Comments

Yeah, I like the experimental approach to your music, the mixtures and time travel is all good.

I also like that first track on your page, it takes me back.

Keep funkin' 4 sho!

Bootsy was here jus 4 tha funk of it!!! Bootsy Collins

You cats have it down to a science-the science of tone, that is. Love the sound, man....!

All the Bass, Will Lee

Hi 'DB' (Danny Boy),

Lookin' and soundin' good mate. I hope all goes well for you.

Rock on!

All the best,

BD (Bob Daisley)

SLEIGHT OF HAND !!!! LOVE THAT SONG...ROCK !! WITH THE HORNS AND ALL....KEEP THE FUNK ALIVE..AND BRING IT BACK HOME...MUSIC HAS LOST IT'S WAY IN THE LAST 20 YEARS OR MORE!!!!! SOUNDS GREAT !!!!!!

TC Tolliver

It was good seeing you yesterday Danny. Joe and I listened to your new CD on the way back to News 12. Very nice job..you guys are the real deal !

Tony Caputo

Jerry is pretty amazing behind the board!!! The sounds are incredible... and Will Lee is right dude, INSANE bass sounds!!! Diggin "The Shallow End"

John Bottone

Danny's Debut CD "RIDE THAT RIFF" Has body and Soul and really grooves!!! it's a far cry from what he has done in the past....keeper going danny... I love what you do...... David Oldfield.... ick here to add text.

I heard your previews on the site for volume 1 - really like the blues feel - each selection was different yet your "signature" style was evident in all of them. I loved the variety of instruments used. "Acclamation" was my favorite. I thought the bass lines were terrific! I can't begin to tell you how proud of you I am! Any music teacher would be thrilled to hear such a refined product from a former student. 25 years in the business? Quite an accomplishment!

ROGUE - has a nice 'dirty' sound to it. I found myself sitting at the table just nodding my head to the beat, enjoying it.

SLEIGHT - Both this track and FROZEN reminded me of some Chicago tracks - "I'm A Man" in particular, because of the percussion choices. Really enjoyed the farfisa sound of the organ in FROZEN, and I liked the repeated motif - it really made the title seem appropriate.

RIDE THAT RIFF - nice variation on the boogie woogie bass line and the I, IV, V , I progression.

WHEN YOU WERE - kudos to the piano player!

Nice strings in NOTE TO SELF - I think I told you this may be my favorite. Nice contrast to other tracks. Like the dissonant ostinato bass line in the beginning. I think the contrasting section is a good idea.

WITHIN EARSHOT - reminded me of Grand Funk Railroad - boy am I dating myself

BASH - liked the middle section best - I think you could have had a nice melody line above what you already laid down - maybe a flute or even lyrics and a female vocal. Enjoyed the chord progression. The beginning made and ending made me think of Batman. Funny how the mind goes.....

TAINTED VEIL - reminiscent of Boston or Kansas. Nice track.

Jo Ann Wojcik

The "Ride That Riff" Danthology is a completely unique musical listening experience. The instruments used on this compilation are an insane mix of strings and horns and anything else you could throw in... something I have never heard and will probably never hear again from another artist. One thing that stood out for me was the crisp and tight playing of Danny and the various musicians he uses on his CD's. I've known Danny for 26 years, and this eclectic style of music is a mirror reflection of his personality...witty, intelligent and totally off-center! I recommend the Ride That Riff Trilogy for anyone who wants a new experience and is tired of the mainstream. How ya doin' Danny? - Tom Benson

I LOVE "TELL IT WALKING" I've listened to most of vol2, and it's so different from anything else out there. I think you show a lot of guts just doing anything you want musically.

Gypsy

kMr. Ladd,

I am so very impressed with your music. It has such a do not mess with me additude that packs a heavy punch. As I listen to it I can feel it, every note is strong. This music has a soul that is untouchable. I used to think I was so crafty in my riff writing but hearing your stuff I realize I have much to learn. You are the hardest working, dedidicated, most motivated musician I have ever known. You are truly the greatest bass player there is. You have taken me places in my career that no one else has. You put me on stage I could have never asked for more. I will always be grateful. Your success is much deserved.

Much Respect, Alfred J. Dill

"I really enjoyed hearing your incredible body of work, "Ride That Riff". The great thing about it, besides consistency of style, is that great bass sound you get. I wish I had that sound!!

You've been working your ass off to create this much music (when do you sleep?) and congratulations for coming up with such a wealth of great music.

Keep up the great stuff,

Will (Lee)
Click here to add text.

Comments

Where to begin? Danny and I go way back to the mean streets of Morgan New Jersey where we would spend long summer days throwing rocks at each other. Danny and his family moved away and we lost touch for a while. Then in the mid 80’s by fate destiny or the Aquarian Weekly we wound up in the same band. He played bass and I was the drummer. We played three or four chords with a TON of attitude. Danny had a Camaro back then. It was a nice Camaro. Except, he tore the passenger seat out of the friggin car to accommodate his amp!!! If he gave you a ride you were in the back seat lookin at the back of his head. He was an incredibly dedicated musician from the get go. His determination transcended our humble beginnings, our three chords and attitude, our humble beginnings and the limits of that Camaro. He’s hammered it, he’s forged and tempered it into a completely original sound. Ride that Riff is complex, it’s subtle, it’s brash and perfect it’s the sophisticated product of a true universal love of music. It doesn’t get any more original than Danny Ladd......for real.

Robb Geores
(ex Churchpills, Holy Rollers)

To have your comments added to this page please submit them to dannyladd@ymail.com and type "comments" in the subject line.

Thank you!

My work with Danny Ladd during the past several years has surely been "all about the process." During our countless sessions the process is always a little different and a little more interesting every time. Whether I am cutting drums over a bass scratch track or working with Danny on entirely reworking an old tune into something completely new, it is always quite the experience walking into JMM Studios for a Danny Ladd session. As a drummer, Danny has called on me to play the most eclectic and unpredictable styles of music, sometimes crossing genres within one epic track. Being given the opportnity to be part of this unique process has been a great pleasure and an invaluable experience in my young career.

-Dave Cifelli

CHi Danny,

I was listening to “Ride That Riff Volume 1”, and “Rogue – The Danny Ladd Theme”, really stands out.

The bass and guitar have that fat “tubey” sound that only analog can produce. Kapusta’s clean, crisp piano fills complement the rhythm tracks, and the sax is just plain sexy!

Well done! I wish someone would write me a theme song (I have a feeling I’ll have to do it myself).

Great job!

Goots

I knew in 1985 that Danny was always destined to go beyond the local rock scene. Even as close as I was to him, It captivates me to hear his compositions on "Ride that Riff". What goes on in his head is a kind of Dr. Frankenstein mentality as he combines sound structures and instrumentation that shouldn't work so smoothly, but yet...They do!! and his music easily stands out of anything that has been released in the last 20 years.

Danny is a true musical phenom married to his music, believe me I've tried and begged to be "THE" one, but I clearly lost out to "Ride that Riff"...buy..listen and learn about open-minded music and welcome this true talent into your ears and heart.

~Annmarie Chiarini (CCBC)

What can be said about a modern day musical genius? Danny's ability to compose compositions that encompasses a wide range of genres that show he is beyond talented! His bass playing is by far the best I've heard. I admire his ability to schedule these class A musicians together to create tunes that range from Rock, to Swing, to Jazz to gritty Funk are a recipe for a complete meal of musical taste that leaves you hungry for more!

I highly recommend "Ride that Riff" to anyone who is tired of mainstream "music" and is in much need of something impressive and unpredictable. It's a musical roller coaster....take my advice and RIDE THAT RIFF!

Thanks for being so hospitable to me when I came to visit you for 2 weeks....and not to mention the "unmentionables"

Love ya,

Lee Engele (President of the Twin Cities Jazz Society)

I have much to say about Danny Ladd, but I'll try to keep it short. It's always a unique experience playing trumpet for Danny in the studio. Danny is a true "Visionary", and "Creator" of some of the most intricate, "Ear Candy". He is "THE CREATOR", but he doesn't hold you back if you have something good to contribute. All of the musicians he has on his projects are creators as well, and it's nice that he gives us that kind of unconfined space to work within. Danny is a true professional when working with him. The man has been through alot in life; but he doesn't let it hold him back on his love for creating and producing. Here is to Danny Ladd, the Lord of Laddistic Rogue, a style that's sure to infect you faster than "The Black Plague", but in a good way! Moreover, the sound wouldn't be brought to it's true fruition without Jerry Manno, "The Sorcerer of Sound", "The Alchemist of Audio", "the Man behind the glass", in all his analog glory! Who am I ? Just a "Legend In My Own Mind". I am graced with a small bit of trumpet playing talent, of which the credit all goes to the Glory of God. Thanks for the experience Danny! And what an experience it was!

Grind it to the bone my Brutha,

Bob Hornyak

You ride a dark highway four in the morning zoned to the far out station. The riff builds with the pulse of a motor, paving the road ahead of you, unparalleled to the others. Grooves like a monster track weave onto that odd metered back road, home of the village bop stop. You followed the map, and the horns got funky on the bridge. Get into the zone and lay down the keys. You're movin' a bit slicker now. Like some sort of bass floorboard half-step.

Tom Tallitsch

Rode Those Riffs

Click here to add text.

"I met Danny roughly a year ago through a Facebook reunion that sparked our relationship and we've been hitting it in the studio every since! Danny brings his eclectic style of music "Laddistic Rogue" to bat EVERY TIME I walk into J.M.M. Studios (with 16 glorious tracks of analog!). I love the fact that Danny is completely about "the Process". He is a wonderfully talented and creative musician who knows what he wants, when he wants it and how he's gonna get it... yet, no ego! When you work on a Danny Ladd session, you are given, for the most part, artistic freedom to interpret the song to how you see fit! Each session is a completely comfortable situation that's suited to bring out the very best possible performance... which shows on every single track!

The one thing that I always see recurring, is how much people love the "Ride That Riff" series and I must say that I agree with them! However, the one thing that I haven't mentioned yet, which must be noted, is that Danny is a MONSTER bass player! Everything just seems to come naturally to Mr. Ladd and he and his team are truly a pleasure to work with and be around... looking forward to next session and another 25 years of Laddistic Rogue!"

John Bottone

"What can I say that hasn't already been said? I love Jerry! Jerry is a madman behind the knobs... this dude has some serious engineering skills! He just knows how to work and tweak everything possible to get that wonderfully warm analog sound, which unfortunately, you don't hear too often these days. Having worked on other sessions before with different engineers/producers, working with Jerry is quite possibly one of the easiest sessions a musician could have... you don't have to do a damn thing and that guy will make you sound like some kinda God or something! Trust me, once you work at J.M.M studios, you'll understand why Jerry's been in business for as long as he has been. Ohhh, and one more thing... this cat can play a mean guitar as well!"

... you guys ROCK!

John Bottone

Great, fun riffs; experimental but not pretentious. I love the balance of the mixes too. Just plain good. I had no doubt that you were a good musician when we played, but you've definitely matured into the real deal.

Don M.

Playing Danny Ladd's music is like embarking on a riveting adventure where you begin lost in the middle of the wilderness with no provisions except for the clothes on your back and a poorly drawn map. As you begin to bush-wack your way through the seemingly impenetrable flora of harmony, you begin to extract yourself from the binds of civilization and, finally, become one with the natural world. To understand the compositions of Danny Ladd is to achieve a climax so profoundly invigorating that it defies comparison with any other human experience that has ever been visited upon the planet Earth.

Ben Katzen (cellist)

Hi Danny - Love the tunes! - Kinda metal meets crime jazz!!!! I hope your music takes you to levels that you deserve.

ALL FOR ONE MATE!

Cheers, John

(Bassist/singer of Raven)

ClicHi Danny,

Hi Danny,

I received the CD's you sent and have listened to all tracks on both. I was drawn in immediately to the emotional feeling of your playing, and the surrounding (and sometimes) unpredictable instrumentation/arrangements.

I can clearly see and hear your compositions as being used as soundtrack material. Writing instrumentals leaves an open pallet to the listener to their own imagery, which can also apply to anyone in "The Biz" for movie or television usage. On the flip side, your instrumentals are also open for possible re-writes as vocal tracks.

I like the interplay between your bass with the sax, guitars and the "Mighty B" Hammond organ. I hope it all goes well for you and I again wish you all the best,

Kind regards,

Bob Daisley - ( Bassist for Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow / Blizzard of Ozz (Ozzy) / Uriah Heep.....etc)

PS. Cheers to your sound engineer for a very keen ear and the use of analog recording.