Som'n Fierce by Danny Bedrosian

Late in his teens, through networking skills, Bedrosian was invited to Florida to record what would be his first sessions with George Clinton and members of Pfunk. The word spread of his multi-versatile playing and compositional ideas, leading Bo Diddley to call for him to do sessions as well. This would lead him on to move to Tallahassee Fl, in July 2003, where, after he graduated college (Bachelor of Arts, University of NH) he continued playing keyboards on sessions for the Pfunk juggernaut, as well as playing in various local funk and rock bands, on Keyboards, Lead Vocals, and Drums.

In December of 2003 Bedrosian was hired into George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic starting as keyboard technician and occasional player, but quickly moved up the ranks with his hard working business skills and musical talent. He was the main keyboardist for Pfunk Drummer Rico Lewis' hip hop act Varsity Squad, as well as George's son's band GCIII. Impressed by Bedrosian's skills, Clinton moved Danny up to full time Keyboardist with the band, as he also simultaneously scored an endorsement with the makers of Bedrosian's favored Nord Keyboards, Clavia. Since then, Danny Bedrosian has toured all over North America, Europe, the Caribbean, Australia, and New Zealand with Clinton and Co. Bedrosian is also the Keyboardist for Pfunk spinoff success story The 420 Funk Mob, and Drugs, led by fellow Pfunker Michael Clip Payne. Bedrosian also plays with the local Tallahassee funk heroes The Soular System, with whom he just recorded his keyboard parts for their upcoming third album, and works closely on musical and behind the scenes aspects of Jerome Rodger's SchoolBoy label. Between the bands, Bedrosian also is writing a historical ethnology of the Middle East (he is a certified degree holding Historian after all-a graduate of University of New Hampshire), and teaching piano lessons to students of all ages. He was also the Executive Producer for Jerome Rodger's recent international solo debut release "Character Disorder."

Bedrosian is featured on the recent live GC and Pfunk international release Instantlive in Portland Maine, as well as the four disc 420 Funk Mob featuring George Clinton live in Spain album entitled "Say Habla EsPan Yo!", and can be seen in the accompanying DVD highlighting 420 FM shows from the U.S. as well during the 2004 touring season. He is also the featured keyboardist alongside Bernie Worrell, on the George Clinton and Pfunk DVD release from the Montreaux, Switzerland Jazz Festival of 2004. Some of Bedrosian's keyboard playing will be included on the upcoming Pfunk All Stars album, as well as Pfunk vocalist Steve Boyd's third album, due out this year. He is also busy at work with fellow Pfunkers, members of Muzik Mafia and the West Woody Posse, on a new 420/Wefunk records release and the second Drugs album. He is producing his sister Elise on her upcoming solo album, and is putting together a Somn Fierce band to support his album

Danny Bedrosian's first solo album, Som'n Fierce, is a seventeen track look at some of the oftentimes sleazy, soulful, retrospective and yet future bound aspects of the Pfunk sound. On the album Bedrosian has included a cover of an old 1967 tune by the Parliaments entitled "Don't Be Sore at Me" as well as the Funkadelic sweetly-sick love song "Soul Mate". Bedrosian's influence from Clinton's vocal style is evident not only on the Pfunk covers, but on much of the other material as well. It certainly also helps that contributing musicians on the album happen to include extremely talented longtime Pfunk members Jerome Rodgers, Michael Clip Payne, Lige Curry, and Garry Shider. His original material is a mix of the styles of funk-soul found in New England, and that country-poot-fonk of the deep South. Bandmates from Sweet Motha Child, Dr. Sloptapus, The Liquid Sand Band, and The Soular System also make cameos on this album, but the music and lyrics are overwhelmingly from the mind of Bedrosian himself. His virtuosity on piano (from the classical training) is evident on this album, as is his influence from other keyboardists and pianists, in many cases, jazz pianist Chick Corea, as well as his pfunk mentors, Worrell, and Rodgers, among others. There is funk for every fan, and even for those who don't hold funk as their weapon of choice: The Album starts with The Rhodes-and Moog dominated "Incompetence", and the Crunk, Southern-fried Soul-hock of "Speed Bump." The next track is the stomping "New Clone on the Block", referencing Bedrosian's appearance in the Pfunk world, supported by Pfunkers Jerome Rodgers and Garry Shider. "Corn" is Bedrosian's take on the commercial and oftentimes corny musical world of modern radio and MTV, and the music on this track is quirky but sleazy, with Junie-ish syncopated synth bass, driving keyboards, and Bedrosian's patented synth solo towards the end. The mood can get somber and sleazily beautiful as suggested by "Soul Mate", the 1976 Funkadelic cover featuring Jerome Rodgers on guitar, and Pfunk Bassist extraordinaire Lige Curry carrying the bottom end as only he can. Songs like "Long Division", and "Bump N Da Nite" are very provocative, both sexually and musically, and evoke feelings augmented by Bedrosian's favorite keyboard, the Nord Electro II 61. "Cop This" is a session between Michael "Clip" Payne, and Bedrosian, evokes some hearty electro-funk and drives the groove home. "Miss Sarah Tonin's Waltz" strikes a nerve many of the youth of America today have felt like no generation before, with it's Techno/Garage groove. The sad undertones remain, however, speaking without words of a waltz with one's own personal demons after the final encore of the ecstasy boom. While it is an instrumental, it has a lyrical feel that is both personal and unifying. There is the crossover commercial R&B of singles such as "Co Writer" and the jazzy "My Country Life" both very radio friendly in the Soul and Rock markets. That being said, all the lyrics invoke transcendence, something Bedrosian learned from the mastery of his bandleader Mr. Clinton. "Retaining Grace" is a social treatise speaking on the parallels of the Western world and the Middle East, and how understanding is the key, something the Western nations have not yet fully coped with. Next up is the updated cover of the Parliament's "Dont Be Sore at Me" bringing a great song into the new century while maintaining the validity of the original music and vocals. The final track "Lisa's Lullaby" ends the album on a good note, with the slow groove, melting Nord Electro keys, and Bedrosian's sleazy crooning. For the maggots there are some extra nuggets, just let the album run. Overall this is a must hear, must EXPERIENCE record for not just die hard Pfunk fans, but music appreciators worldwide. Enjoy Som'n Fierce, brought to you by BOZFONK PRODUCTIONS. All songs Copyright BOZFONK PRODUCTIONS, Published by DB Publishing.

Bio and review written by: Tigran Hovanessian 3/1/05

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