photos by Vacant Era Photography
Chicago progressive metal/jazz fusion trio SONS OF RA presents a captivating new animated video for “Upstart,” found on their debut LP, Standard Deviation, out now on Lasers Edge imprint Free Electric Sound. The video’s premiere is hosted by New Noise Magazine.
Two decades have passed since SONS OF RA emerged onto Chicago’s scene. Formed by guitarist Erik Oldman Vecchione (Mare Crisium, Afrofuturistics), drummer Mike Rataj (Arbogast, Mine Collapse), and saxophonist/bassist Keith Wakefield (Jan King And Medicine Ball, Afrofuturistics), SONS OF RA independently released four EPs since 2016, culminating with the internationally critically acclaimed six-part suite Tropic Of Cancer in 2024.
SONS OF RA’s evolution continues with Standard Deviation, diving deeper into their roots of avant-garde jazz, fusion, math and progressive rock, while maintaining a powerful metallic crunch. The album features interpretations of compositions from jazz legends Carla Bley, John Coltrane, and Don Ellis, balanced with a collection of original compositions reflecting the group’s diverse influences. The album was recorded and mixed by Spenser Morris (Saor, Panopticon, Vukari) at Palisade Studios and mastered by Grammy Award-winning engineer Alan Douches at West West Side Sound. The album features guest performances by bassist Stephen Reichelt (Morgue Supplier, Drug Honkey, Mare Crisium), percussionist Paul Abella, and flautist Isaiah Sanderman. The cover art was painted by Nick Gurley, layout was handled by Erik Oldman Vecchione with photography from Sam Castellano at Doozy and Vacant Era Photography.
The new computer animation video for “Upstart” was produced and directed by Chuck Clybourne.
Wakefield states, “This song was so much fun to record. We loved this song, that is why we chose it. As much as I personally enjoy jazz fusion, I enjoy the inspiration behind jazz fusion more. I would say the same thing about third stream. This song has the inspiration of jazz fusion and third stream without being either one of those. I believe our arrangement stayed true to that but with our stamp.”
Vecchione adds, “‘Upstart’ is a tune with some very distinct intersections of some of the things we like about jazz, avant garde, and third stream music. It swings like a hard bop tune, it’s in odd meter, but doesn’t feel clumsy. It’s dissonant and abstract but also has a prominent blues feel. We wanted to try our hand at arranging something that could be played with a larger ensemble that balances our sensibilities with a colossal big band swagger.”
SONS OF RA’s captivating “Upstart” video is now playing at New Noise Magazine RIGHT HERE.
Standard Deviation is now available on digital, CD, and LP at the Lasers Edge webshop HERE and Bandcamp – the standard version HERE and the hi-res version HERE. The band also has merch and signed copies of the album at the store HERE, and prior videos from the album are playing HERE.
SONS OF RA continues to tour in support of the album, launching their newest wave of dates this week, with shows in Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Melvindale. Additional shows are booked in mid-June and several more new dates have been booked in October, with more on the way. See all currently confirmed dates below.
SONS OF RA Tour Dates:
5/29/2025 Bantha Tea Bar – Pittsburgh, PA
5/30/2025 Orion Studios – Baltimore, MD w/ Konjur Collective, Derek Torsani
5/31/2025 Parts and Labor – Melvindale, MI w/ Belling the Tiger
6/12/2025 Hyphenated Jazz Series @ Val’s Halla – Oak Park, IL
6/14/2025 Punk Rock Tacos: International Taco Fest @ LiveWire Lounge – Chicago, IL
10/03/225 Musica – Akron, OH
10/04/2025 Ghost Light – Hamtramck, MI
10/22/2025 Kankakee Arts Co-Lab – Kankakee, IL
“If you’re in need of some jazzy metal goodness up in your ears today, this is certainly it.” – Metal Injection
“SONS OF RA impose few limitations on their music: They might try on any number of heavy and intense sounds, including prog, math rock, avant-garde metal, funk, and free jazz, depending on where the mood takes them.” – Chicago Reader
“Standard Deviation is a nine-track exhibition of the trio’s striking evolution as songwriters and performers, but it’s not a complete deviation from the style that’s garnered them their passionate following. It’s undoubtedly their most intricate and focused work while paying homage to their most significant influences.” – The Tonearm
“It’s a dynamic, multilayered composition that is an absolute blast to listen to. It is just packed with so much good stuff, and simply put… it sounds awesome. But! There is definitely a lot to unpack.” – Nine Circles
“It’s an interesting title, as it is clearly not ‘standard’ and the ‘deviation’ is breathtaking, you only need to listen to the first few minutes of opener ‘Disintegration (Alabama Revisited)’ to realize that the composition is off the scale… Having drawn profoundly from their individual passions and stories, the trio end with ‘Lividity And The Ascension’ which is the final chance to hear what they have created. And it feels somewhat euphoric, like the end of a fairytale adventure as you sit back, relax and just go WOW!” – The Sleeping Shaman
“Let me issue a word of warning; if you are not one to think outside the box, to always want a straight line in music as well as life, SONS OF RA is not the band for you. But if you are like me, and you liked the jazzy death metal albums of bands like Pestilence and Cynic, you could always give Standard Deviation a listen.” – Metal Temple
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