“Sound Portraits”

Sound Portraits, by Wertico Cain & Gray, is “a seamless, genre-expanding marriage of sound and vision performed with a quality never before experienced. Musicians of peerless talent Paul Wertico, David Cain, and Larry Gray take musical artistry to unchartered waters with explosive, creative improvising that is truly on the cutting edge … and beyond. A passionate, trailblazing, mind- blowing performance, setting a new direction in music!” (Mark Butler)

“Awesome! Amazing! Total trip! Great performances!” ~ Frank Alkyer, Publisher, Downbeat Magazine) Please visit the Wertico Cain and Gray web site for more info. The DVD and Instant Video are available at Amazon. Here is a link to the Sound Portraits CD audio, available for download as mp3 or hi-rez FLAC files!

Wertico, Cain & Gray’s CD  “Sound Portraits” won Best Live Performance Album in the 13th Annual Independent Music Awards (2014).

Paul Wertico (acoustic & electronic drums, percussion, tympani, iPad)
Wertico has rightly been called one of the most versatile and musical drummers of our day. With seven Grammys and numerous other awards codifying his art and flair, the genius and scope displayed on Sound Portraits is high justification for Wertico as a “restless innovator” … “inspired madman” … “impressionist painter” … and “a true legend of jazz drums.” Few artists improvise with the fire and imagination pulsing through Wertico’s sticks. Sound Portraits is the perfect showcase for his massive talent. (www.paulwertico.com)

David Cain (red sax, vocals, iPad, synths, wind controller)
An acclaimed revolutionary of unbroken media and art, David Cain is a composer, vocalist, and musician jamming across Sound Portraits’ high-wire of collaborative music, art, and visuals. Cain’s musical trek dances between reality one moment and subconscious interlude the next. Cain is in a class with music’s most forward-reaching innovators because of his groundbreaking explorations. A bonafide risk taker of the music canvas, Cain gives us remarkable new frontiers of improvised sound and vision.

Larry Gray (bass, cello, flute, guitar)
A finer, more pure sound than double bassist Larry Gray’s is indeed rare. Larry’s musical work is a multifaceted amalgam of creative, unbridled musicality. The list of exemplary and legendary musical artists with whom Gray has worked is as wide ranging as the genre of jazz itself. His unique voice on the bass reaches across the stage, the screen and through the air…. The range of Gray’s instrumental virtuosity on Sound Portraits is surprising, compelling, and captivating. (www.larrygraymusic.com)

Liner notes by Mark Butler

Sound Portraits – audio excerpts