretty much goes to show how low-key Sherinian's performance seems to be. Or perhaps I'm just struggling to pay attention. As a whole, I do feel kind of bad giving this album such a low score, but I struggle to justify to myself rating it any higher.
Derek Sherinian Jazz Rock/Fusion
Review by
apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator
Now, another great member of the all-time Fusion Hall of Fame has entered the gates of Sherinian, so expectations were really high for this one.I am pretty dissapointed to say that the result has taken the opposite direction.Sherinian seems to have forgotten about the sense of melody and for what this album will be remembered about will be the endless and tiresome keyboard noodling, extreme technical exhibitions and loose soloing.It's pretty weird to listen to some Hard Rock-in' guitars trying to get on track with Sherinian's fists of keyboard masturbation, the execution by all instrumentalists are reckless, virtuosic and even flawless, but you've to come up also with some decent composing to satisfy your fans.This is not the case.''Mythology'' relies too much on self-indulgent performances, the balance between virtuosity, melody, technique and composition has pretty much faded in my ears and the numerous solo exhibitions are hard to follow, not to say they're not particularly memorable after repeated listenings.The rise of Metal and Hard Rock elements in the place of more Fusion-oriented lines are sounding rather annoying, there are still pieces with interesting moments, like the monumental guitar work of Steve Stevens on ''Alpha burst'', the impressive atmospheric passages on ''God of war'' Sykes' solo and Sherinian's orchestral keys creating a few enganging minutes of well-constructed music or the Latin vibes of ''El flamingo suave'', but the majority in here is about virtuosity and technique, fast solos, egoistic exhibitions and nonsense Metal/Fusion pomposity.
Not meeting my expectations.Flawless in terms of talent and execution, but very low in what you'll recall after the listening.Little to remember actually, so be sure to like furious, bombastic music if you ever lay your hands on this...2.5 stars.
Derek Sherinian Jazz Rock/Fusion
Review by
kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer
While there are places where the music calms down, and indeed there is room at times for some acoustic guitar, it is where the guitars are at their most ferocious that this album really flies. Derek has brought in guitarists with quite different styles and has used this to great effect. "Axis Of Evil" sees Zakk and Yngwie shredding and trying to outdo each other on a rock song that just blasts. The note density on this album must be phenomenal yet there are few times when it seems over-indulgent. Over the top definitely, but it is music that makes the listener want more, not reach for the off switch. Derek may be a keyboard player but buy this not if you want to hear a Rick Wakeman soundalike but if you want to hear guitarists going for it at top speed.
Originally appeared in Feedback #73, Jun 03
Derek Sherinian Jazz Rock/Fusion
Review by
kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer
But, as in the Planet X recordings, it is all just a little too clever for its' own good, and is an album that will probably not be played much in the future, as too much intensity and note density can be plain boring.
Originally appeared in Feedback #63, July 01
Derek Sherinian Jazz Rock/Fusion
Review by
apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator
''Black Utopia'' sounds so much the same yet different to ''Inertia''.This is still a heavy-sounding album, especially when Zakk Wylde takes over with his guitar, having a strong Heavy Metal sense throughout and flirting constantly with modern Jazz/Fusion.Malmsteen's influence on the tracks he appears is more than evident, these two pieces along with the opening introduction have an obvious Neo-Classical flavor due to his highly technical solos.The rest of the album can be actually labeled as Fusion Metal with plenty of atmospheric soundscapes added for good measure.Sherinian again provides a virtuosic keyboard performance with tremendous pyrotechnics, grandiose preludes and powerful solos, while the guitars remain aggressive and punchy all the way.The biggest suprise comes from the brief but highly original acoustic crescendos of Di Meola, which have their own sound and spark.However the ghost of DREAM THEATER seems to keep haunting Sherinian's composing approach, who's albums have a strong vibe from his past with the milestone US Prog Metal legends.
Sharp, rich and pounding Fusion/Heavy Prog/Metal with huge waves of guitar and keyboard attacks is what ''Black Utopia'' is all about and anyone fond of the more virtuosic side of Prog has find his heaven.Recommended.
Derek Sherinian Jazz Rock/Fusion
Review by
darkshade
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator
Derek's style has always been a little jazzy, and on previous solo albums, and the albums by his main band Planet X, are a nice mix of jazz, jazz-fusion, and progressive metal. At times he'll even let loose and go completely post-bop amidst the prog-metal. On "Oceana", the jazz and fusion style is pushed to the foreground, leaving only traces of his famous brand of prog-metal. Lots of funky bass, excellent fusion drumming, and with guitarists Tony MacAlpine and Steve Lukather, you know you're going to get some real jazz-fusion guitar ala Scott Henderson; mixed with some heavy riffs here and there.
Seriously, if you are familiar with Planet X or Derek's solo stuff, but wished he'd do a real jazz-fusion album, this is it. Every track here is high quality modern fusion, with great soulful guitar, nice keyboard sounds and solos, but also fast technical stuff that occasionally reminds me of fusion bands like Tribal Tech, Jan Hammer Group, or Return To Forever. Add a little heaviness from the guitars (and keys), and you have a modern fusion classic.
Derek Sherinian Jazz Rock/Fusion
Review by jsem
The compositions are fantastic in and of themselves too, they have a strong early Jeff Beck feel to them - fusiony yet very groovy. The music is not too focused on being prog, but the prog is all over the place - and it is done remarkably well. The songs are light, there's not much of a nod to metal at all on the album - but they are really energetic and pack a punch.
The only complaint of mine would be that there's too little keyboard spotlight on the album. But it doesn't diminish the listening enjoyment at all. The album has an overall energetic and light feel compared to some of his other work, and it's a truly fantastic release. Everyone should get it.
Best songs: Five Elements, Ghost Runner, El Camino Diablo, Oceana