The uber talented Jerry Goodman is simply one of the most unique and explosive talents the rock world has ever seen: a violin player trained in classical music with an ear for jazz and the attitude and looks of a true rock n’ roller!

Indeed, American violinist Goodman is best known for playing electric violin in the bands The Flock and the jazz fusion Mahavishnu Orchestra. Indeed, Goodman actually began his musical career as The Flock's roadie before joining the band on violin. He subsequently trained in the conservatory, and both of his parents were in the string section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Furthermore, his uncle was the noted composer and jazz pianist Marty Rubenstein.

Now, Goodman has just released a highly interesting, rather incredible new collection, the first to appear under his own name since 1988, called Violin Fantasy, on July 1st, 2016 via Purple Pyramid Records.

Violin Fantasy is quite like nothing I’ve ever heard from this great man, and trust me, I’ve heard most everything this masterful musician has ever produced! An album that includes two never-before-heard instrumentals, “In The Realm Of The Netherworld” and the title track, “Violin Fantasy,” it also houses unique cover versions of classic rock staples such as, “Enter Sandman,” “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Eye Of The Tiger,” “The Final Countdown”, and so many more!

1. “Enter Sandman”
2. “In The Realm Of The Netherworld”
3. “Dream Weaver (Alternate Mix)” with Nektar
4. “Baba O’Riley (Alternate Mix)”
5. “Violin Fantasy”
6. “The Laws of Nature” with Tony Levin & Billy Sherwood
7. “Rock On”
8. “In The Air Tonight”
9. “Don’t Stop Believin’”
10. “Random Acts Of Science” with Rock Wakeman
11. “Eye Of The Tiger”
12. “The Final Countdown”

From the very off, the towering “Enter Sandman”, you know your ears are in for something rather special. True, for the most part that lead song takes a moment or three to kick into the “sound” that we all know it to have, but that’s what makes Goodman so good, so diverse in his productions. The sweeping ‘In The Realm Of The Netherworld’ is a joy, so too is the uplifting, soaring ‘Dream Weaver (Alternate Mix)’ with Nektar, with both ‘Baba O'Riley (Alternate Mix)’ and the pulsating violin echoes of the title track also pure joy to behold.

‘The Laws of Nature’ with both Prog legends Tony Levin and Billy Sherwood is fantastic, but two of my own personal favorites come back-to-back next: David Essex‘s ‘Rock On’ and Phil Collins’ ‘In The Air Tonight’. Man, he nails them both, and in such ways that they suddenly are stripped bare, sound so crisp, so alive for the first time in decades. ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ is next, and is backed by the superb Prog cut ‘Random Acts Of Science’ with Rock Wakeman. The album is then brought to a masterful close by both Survivor’s ‘Eye of the Tiger,’ and finally, Europe’s massive worldwide hit, ‘The Final Countdown’.

So, as you might also be able to tell, included in the above are selections from the star-studded Fusion Syndicate project featuring keyboardist Rick Wakeman and the equally big-named Prog Collective featuring King Crimson bassist Tony Levin and Yes’s Billy Sherwood. This one-of-a-kind collection is sure to please longtime fans of this gifted instrumentalist and will stand as a testament to Goodman’s hugely influential musical legacy.