In Search of a Revival The Olympians

• 1 In Search of a Revival Part 1 00:51
• 2 Strawberry Kiwi 03:44
• 3 Thunderball 04:19
• 4 California 04:11
• 5 A Little Something 01:07
• 6 Here Comes Ben 04:15
• 7 In Search of a Revival Part 2 01:05
• 8 Saraswati Puja 03:48
• 9 Hollywood Cold 04:27
• 10 Tall Grass 03:59
• 11 Wildfire 03:25
• 12 Honey Bea 04:03
• Total Runtime 39:14

Info for In Search of a Revival

Thee Olympian, Toby Pazner, returns with In Search of a Revival–a lush bouquet of orchestral soul. A departure from the cosmic, Greco-Roman mythology themes on his debut, Pazner implements a more modern, terrestrial approach–drawing inspiration from his life and the tumultuous post pandemic age we live in. With a team of world class musicians expertly weaving his arrangements into a sonic tapestry, The Olympians deliver an impressively eclectic barrage of cinematic instrumentals.

In 2008, Toby Pazner and a group of New York City’s most sought-after musicians found themselves in a Brooklyn bedroom, gathered around a Tascam 388 tape machine. There, they recorded what would become the debut 45 of a project he named The Olympians—initially released on Truth and Soul Records.

Eight years later, while on tour in the Greek Islands, Pazner had a fever dream in which he was visited by a toga-clad, curly-haired figure. The mysterious presence urged him to return across the great sea to build a "Temple of Sound"—a vision that ultimately materialized as the group’s self-titled album, released in 2016 on Daptone Records. The record featured a long list of elite musicians from the Daptone family, all of whom contributed their talents to help realize Pazner’s creative vision.

The album was met with widespread acclaim, quickly earning a reputation as one of the finest instrumental soul records of the decade–gaining reviews from Pitchfork, American Songwriter, Brooklyn Vegan, KUTX and many others. In the digital space, the project has been backed by unbelievably strong organic growth at DSPs, with streaming numbers exceeding all expectations, turning it into a breakout success for both Daptone and Pazner.

Following the success of his debut solo effort, Pazner spent the next several years exploring the musical cosmos—writing songs with Lee Fields as well as joining him on the road as his keyboardist (whom he has also managed for 16 years),. During this time he also started a family. This series of transformative life events set the stage for the album, In Search of a Revival ( Daptone Records).

In Search of a Revival revisits the original dream that inspired The Olympians but with a more introspective and evolved approach. This time, and a whole 10 years since the self-titled debut was released, Pazner composed, arranged, and produced the entire album on his own. Featuring a mix of returning musicians from his debut as well as a handful of friends and collaborators he has met on his musical journey–forming a 17 person ensemble of the scene’s top players. While The Olympians drew heavily from the classic soul stylings of Curtis Mayfield and James Brown, In Search of a Revival leans into the golden era of the Wrecking Crew, the lush textures of Gold Star Studios, vintage film scores, and the more obscure corners of cinematic soundscapes.

From the cascading harps which open the “Sirens of Jupiter” to the driving horn coda of “Sagittarius By Moonlight,” The Olympians deliver a new sound all of its own: an ancient dream of far away Greece painted out in lush cinematic arrangements over the tough rhythms. In Search of a Revival is poised to be yet another Daptone classic—an album that not only honors the traditions of instrumental soul, but sets a bold new standard for the genre in the years to come.

The Olympians

The Olympians
In 2008 while Olympic athletes competed half a world away in Beijing, Toby Pazner (Lee Fields & The Expressions, El Michels Affair) and a group of some of New York City's most sought after musicians were locked in Pazner’s bedroom in Brooklyn with a Tascam 388 tape machine, recording what would be the first 45 by a group he would fatefully call The Olympians. Both this and a follow-up 45 would be released on now defunct Truth & Soul Records. However, it was not until a night years later while on tour with a band in the Greek Islands that Pazner’s true vision would come to him…

After playing the famous Acropolis in Athens and swimming in the Aegean Sea, Pazner dreamed he was visited by a toga-clad, curly-haired figure who told him to travel back across the great sea to his home and build a "Temple of Sound". In this temple he was to retell the great tales of Ancient Greece through the immortal language of music. When he awoke, he tried to dismiss the strange dream, but each night the the vision would return to him, and each night he would proclaim his duty more forcefully, until he could no longer deny the calling.

Panzer returned to New York City with a singular focus on completing an album he now saw as his destiny. He immediately commenced building his “Temple of Sound” from the floor up, acquiring the best microphones, tape machines and recording equipment he could lay his hands on. As a member of the Daptone Family, it was not difficult for him to call in favors from some of the world’s greatest musicians to help him bring his vision to life. For years they played alongside him as he relentlessly toiled toward his ends, crafting lush arrangements of strings, harp, vibes, guitar and a plethora of keyboards, all laced by blazing horns. Finally in the Spring of 2016, The Olympians was wholly manifested.

Pazner shared the the fruit of his long venture with long time friends and co-owners of Daptone Records Gabriel Roth and Neal Sugarman who jumped at the opportunity to release it. From the cascading harps which open the Sirens of Jupiter to the driving horn coda of Sagittarius By Moonlight, The Olympians deliver a new sound all of it’s own: an ancient dream of far away Greece painted out in lush cinematic arrangements over the tough rhythm sounds that have become synonymous with the Daptone Stable of Musicians.

Featuring the talents of Aaron Johnson (Antibalas), Dave Guy (Tonight Show Band, The Dap-Kings,) Leon Michels (The Arcs, Lee Fields, El Michels Affair,) Nicholas Movshon (The Arcs, Lee Fields, El Michels Affair,) Homer Steinweiss (The Dap-Kings, The Arcs), Michael Leonhart (Musical Director for Steely Dan), Neal Sugarman (The Dap-Kings, Sugarman 3), Evan Pazner (Lee Fields), and the maniacal wizardry of Toby Pazner.

This album contains no booklet.