The Jimmy Whip Project

Jimmy Whip Project – Limited Edition

Guitar/Bass/Vocals – Jimmy Whip
Drums/Percussion – Kenny Howard

Wikipedia tells us that a whip is a “tapered‚ flexible length of either a single cord or plaited leather or other material‚ commonly with a stiff handle - traditionally used to produce a loud sharp sound to drive or direct livestock or harnessed animals.” The whip fascinatingly enough was also the first man-made object to break the sound barrier. This‚ of course‚ bears no relevance to Jimmy Whip‚ a producer and artist from New Jersey‚ but I would hope that we would be equally enthralled by this tasty bit of information.

Well first things first‚ a large portion of the proceeds of this untitled EP will be donated to the American Cancer Society‚ which I personally think is pretty damned awesome cause. So‚ as one that has experienced what cancer can do to the ones you love‚ I heartily recommend that you all reach into your pockets and buy what is actually a great piece of work.

With his heels firmly dug in the very roots of modern metal‚ Jimmy Whip combines all the best features of great bands like Megadeth‚ Black Sabbath‚ Iron Maiden to create a sound that would easily grab any old-school metal-head by the short and curlies‚ but would (especially when we see a resurgence of such bands) easily appeal to a much wider audience. Whip has a menacing snarl to his voice that could easily be confused for Dave Mustaine‚ and the production is impeccable. The musicianship is tight and there’s a great drive to each track which will have to you slyly headbanging in front of your embarrassed loved ones before you know it.

There really isn’t much more to say other than if you have a pair of ears and like metal in any capacity (if not‚ why are you even here!?). Buy this EP‚ give to a good cause‚ and bathe in the knowledge that you’ve just bought an excellent CD.
Written By: Stuart McQuarrie
Submitted by: William Ham


The Bottom Line 9/10

Jimmy Whip Project – Limited Edition
- One Metal

Jimmy Whip is New Jersey’s neo-classical guitar hero, bringing his own crunching brand of metal and hard rock back to its purest roots. With his namesake, The Jimmy Whip Project, this axe man and vocalist reflects the vibes of forerunners like Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, Motorhead and Todd Rundgren, the last of which he sees as a mentor not only in the musical sphere, but also in terms of what he has done career-wise. “Todd has worked with so many people as far as producing, arranging and writing. His body of work is definitely a big influence. It basically comes down to making a living doing the music that you believe in. Music that has meaning and purpose, something that evokes emotion and can stand the test of time. That’s what I am shooting for.”
Whip told of previous musical co-conspirators and associates such as Vision, Brian Vadimsky, Paul Crook (Meatloaf), Mike Orlando, and Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Guns N’ Roses), whilst at the present time, The Jimmy Whip Project consists of Jimmy and drummer extraordinaire Kenny Howard, but that has been enough to compose a self-released CD that will be available by the end of April. The Aquarian spoke to Whip before his trip to the NAMM convention in CA, which he described as, “A super networking opportunity. It’s like a candy store for musicians, with all the different instrument makers from all around the world showcasing their new line of products, and a lot of their endorsing artists are there.”
‘Different’ has a fiery swagger to it, would you like to discuss that one?

That song, not vocally, of course, I got this Dio/Black Sabbath groove/vibe/energy in my head. When I get ideas, I don’t want to sound like somebody else, I just try to take their kind of vibe and translate it into my language, my music. Most of the stuff up on my website is two or three years old. I have been working on a lot of new material that’s going on the CD.
It’s basically a mix of the tunes that I have had for two or three years, and a lot of the newer material that is not on the site yet. I have had different people pick a lot of different songs that they considered the best or their favorites, and so it’s tough to get a three song demo together. Of course, I believe in all of them, so it’s comes down to the never ending battle between going with your gut instinct and listening to other people, and seeing what they like.
You’re a producer as well, so does that make it harder for you to produce your own music?

I think it’s a lot harder, because I am going to really nitpick. That’s why it’s good to have a bunch of guys that I have done work with over the years to try to bounce ideas off of. They keep telling me, ‘You’re being too picky.’
I have been working on this project for nearly half-dozen years. I have been doing a lot of other things in the meantime with other people’s projects, but it’s time The Jimmy Whip Project gets out. It needs to be heard, and it needs to be seen. I am focusing all of my attention to the project, but still doing some engineering and producing for other bands. That actually helps me when I work on my tunes, because I see how I can think outside the box. When I am working with other bands, I usually say something that makes me think, ‘Hey, I should listen to my own advice when I am working on the JWP.’
What other bands have you worked with? Do you do a lot of session stuff as well?

I have been doing a lot of sessions. I have worked with tons of bands. I have done everything from backup vocals on hardcore/punk CDs to playing John Paul Jones in a Zeppelin tribute band to playing guitar in a country band. I did quite a few shows this summer helping out my friends Mean Venus filling in on guitar. I am also working with a major jazz horn player—I am working on his CD. It’s a progressive jazz/fusion kind of thing. Very Mike Stern meets the Yellowjackets. I try to keep my options open, which in turn really helps me in terms of broadening my mind and translates well when applied to the JWP.
You’re also affiliated with Sundancer Productions, which places music in films and commercials. How is that relationship going so far?

I signed with them in May 2008. It’s working out really well. It is very difficult to focus on the music when you have to worry about this business end as well. I am extremely fortunate and appreciative to have them believe in the Jimmy Whip Project and handle the business aspects, as well as advice on the artistic end.
It seems that old school rock and metal are really back into focus when it comes to the public eye right now.

It goes back to the content of the classics, the time tested brilliance. No offense to anyone as far as nu metal or what have you. It’s not a conscious thing that I write that way, it’s just where it comes from, and I am glad that it’s coming back around. I don’t think it has ever gone away, but it is more at the forefront of the scene today than it has been in recent years.
How did you meet up with your drummer?

Kenny found me online about six years ago. I was searching for musicians, putting ads out, to their usual no avail. He called me up and we started talking about music, life and politics. I went to his website, and it was just full of this killer jazz fusion type playing. Kenny was a really big session player in the Boston area, working with major producers like Jack Douglass (Aerosmith). I listened to his playing, called him back and said, ‘Are you sure you want to play on my songs?’ Because he was playing Steely Dan type stuff. But Kenny is a metalhead at heart. So it is working out well between my style and my influences and his style and his influences. I think it gives it that little something different.
Who is playing with you in the live band?

Right now, it’s just Kenny and myself. We are still searching for other members, but when we play live, it might be musicians for hire until we get the full complement for the project. That’s a real tough thing. Sometimes it’s just a logistical nightmare. I had a bass player from Nebraska, a guitar player from Texas and my drummer lives in Nantucket. Kenny and I have these conversations all the time, that we will have to hire some heavy-duty pros to come in for now. We both have no doubt that once the product is fully done and out there that the players will be knocking on the door for the opportunity. If that’s the way that it will have to be, then that’s the way that it will have to be. Done right, no compromise.
Then you guys do a lot of MP3ing back and forth?

It’s MP3s back and forth. All the drums that you hear on the demos, he played the drums, but he did not play them to the songs. He sends me drum tracks, which I write to and most of the time, I don’t cut them up or paste them. That’s why I make it known that they are demos, because certain parts have changed and certain parts are a lot tighter. When I am writing to the drum tracks, I have a change that works, but it’s not always dead on tight. That’s why they are preproduction demos, scratch pads if you will. I am really psyched to get the CD done and heard, because people like the songs now, but the way they sound after Kenny and I incorporated the changes and tracked them together, then throwing in Tony (Franklin)’s playing, it’s just a night and day difference.
Tony is playing bass on the CD?

Tony Franklin (The Firm, Blue Murder, Whitesnake), a.k.a. the Fretless Monster. His tracks are just amazing. He brings the songs to where they need to be. Tony is a world class bass player. He is really great to work with, a super nice guy and really cares about what you are looking for in the song. He is not just one of those high-profile cats that’s just playing on everything and anything. If he doesn’t like it, he won’t even do it, which is cool. I am happy that he is digging it, because I am digging what he is sending back.
Were ever thinking of calling it something other than the Jimmy Whip Project?

I didn’t want to use that name for years, but Kenny was adamant. I wanted a band, not ‘So ‘n So & The Backup Band.’ I am not trying to be Joe Limelight, that’s not what I am doing it for, that’s not what I want out of it. But he fought me tooth-and-nail, and I finally gave in. So now that some really positive things have been happening in the last couple of years, I really don’t want to change it.
Do you have any live shows planned?

I have lot of interest from some major metal festivals for the spring and summer, as well as a few CD release parties in the works for both coasts, but I just want to focus the next couple of months on getting the CD done.
The debut release from the Jimmy Whip Project is coming out in April. For more info, visit jimmywhip.com - The Aquarian Weekly