Sean Malone
Encyclopedia
Sean Malone is an American musician who plays primarily fretless bass guitar
and Chapman stick
. However, Malone also plays piano, keyboards, and guitar. He is most well known as a member of the progressive band Cynic
.
from Florida
. He became Cynic's bassist quite unexpectedly; as Cynic had a scheduled recording of their debut album, Focus in a studio in which Sean Malone was working as an engineer as well as a producer and a session musician. Cynic's bassist at the time left the band short time before the recording would take place, so they invited Malone to do a recording session with them as a bassist. However, Sean proved to have quite a good musical chemistry with the rest of the band, and toured the Focus Tour with the band. The release received very high critical acclaim and in these days is considered as one of the landmark progressive metal records. After the band's first split-up, Malone has continued to work as a session bassist, performing on over fifty records to date. He has also authored four books, "Music Theory for Bassists", "Dictionary Of Bass Grooves", "Rock Bass", and "A Portrait of Jaco: The Solos Collection" (a book of transcriptions of Jaco Pastorius
' bass solos) for the Hal Leonard Corporation. In the academic field, Malone has had papers on theory and music cognition published and given presentations at conferences such as the Society for Music Theory, The International Conference of Music and Gesture, and The Glenn Gould
Conference, and has taught at the University of Central Missouri as assistant professor of music theory, and at Carnegie Mellon University.
Malone has made one album under his own name, Cortlandt, which was released in 1996 and reissued in 2007. He also assembled and recorded the self-titled Gordian Knot
debut, Gordian Knot
, released in 1998. The album has contributions from Sean Reinert
(Cynic
), Trey Gunn
(King Crimson
), Ron Jarzombek
(Watchtower
, Spastic Ink
, Blotted Science
) and John Myung
(Dream Theater
). A second Gordian Knot album, Emergent
, included performances from Bill Bruford
(Yes
, King Crimson), Jim Matheos
(Fates Warning
), and Steve Hackett
(Genesis
, GTR
), as well as Cynic members Sean Reinert
, Paul Masvidal
and Jason Gobel
.
He re-joined Cynic
with Reinert and Masvidal in May 2008 and recorded on their second, comeback album titled Traced in Air
, but did not tour with the band. Although he hasn't been listed as a band member ever since, his future with the band is not out of the question. In September 2011, the band's label Season of Mist confirmed that Malone would be featured on the upcoming Carbon-Based Anatomy
EP.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and Chapman stick
Chapman Stick
The Chapman Stick is an electric musical instrument devised by Emmett Chapman in the early 1970s. A member of the guitar family, the Chapman Stick usually has ten or twelve individually tuned strings and has been used on music recordings to play bass lines, melody lines, chords or textures...
. However, Malone also plays piano, keyboards, and guitar. He is most well known as a member of the progressive band Cynic
Cynic (band)
Cynic is an American progressive rock band, incorporating experimental music, alternative, metal and jazz fusion elements, founded in Miami, Florida and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Their first album, Focus, released on September 14, 1993, is widely regarded as a landmark release of...
.
Biography
In his early career, Malone has played as a session member for groups ranging from Brazilian jazz to English pop. His first high-level experience in metal music was with the avant-garde metal band CynicCynic (band)
Cynic is an American progressive rock band, incorporating experimental music, alternative, metal and jazz fusion elements, founded in Miami, Florida and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Their first album, Focus, released on September 14, 1993, is widely regarded as a landmark release of...
from Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. He became Cynic's bassist quite unexpectedly; as Cynic had a scheduled recording of their debut album, Focus in a studio in which Sean Malone was working as an engineer as well as a producer and a session musician. Cynic's bassist at the time left the band short time before the recording would take place, so they invited Malone to do a recording session with them as a bassist. However, Sean proved to have quite a good musical chemistry with the rest of the band, and toured the Focus Tour with the band. The release received very high critical acclaim and in these days is considered as one of the landmark progressive metal records. After the band's first split-up, Malone has continued to work as a session bassist, performing on over fifty records to date. He has also authored four books, "Music Theory for Bassists", "Dictionary Of Bass Grooves", "Rock Bass", and "A Portrait of Jaco: The Solos Collection" (a book of transcriptions of Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius
John Francis Anthony Pastorius III , known as Jaco Pastorius, was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged as a virtuoso electric bass player....
' bass solos) for the Hal Leonard Corporation. In the academic field, Malone has had papers on theory and music cognition published and given presentations at conferences such as the Society for Music Theory, The International Conference of Music and Gesture, and The Glenn Gould
Glenn Gould
Glenn Herbert Gould was a Canadian pianist who became one of the best-known and most celebrated classical pianists of the 20th century. He was particularly renowned as an interpreter of the keyboard music of Johann Sebastian Bach...
Conference, and has taught at the University of Central Missouri as assistant professor of music theory, and at Carnegie Mellon University.
Malone has made one album under his own name, Cortlandt, which was released in 1996 and reissued in 2007. He also assembled and recorded the self-titled Gordian Knot
Gordian Knot (band)
Gordian Knot is an American progressive rock/metal band directed by bass guitarist Sean Malone. At times its shifting lineup has included Steve Hackett of Genesis, Bill Bruford of King Crimson and Yes, Ron Jarzombek from Watchtower and Spastic Ink as well as Jim Matheos of Fates Warning, several of...
debut, Gordian Knot
Gordian Knot (album)
Gordian Knot was the debut album of Sean Malone's progressive rock project of the same name.-Track listing:#"Galois" - Malone#"Code/Anticode" - Malone, Reinert, Gunn, Jarzombek...
, released in 1998. The album has contributions from Sean Reinert
Sean Reinert
Sean Reinert is the drummer of Cynic and Æon Spoke. He is known for his technical, original and creative drumming technique....
(Cynic
Cynic (band)
Cynic is an American progressive rock band, incorporating experimental music, alternative, metal and jazz fusion elements, founded in Miami, Florida and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Their first album, Focus, released on September 14, 1993, is widely regarded as a landmark release of...
), Trey Gunn
Trey Gunn
Trey Gunn is an American musician, known for his membership in progressive rock band King Crimson from 1994 to 2003, playing Warr Guitar and Chapman Stick.-Biography:...
(King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
), Ron Jarzombek
Ron Jarzombek
Ron Jarzombek is an American guitarist best known for his work with Austin, Texas progressive metal trailblazers WatchTower, '90s madcap trio, Spastic Ink, technical extreme metal band Blotted Science, featuring Cannibal Corpse bassist Alex Webster and Obscura drummer Hannes Grossmann, and most...
(Watchtower
Watchtower (band)
WatchTower is an American progressive metal band based in Austin, Texas. The band were influenced by late 1970s progressive rock and acts such as Rush and UK as well as the burgeoning New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
, Spastic Ink
Spastic Ink
Spastic Ink is a progressive technical metal band from the United States.-History:Spastic Ink was formed in 1993 by guitarist Ron Jarzombek of Watchtower after recovering from multiple hand surgeries that had sidelined him, unable to play, for a couple of years. He would be joined by brother Bobby...
, Blotted Science
Blotted Science
Blotted Science is an instrumental technical death metal supergroup headed by Ron Jarzombek , bassist Alex Webster and drummer Hannes Grossmann...
) and John Myung
John Myung
John Ro Myung is an American bassist, Chapman Stick player and a founding member of the progressive metal group Dream Theater. He is considered a virtuoso player who is widely recognized for his technical proficiency....
(Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
). A second Gordian Knot album, Emergent
Emergent (album)
Emergent is the second album by American progressive rock band Gordian Knot, and is the only album apart from Focus to contain all original members of Cynic.- Track listing :#"Arsis" – 1:59#"Muttersprache" – 6:26#"A Shaman's Whisper" – 6:33...
, included performances from Bill Bruford
Bill Bruford
William Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
(Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, King Crimson), Jim Matheos
Jim Matheos
Jim Matheos , is the American guitarist and primary songwriter for the progressive metal band Fates Warning. As of bassist Joe DiBiase's departure in 1996, he is the band's only permanent member...
(Fates Warning
Fates Warning
Fates Warning is an American progressive metal band, formed in 1982 by vocalist John Arch, guitarists Jim Matheos and Victor Arduini, bassist Joe DiBiase, and drummer Steve Zimmerman in Hartford, Connecticut. Fates Warning has experienced numerous line-up changes...
), and Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
(Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
, GTR
GTR (band)
GTR were a rock band founded in 1985 by former Yes and Asia guitarist Steve Howe and former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. In comparison to the two leaders' earlier work within progressive rock, GTR's work followed more of an Adult Oriented Rock format. The band was short-lived, lasting for two...
), as well as Cynic members Sean Reinert
Sean Reinert
Sean Reinert is the drummer of Cynic and Æon Spoke. He is known for his technical, original and creative drumming technique....
, Paul Masvidal
Paul Masvidal
Paul Albert Masvidal is the guitarist, singer and a founding member of the progressive band Cynic and previously led the alternative rock band Æon Spoke. Born in Puerto Rico, Masvidal grew up in Miami, Florida and currently resides in Los Angeles...
and Jason Gobel
Jason Gobel
Jason Göbel is an American musician, engineer and University lecturer.He is best known for being a member of the technical metal band Cynic and playing guitar on their album Focus.-Life and career:...
.
He re-joined Cynic
Cynic (band)
Cynic is an American progressive rock band, incorporating experimental music, alternative, metal and jazz fusion elements, founded in Miami, Florida and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Their first album, Focus, released on September 14, 1993, is widely regarded as a landmark release of...
with Reinert and Masvidal in May 2008 and recorded on their second, comeback album titled Traced in Air
Traced in Air
Traced in Air is the second full-length album by the progressive metal band Cynic. It is the first album since their 1993 debut Focus.-History:Cynic disbanded during the fall of 1994 while working on a new album...
, but did not tour with the band. Although he hasn't been listed as a band member ever since, his future with the band is not out of the question. In September 2011, the band's label Season of Mist confirmed that Malone would be featured on the upcoming Carbon-Based Anatomy
Carbon-Based Anatomy
Carbon-Based Anatomy is an EP by the avant-garde metal band Cynic. It was released through Season of Mist on 11 November 2011.-History:Carbon-Based Anatomy EP is composed of six previously unheard tracks. However, the song "Carbon-Based Anatomy" is a reinterpretation of an older unreleased Æon...
EP.
Gear
Malone's current main bass is a fretless 5-string Ibanez Gary Willis signature bass. Earlier in his career he was using a Kubicki Factor bass, and is using a Chapman Stick much throughout his career.Major albums
- CynicCynic (band)Cynic is an American progressive rock band, incorporating experimental music, alternative, metal and jazz fusion elements, founded in Miami, Florida and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Their first album, Focus, released on September 14, 1993, is widely regarded as a landmark release of...
- Focus (Roadrunner RecordsRoadrunner RecordsRoadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
) - CortlandtCortlandt (album)-Track listing :# Controversy # Splinter # Fisher's Gambit # Hand Full of Earth # Giant Steps # At Taliesin # Big Sky Wanting # The Big Idea...
(solo project) (AudioImage Records) - Gordian KnotGordian Knot (band)Gordian Knot is an American progressive rock/metal band directed by bass guitarist Sean Malone. At times its shifting lineup has included Steve Hackett of Genesis, Bill Bruford of King Crimson and Yes, Ron Jarzombek from Watchtower and Spastic Ink as well as Jim Matheos of Fates Warning, several of...
- Gordian KnotGordian Knot (album)Gordian Knot was the debut album of Sean Malone's progressive rock project of the same name.-Track listing:#"Galois" - Malone#"Code/Anticode" - Malone, Reinert, Gunn, Jarzombek...
(Sensory Records) - Gordian KnotGordian Knot (band)Gordian Knot is an American progressive rock/metal band directed by bass guitarist Sean Malone. At times its shifting lineup has included Steve Hackett of Genesis, Bill Bruford of King Crimson and Yes, Ron Jarzombek from Watchtower and Spastic Ink as well as Jim Matheos of Fates Warning, several of...
- EmergentEmergent (album)Emergent is the second album by American progressive rock band Gordian Knot, and is the only album apart from Focus to contain all original members of Cynic.- Track listing :#"Arsis" – 1:59#"Muttersprache" – 6:26#"A Shaman's Whisper" – 6:33...
(Sensory Records) - CynicCynic (band)Cynic is an American progressive rock band, incorporating experimental music, alternative, metal and jazz fusion elements, founded in Miami, Florida and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Their first album, Focus, released on September 14, 1993, is widely regarded as a landmark release of...
- Traced in AirTraced in AirTraced in Air is the second full-length album by the progressive metal band Cynic. It is the first album since their 1993 debut Focus.-History:Cynic disbanded during the fall of 1994 while working on a new album...
(Season of MistSeason of MistSeason of Mist is a record label and record distributor with subsidiaries in France and the United States. The record label was founded in 1996 by Michael S. Berberian in Marseille, France. From the start releasing black metal, pagan metal and death metal records, the label moved on to releasing...
) - CynicCynic (band)Cynic is an American progressive rock band, incorporating experimental music, alternative, metal and jazz fusion elements, founded in Miami, Florida and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Their first album, Focus, released on September 14, 1993, is widely regarded as a landmark release of...
- Carbon-Based AnatomyCarbon-Based AnatomyCarbon-Based Anatomy is an EP by the avant-garde metal band Cynic. It was released through Season of Mist on 11 November 2011.-History:Carbon-Based Anatomy EP is composed of six previously unheard tracks. However, the song "Carbon-Based Anatomy" is a reinterpretation of an older unreleased Æon...
(Season of MistSeason of MistSeason of Mist is a record label and record distributor with subsidiaries in France and the United States. The record label was founded in 1996 by Michael S. Berberian in Marseille, France. From the start releasing black metal, pagan metal and death metal records, the label moved on to releasing...
)
Partial discography of related artists and appearances
- Roadrunner UnitedRoadrunner UnitedRoadrunner United was a project organized by the heavy metal record label Roadrunner Records to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It culminated in an album released worldwide on October 11, 2005, entitled The All-Star Sessions...
- bass on "Dawn of the Golden Age" - After the Storm - A Benefit for the Survivors of Hurricane Katrina, NEARfest Records
- Roadrunner Records 25th Anniversary CD/DVD
- OSIOSI (band)OSI is an American progressive rock band, originally formed by Fates Warning guitarist Jim Matheos in 2002. Chroma Key keyboardist and vocalist Kevin Moore is the only other full-time member of the band...
: Office of Strategic InfluenceOffice of Strategic Influence (album)Office of Strategic Influence is the first album by American progressive rock band OSI, released by InsideOut Music on February 18, 2003. The album was recorded in June 2002 and mixed in August 2002 at the Carriage House Studios in Stamford, Connecticut....
(Inside/Out Records) - AghoraAghora (band)Aghora is a progressive metal/technical metal band formed in 1995 by guitarist Santiago Dobles. In 2000 they released their first album, Aghora, recorded and produced by Santiago Dobles and Dan Escauriza in 1999, Miami, Florida. The album featured Sean Malone and Sean Reinert, both members of Cynic...
: AghoraAghora (album)Aghora is the self-titled debut album by progressive metal band Aghora, released on March 24, 2000. "Jazz-metal" Is another style commonly associated with this band.-Track listing:# "Immortal Bliss" – 4:34# "Satya" – 5:55...
– Code666 - Sensory Records Sampler CD: “Singularity” from Gordian Knot
- Spiral Architect: A Sceptic’s Universe – The Laser’s Edge Records
- Clockwork: Surface Tension – The Laser's Edge Records
- Anomaly: The Art of War Now and Then Records
- Tappistry Volume 2 Compilation - ToeTappin’ Records “Redemption’s Way”
- Open Mic Volume 1 Compilation - Thoroughbred Music “Madman”
- Bass Talk Volume 5 Compilation - HotWire Records (Germany) “Deep Blue”
- Working Man, A Tribute to Rush - Magna Carta Records
- Tappistry: Volume 1, Compilation ToeTappin’ Records
- Jim Studnicki: The Second Day
- Guitars That Rule the World Compilation: “Explosion”
- Curtis Bell: The ABC’s of Song
- Southeastern Music Conference Compilation: Todd Grubbs “French Toast”
- Randy Goodgame: Randall Goodgame - Red Fish Records
- Notes From the Underground: Guitar World Magazine
- Lance Rowland: Prince, Poet, Prisoner (independent)
- Guitar Magazine Compilation CD: “Size 5 Lightning Boots”
- Curtis Bell: Sojourner- Independent
- Robert Wegmann: Red Hair- Fumiko Records
- John WesleyJohn Wesley (guitarist)John Wesley is an American singer, songwriter and guitar player. John Wesley's professional music career began in the early 1980s in the Tampa, Florida area where he founded 1991 Southwestern Music Conference's showcase act Autodrive along with drummer/producer Mark Prator...
: The Closing of the Pale Blue Eyes CNR/Arcade Records (France) - Tim Mullally: Mountain Hike (independent)
- Roadrunner United: The All-Star Sessions - Roadrunner Records
- John WesleyJohn Wesley (guitarist)John Wesley is an American singer, songwriter and guitar player. John Wesley's professional music career began in the early 1980s in the Tampa, Florida area where he founded 1991 Southwestern Music Conference's showcase act Autodrive along with drummer/producer Mark Prator...
: Under the Red and White Sky - Todd GrubbsTodd GrubbsTodd Grubbs is an American rock-fusion guitarist and composer, primarily of complex and melodic instrumental music.Grubbs is from Tampa, Florida, and studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has been featured in national and international magazines such as Guitar World, Guitar FPM, and...
: Combination- Appollon International (Japan) - Steel Tears: Palma Negra R&R Records
- Southeastern Music Conference Compilation, Steel Tears:
- Smashmouth: Seed (independent)
- Robert Wegmann: The Wild Party-Fumiko Records
- groovediggers: groovediggers (independent)
- Steel Tears: Steel Tears-R&R Records