ABOUT THE ALBUM

577 Records is proud to present the new album TEST and Roy Campbell, a live recording from April 16, 1999. This is the only known performance of Roy Campbell joining TEST: a collective band of Tom Bruno, Sabir Mateen, Daniel Carter, and Matt Heyner.

Following are edited notes from New York City musician Matt Mottel, who recorded the event:

“This performance was a benefit gig to repair the No Neck Blues Band’s van. John Fahey, Lee Ranaldo, and No Neck Blues Band joined the stacked lineup at No Neck Blues Band’s loft The Hint House and raised the ‘bread’ to fix the van. Spirits were lit with a listening and enthusiastic audience. The cathartic energy rising. 

TEST occupied the public space of New York City. TEST’s typical audience was a passerby on a subway platform, a curious security guard on a smoke break in midtown, or the most ‘in the know’ subset of gig-goers. TEST, distinctly honed their working band approach, by actively gigging multiple times a week across the NYC subway map. When they performed at a ‘booked venue’, the listener witnessed the bullseye acumen of a working band. This ethos of the band choosing to ‘play anywhere/all the time’, separated TEST from other groups.

Roy, one of the hardest working musicians on the scene, had a bear hug that would ensconce its recipient with camaraderie and love. Roy lived at the north end of the Bronx, but nightly, was downtown, uptown, or somewhere in the middle playing weekly at venues such as Lenox Lounge, The Pink Pony, Brecht Forum, Tonic, Knitting Factory and CBGB’s Gallery.

Roy and TEST were ungrounded. They broke the glass ceiling on every hit, enriching the creative music community with manifest forward motion. On this album, we hear what the spirit of ‘the music’ is, was, and forever will be.”    

TEST AND ROY CAMPBELL

Roy Campbell - Trumpet
Daniel Carter: Alto & Tenor Sax, Trumpet, Flute
Sabir Mateen - Alto & Tenor Sax, Flute, Clarinet
Matthew Heyner - Bass
Tom Bruno - Drums

Recorded in New York City
Release September 2020
Total CD time 47 mins
Catalogue number 5819

Drawing by Sacha Bruno
Graphic design by Sergio Vezzali

TRACKS
1. TEST and Roy Campbell 47:08

Exclusive Second Digipak CD Edition of 200

100% of profit from the sale of most of these albums
goes to the musicians

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