RAYZD is the new name of a band formerly called G-Clef and da Houndz/Yalloppin' Hounds, and is the hip-hop/pop/jazz-oriented Phoenix that rose from the ashes of the Neo Swing Movement of the turn of the millennium. But trust us you never heard a band like

14 MP3 Songs
POP: with Live-band Production, ELECTRONIC: Pop Crossover



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BIO

RAYZD is the new name of a band formerly called G-Clef and da Houndz/Yalloppin' Hounds, and is the hip-hop/pop/jazz-oriented Phoenix that rose from the ashes of the Neo Swing Movement of the turn of the millennium! But trust us you never heard a band like this before.... They are 100 original, combining real musical skills with real rhymes, lyrics, and beats to form the most exciting new movement in music on this planet! Rayzd means many things to us: It means resurrection from the ashes... It means a resurgence of real melody and harmony combined with experimental pop.... It means its time to "rayz" the level now for the entire music world.... It means movement from darkness to light....travelling from west to east. The message behind Rayzd is based on values that are not necessarily of the material world. Concepts like love, aspiration to greatness, rejection of mediocrity, positive enhancement of human potential are among the messages they hope to leave their audiences with.


Rayzd is influenced a fair amount by Ellington, Radiohead, Portishead, Wu-Tang Clan, Sun Ra, Evanescence, The Carpenters, Rakim, Kool Keith, Yoko Kanno, and many other luminaries of earth. However, do not expect them to sound like any of them...

Our live presentation is also unique. We do not merely "play some tunes". At our shows, we try to involve the audience in a mutli-dimensional drama specifically designed to effect a change in the listener. "We definitely strive to take you somewhere..." says bandleader G-Clef, who is both an accomplished jazz musician and hip-hop producer. G-Clef has worked in musical situations as diverse as Illinois Jacquet Big Band (famous jazz great) and as a producer for Wu-Tang Clan. In Rayzd, he delivers not only a masterful saxophone, but legit classic hip-hip flows, as well as playing the ASR-10 Sampler live! He is also the main songwriter, composer, and producer for the group, devising a return to melody and beauty, upgraded to a futuristic setting... a wicked admixture of rugged beats with colorful electronic overtones. The sonic panorama that often ensues can only be likened to a veritable "northern lights" show in sonic exotica providing the backdrop to a series of strong, memorable songs.

While G-Clef is aided by his young disciple, Metatron rhyming on the mic, Rayzd features two main singers: Male vocalist Peter Hartmann offers renditions that are smooth and silky, causing G-Clef to nickname him "the voice of romance". But it is the female chanteuse, Jakineko who is poised delicately at the front and center of Rayzd. Adorned with gothic/ancient apparel, Jakineko has a stage presence like that of a mesmerizing enchantress, and has a classically trained voice so versatile, only she can keep the pace with the totality of G-Clef's wide array of musical stylings. She can put forth a lovely jazz ballad, and then do a complete 180 and rock out! Even opera falls within her range, as G-Clef puts it, "our secret weapon..."

The band has performed at a wide variety of concerts, clubs, festivals, and dances, as well a some very prestigious events! (see list of accomplishments) Overall, what Rayzd brings to the table is a high level of professionalism and musicianship. Keyboardist Joe "Anakin" Rybczyk, drummer and percussionist Marlon "Maimonides" Sobol, as well, are all very seriously talented and accomplished professional musicians with track records in their own rights. In other words, Rayzd is not your everyday garage band! The band is now positioning to change the world of music as we know it, as well as changing humankind for the better through their message.