Major Vistas’ founding members Chris Bucheit and Mike Weiser compose instrumental music without being tied to a specific style or genre, resulting in live performances diverse in melody, rhythm, form, and improvisation. Elements of ambient soundtracks, jazz fusion, world rhythms, and emotional solos are revealed in their original compositions.
Released May 2016. Produced by Major Vistas. Mixed by Mike Zirkel. Mastered by Mystery Room.
Available to purchase from:
Mike Weiser: Keyboards
Chris Bucheit: Guitars
Michael Brenneis: Drums
Brad Townsend: Bass
photo by Ilya Wick
Original, modern instrumental and improvisational music can be used to describe a whole generation of musicians that are melding Electronic, Rock and Hip Hop music into a new tradition of Jazz. Perhaps what makes Major Vistas unique in this field is that Mike Weiser and Chris Bucheit are both composers with work that naturally compliments each other – in fact it can be difficult to determine which songs are written by whom if you had to guess by sound alone. One thinks back to musical partnerships such as Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays and Donald Fagen/Walter Becker whose collaborative efforts equaled much more than the sum of its parts.
This is on display with Major Vistas debut release “Minor Anthems” recorded and released in 2016.
Tone Madison Review:
Madison-based trio Major Vistas’ debut album, Minor Anthems, crafts flowing and subtly ambitious instrumentals from a gentle palette of jazz, rock, and electronic sounds. Chris Bucheit’s mostly clean-toned guitars, Mike Weiser’s electric piano, and Geoff Brady’s drums give these songs an approachable surface, but also give the band a lot of room to explore a variety of textures and feels. Weiser and Bucheit dart around each other through the ascending figures of “Deep Space” as Brady weaves tastefully mutating grooves. “Beginning Mind” uses rich piano chords and delay-streaked guitar loops to craft a melody that’s at once conversational and ominous, with rhythms that alternate between mid-tempo rock and nimble swing. That versatility—and the band’s balance of hooks and improvisation—makes Major Vistas a worthy addition to Madison’s jazz offerings.
– Scott Gordon • June 2016
Michael Brenneis (drums) joined the group in early 2018, and brings incredible depth and experience to the formula. He is a composer in his own right, and the trio looks forward to exploring his songwriting talents as well.
Brad Townsend (bass) joined the group in the summer of 2018 and expanded the sonic palette of the band immediately.
Keep an ear out for this group based in Madison. If their first CD is any sign of what’s to come, the Jazz community and broader musical audience is in for a treat!
For more information please visit Major Vistas EPK
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