Introduction

[ Introduction   |  Interview   |  The Band ]

Introducing DRIVEN, a trio that began in April of 1997, with each musician aspiring to gel their freeform styles of rock, jazz, and funk. Together they have merged these musical ideas to create many instrumental soundscapes that allows the listener to interpret their music without the weight of one voice or political message.

Guitarist DAVE HART, drummer JAMES SHOULTS and bassist CHRIS ROBINSON do a fresh new take on the classic power rock trio format. Their debut CD, "Which Way to Where?", runs the gamut from the California-spacey textures of Willow, Rhymes in 7, and Mystic Garden, to the smokin' funk grooves of Domestic Drive and Slipstream, to a gently jazzy tribute tune Lament, (dedicated to Charlie Browne) and lastly, the climactically hot soloing within the ending track, Move Me. Which leaves you pondering the phrase "Which Way to Where?"

DRIVEN have done their musical homework. They seem to have not just listened to, but viscerally absorbed the playing of every notable jazz, rock and funk figure of the past 25 years. And they sum it all up in a fresh, original synthesis.

"Which Way to Where?" is the result of pure talent, and not just in the recording studio. This group lives up to their promise in live performance, and the chemistry between the players is such that it actually accelerates the pleasure of listening to them. So please, browse and explore the sights and sounds of DRIVEN...

The project was recorded at Shoults Recording Studios in Calgary, Alberta, from August through November of 1997 (daily trips to Taco Bell). WWtW? was intensely produced and engineered by the one and only brilliance of James Shoults. The final stage was to master the album through Boxer Productions with the mighty Peter D'Amico at the helm. This lenghthy and enlightening period consumed several weeks (and many of Subway's meatball subs) until finally one day, we all smiled quietly at each other and agreed to this projects' eventual musical outcome.

Driven is a tidy trio that has released an album of big proportions,
Which Way to Where?

Dave insists that the CD is a self indulgent, classic power rock album. It reveals Driven's influences as the rock stylings of Rush, funk like Primus, and fusion involved west coast jazz which illustrates their love for creating atmospheric soundscapes - definitely not a combination heard on top 40 radio.

"It's not mainstream for sure," laughs Dave. "It was a self - indulgent recording, a musical resume, so to speak, to encapsulate our collective playing abilities at the time." The concept of the album, WWtW? is: where is the direction? "There are several styles: calypso drumming, flamenco guitar lines, jazzier tunes as well as these funk grooves. Like prairie fusion, it goes all over the place."

The album title, the driving motif cover and the instrumental nature of the recording are an open invitation to escapism for listeners. Dave emphasizes that a significant purpose of music is to provide people with a break from their worries. He credits WWtW? as an album which successfully satifies that requirement.

"It's good music to vacuum your house to. I've had some people tell me they crank it while they're cleaning, or if they're driving, hence Driven, there is a lot of momentum to the music. As for it not being mainstream, we were'nt too concerned with that, especially without a vocalist, but above all to keep our integrity to what we are doing as musicians because we enjoy playing more interesting arrangements. It's just much more exciting to do that."

DAVE               JAMES              CHRIS

Dave Hart           electric and acoustic guitars

James Shoults    drums and percussion

Chris Robinson    bass guitar