Magna Carta Records
Encyclopedia
Magna Carta Records is an independent record label
located in Rochester, New York. Magna Carta was formed in 1989 and is owned by Peter Morticelli and his partner Mike Varney. The label has a diverse line-up consisting of musicians from many different genres, but is best known for many of its progressive rock
/ metal
acts. Among the artists featured on the label are OHMphrey
, Alex Skolnick Trio
, Dave Martone, Kris Norris
& Doug Pinnick (of King's X
).
for North American distribution. Magna Carta formerly worked with Rykodisc
which was acquired by ADA in early 2009. ADA is a subsidiary of Warner Music Group
, or WMG.
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
located in Rochester, New York. Magna Carta was formed in 1989 and is owned by Peter Morticelli and his partner Mike Varney. The label has a diverse line-up consisting of musicians from many different genres, but is best known for many of its progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
/ metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
acts. Among the artists featured on the label are OHMphrey
OHMphrey
OHMphrey, is an American collaborative project formed in January 2008 featuring three members of the Chicago-based jam-band Umphrey's McGee and OHM guitarist Chris Poland, a legendary player who’s perhaps best known for work with headbanging pioneers Megadeth, and bassist Robertino Pagliari...
, Alex Skolnick Trio
Alex Skolnick Trio
The Alex Skolnick Trio is an American jazz music trio comprising the guitarist Alex Skolnick, Matt Zebroski on drums, and Nathan Peck on bass. Previously, John Davis played bass for the group. The Trio is known for its inventive jazz take on hard rock and heavy metal "standards"...
, Dave Martone, Kris Norris
Kris Norris
Kris Norris is the former guitarist of the band Darkest Hour and temporary replacement guitarist for God Forbid and Threat Signal. Kris released a solo record "Icons of the Illogical" with The Kris Norris Projekt on Magna Carta Records in early 2009....
& Doug Pinnick (of King's X
King's X
King's X is an American hard rock band that combines progressive metal, funk and soul with vocal arrangements influenced by gospel, blues, and British Invasion rock groups. The band's lyrics are largely based on the members' struggles with religion and self-acceptance...
).
Magna Carta Team
- Peter Morticelli - Owner/President
- Mike Varney - Vice President
- Daniel Hanley - Mail order/Business
- Denise Peterson - Accounting
- Barbara Lysiak - International Publicity
- The Music Firm - European Logistics
North American Distribution
As of June 1, 2009, Magna Carta began working with Alternative Distribution AllianceAlternative Distribution Alliance
The Alternative Distribution Alliance was created in 1993 by Warner Music Group and Sub Pop Records as a joint venture to distribute and manufacture records owned by indie labels. Headed up by Mitchell Wolk, ADA is the leading "indie" distribution company in the U.S. for both physical and digital...
for North American distribution. Magna Carta formerly worked with Rykodisc
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
which was acquired by ADA in early 2009. ADA is a subsidiary of Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
, or WMG.
European Distribution
Magna Carta is distributed by Plastic Head in the UK and by Border Music in Scandinavia.Magna Carta Releases
- Alex Skolnick TrioAlex Skolnick TrioThe Alex Skolnick Trio is an American jazz music trio comprising the guitarist Alex Skolnick, Matt Zebroski on drums, and Nathan Peck on bass. Previously, John Davis played bass for the group. The Trio is known for its inventive jazz take on hard rock and heavy metal "standards"...
- Bill CutlerBill CutlerWilliam H. Cutler is a retired American mathematician and systems analyst, living in Illinois USA.His main interest and area of research is in burr puzzles and packing puzzles...
- Dave Martone
- Doug PinnickDoug PinnickDoug Pinnick sometimes stylised as dUg Pinnick or simply dUg is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the hard rock/progressive metal band King's X. He has fourteen albums with King's X, four solo albums, and numerous side projects and guest...
- Ethan Brosh
- Jordan RudessJordan RudessJordan Rudess is an American keyboardist best known as a member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater and the progressive rock supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment.-Biography:...
- Kris NorrisKris NorrisKris Norris is the former guitarist of the band Darkest Hour and temporary replacement guitarist for God Forbid and Threat Signal. Kris released a solo record "Icons of the Illogical" with The Kris Norris Projekt on Magna Carta Records in early 2009....
- Lief Sorbye
- Michael Lee FirkinsMichael Lee FirkinsMichael Lee Firkins is an electric guitar player whose sound fuses bluegrass, country, blues, and jazz elements into his distorted rock sound. He is noted amongst guitarists for his prolific use of hybrid picking at high speeds....
- OHMphreyOHMphreyOHMphrey, is an American collaborative project formed in January 2008 featuring three members of the Chicago-based jam-band Umphrey's McGee and OHM guitarist Chris Poland, a legendary player who’s perhaps best known for work with headbanging pioneers Megadeth, and bassist Robertino Pagliari...
- Oz Noy
- Royal HuntRoyal HuntRoyal Hunt is a progressive metal band based in Denmark, founded in 1989 by keyboardist Andre Andersen. The band is known for creating melodic music with a progressive and symphonic flair. They made a huge success during mid-90s with their classic albums Moving Target and Paradox mainly in Japan...
- Steve StevensSteve StevensSteve Stevens is an American guitarist and songwriter.He is best known for playing for other artists and less known for his critically acclaimed solo efforts , collaborations Steve Stevens (born as Steven Schneider on May 5, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American guitarist and songwriter.He...
- TempestTempest (band)Tempest is a Celtic rock band from the San Francisco Bay Area, based in Oakland, California. They fuse together the traditional Celtic music with Norwegian and European folk, American folk, and progressive rock....
Past Releases
- Age of NemesisAge of NemesisAge of Nemesis is a Hungarian progressive metal band that formed in 1997 as Nemesis and later changed their name to Age of Nemesis in 2005. They are heavily influenced by Dream Theater and Symphony X...
- Altura
- Andy WestAndy WestAndy West is an American bass guitarist and composer who is an original founding member of the Dixie Dregs along with Steve Morse. Since the breakup of the original band in 1983, Andy West has been on albums with Mike Keneally, Henry Kaiser, Paul Barrere, Vinnie Moore, and many others...
with Rama - Anthropia
- Attention Deficit
- Billy SheehanBilly SheehanWilliam "Billy" Sheehan is an American bassist known for his work with Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, and Niacin. Sheehan has won the "Best Rock Bass Player" readers' poll from Guitar Player Magazine five times for his "lead bass" playing style...
- BozzioTerry BozzioTerry John Bozzio is an American drummer best known for his work with Missing Persons and Frank Zappa.-Biography:Terry Bozzio was born December 27, 1950 in San Francisco, California. He started at age 6 playing makeshift drum sets. At the age of 13 he saw The Beatles premier performance on The Ed...
- Bozzio Sheehan
- Bozzio/Levin/StevensBozzio Levin StevensBozzio Levin Stevens is a supergroup power trio of rock, fusion, jazz and instrumental classical music, consisting of drummer Terry Bozzio , bassist and Chapman Stick player Tony Levin and guitarist Steve Stevens,...
- CairoCairo (band)Cairo is a progressive rock band from San Francisco.They draw inspiration from classical progressive bands like ELP and Yes.-Members:*Brett Douglas - lead vocals*Luis Maldonado - guitars, bass*Mark Robertson - keyboards*Jeff Brockman - drums...
- Caliban
- Clinton Administration
- Dali's Dilemma
- David Lee RothDavid Lee RothDavid Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
- December People
- DerdianDerdianDerdian is a power metal band from Milan, Italy. The band was formed in 1998.- Biography :'Henry Pistolese' and Marco Covelli founded the band in 1998 and initially intended it to be a thrash metal style. The two founders were joined in this project by Luigi Trapani and Samuele Carrari . They...
- Derek SherinianDerek SherinianDerek Sherinian is a rock keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, and Alice In Chains. He was also a member of Dream Theater and is the founder of the instrumental metal-fusion band Planet X...
- EnchantEnchant (band)Enchant is an American neo-progressive rock band, formed in 1989. Their music is characterized by ambitious lyrics and melodies along with harmonic experimentation.-History:...
- Explorers Club
- The Fareed Haque GroupFareed HaqueFareed Haque is a fusion guitar virtuoso of Pakistani and Chilean descent.Raised in Chicago, he studied at North Texas State University and Northwestern University....
- The Hideous Sun Demons
- Ice AgeIce Age (band)Ice Age was a progressive band from New York, USA.Founded by guitarist Jimmy Pappas, vocalist/keyboardist Josh Pincus, drummer Hal Aponte and bassist Arron DiCesare, the band released their debut album in 1999, titled The Great Divide...
- James LaBrieJames LaBrieKevin James LaBrie is a Canadian vocalist who is best known as the lead singer of the American progressive metal band Dream Theater.-Early life:...
- James LaBrie's MullmuzzlerKeep It to YourselfKeep It To Yourself is the debut album by MullMuzzler . It was released on August 24, 1999.-Track listing:# "His Voice" - 3:43 # "Statued" - 3:23...
- KansasKansas (band)Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
- KhalliceKhalliceKhallice is a Brazilian progressive metal act in founded in 1994. The band's founder Marcelo Barbosa is the owner of GTR, a large guitar institute in Brasília, and currently is a member of Angra singer Edu Falaschi's band Almah.-Biography:...
- Lemur Voice
- Leonardo
- Liquid Tension ExperimentLiquid Tension ExperimentLiquid Tension Experiment is an instrumental progressive rock/metal supergroup, founded by Dream Theater's former drummer Mike Portnoy in 1997. The band has released two albums through Magna Carta Records...
- Liquid Trio Experiment
- The Lonely Bears
- MagellanMagellan (band)Magellan is a progressive metal/rock band from California, United States, formed by the two brothers Trent Gardner and Wayne Gardner in 1985. The band has had a number of well known guest musicians, such as Ian Anderson , Joey Franco , and Tony Levin...
- Mike PortnoyMike PortnoyMichael Stephen "Mike" Portnoy is an American drummer primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and a co-founder of the progressive metal band Dream Theater, as well as the temporary drummer for the hard rock band Avenged Sevenfold. Known for his drumming prowess and technical...
- Niacin (band)Niacin (band)Niacin is a neo-fusion instrumental trio featuring Billy Sheehan, Dennis Chambers and John Novello. Founded in 1996, the band's name comes from the timbral foundation of the Hammond B3 organ; vitamin B3 is also known as niacin....
- Ozric TentaclesOzric TentaclesOzric Tentacles are an instrumental rock band from Somerset, England, whose music can loosely be described as psychedelic or space rock. Formed in 1983, the band has released 28 albums as of 2011, and become a cottage industry selling over a million albums worldwide despite never having major...
- Robert Berry
- Robert WalterRobert Walter (musician)Robert Walter is a keyboard player specializing in instrumental soul jazz on the Hammond B3 organ. He is a founding memberof The Greyboy Allstars, and has since led his own band Robert Walter's 20th Congress.-Biography:...
- SadusSadusSadus is an American thrash metal trio from Antioch, California.-History:Sadus was formed in 1984 in Antioch, California. While their very first efforts were influenced by early thrash metal bands, such as Slayer or Death, the band would later develop its own musical style by adding complicated...
- School Of The Arts
- Shadow GalleryShadow GalleryShadow Gallery is an American progressive metal band formed in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, United States, during the early 1980s, originally under the name Sorcerer. After changing their name to Shadow Gallery and recording a short 8-track demo, the band was signed to Magna Carta Records in 1991...
- Simon PhillipsSimon PhillipsSimon Phillips is an English jazz, pop and rock drummer.-Career:Phillips began to play professionally at the age of twelve in his father's Dixieland band for four years. He was then offered the chance to play in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar...
- Speakers For The Dead
- Steve MorseSteve MorseSteven J. "Steve" Morse is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his work in the hard rock band Deep Purple since 1994. He began his career to form the unique styled instrumental rock band Dixie Dregs in the 1970. Morse's musical inspiration comes from country, funk, jazz fusion, and...
- Steve WalshSteve Walsh (musician)Steve Walsh is a singer and songwriter best known for his work as a member of the progressive rock band Kansas.-Introduction:The keyboardist/vocalist/songwriter/producer/percussionist is best known for his visionary work with Kansas...
- Stripsearch
- TilesTiles (band)Tiles is a progressive rock band from Detroit, Michigan, USA.- Biography :TILES was formed in February 1993, featuring Mark Evans , Chris Herin , Paul Rarick , and Jeff Whittle . It is signed to Inside Out Music in North America and Europe...
- Tishamingo
- Tony LevinTony Levin (drummer)Tony Levin was an English jazz drummer.Levin played at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in the 1960s with artists including Joe Harriott, Al Cohn, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Zoot Sims, and Toots Thielemanns....
- Tony HymasTony HymasAnthony 'Tony' Hymas is an English keyboard player, pianist, composer and is well known for being a founding member of Ph.D. He is a very versatile musician and contributes in different styles of music....
- Totalasti
- Under The Sun
- Vapourspace
- World TradeWorld Trade (band)World Trade was a U.S. progressive rock band that featured Billy Sherwood on bass and vocals and Bruce Gowdy on guitar. Yes's Chris Squire performed on their second album, Euphoria.-History:...
Tribute Albums
- Tribute to ELP - "Encores, Legends & Paradox" (1999)
- Tribute to Genesis - "Supper's Ready" (1995)
- Tribute to Jethro Tull - "To Cry You A Song" (1996)
- Tribute to Pink Floyd - "The Moon Revisited" (1995)
- Tribute to Yes - "Tales From Yesterday" (1995)
- Tribute to Rush - "Working Man" (1996)
- Tribute to Rush - "Subdivisions" (2005)
- Tribute to Rush - (2009)
- Tribute to the Titans - Compilation of Magna Carta Tribute Albums (1999)
Special Projects
- Guitars That Ate My Brain (2009)
- Drum Nation Volume III (2006)
- Drum Nation Volume II (2005)
- Drum Nation Volume I (2004)
- Guitar Greats Volume I (2007)
- Guitar Greats Volume II (2008)
- Steinway To Heaven (1996)
- Wheel Of TimeWheel of timeThe Wheel of time or wheel of history is a concept found in several religious traditions and philosophies, notably religions of Indian origin such as Hinduism and Buddhism, which regard time as cyclical and consisting of repeating ages...
Official Soundtrack (2001)