Jasper Wrath

Jasper Wrath
Origin	New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Genres	Art rock, Symphonic rock, Progressive rock
Years active	1969-1971, 1973-1976
Labels	MGM
Associated acts	Eyes, James Christian, Cannata, Arc Angel, House of Lords,
Past members	Jeff Cannata Michael Soldan Phil Stone Robert Gianotti James Christian Scott Zito Jeff Batter

Jasper Wrath was a progressive rock band from New Haven, Connecticut, that was active throughout the 1970s. They were founded by Jeff Cannata, who would later go on to form the 1980s band Arc Angel. The band also featured James Christian, who would later go on to front the notable glam metal band House of Lords.

Jasper Wrath formed in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1969. The original lineup consisted of drummer Jeff Cannata of New Haven power trio band Christopher Hawke, as well as keyboardist Michael Soldan, guitarist Robert Giannotti, and bassist Phil Stone from the Connecticut-based band Buckle. Promoter John DuBuque recalls, "I had booked Christopher Hawke for an outdoor show in Milford. In true agency form, another group showed up, Jasper Wrath. I believe it was their first gig. Although upset, I knew, once they started playing, I had never heard or seen anything like this before around here." Uninterested in doing cover material, the band wrote a handful of songs in the next six to eight months and sent a few demos to record companies in New York and Los Angeles. Within a couple of weeks, interest from LA based MGM Records, prompted a call to set up a live showcase with their New York office. Weeks later contracts were negotiated and Jasper Wrath had their first record deal. Recorded in six weeks at Phil Ramone’s A&R Studio in New York, Wrath was on its way. The self-titled debut was released in 1971.

Just as a national tour was being scheduled, Giannotti left the band. After months of searching for the right replacement, without any luck, the band temporarily split. Cannata and Soldan, influenced by the British progressive art rock scene at the time decide to move to London, England to explore the musical possibilities there. In time, complications in obtaining British work permits, they take a holiday in Majorca, Spain co-writing some of Jasper Wrath’s most memorable compositions, i.e.: "You", "The Dream", "Somewhere Beyond The Sun", "The City", "Touch The Sky", and "The Ghost of Way". While at a Yes concert at The Palace Theater in Waterbury in the early 70’s, Cannata and Soldan approached Rick Wakeman pre-show backstage and asked about the then, mysterious mellotron. Wakeman revealed to them, "There are only three in the world. King Crimson has one, The Moody Blues and Yes, and the cost is around $16,000 if you can even get one”. Questioning the legitimacy of that statement, while in London Cannata and Soldan found and purchased the illusive mellotron for a mere 700 Pounds and had it sent back to the States. Now the band had the orchestral sound that they were looking for.

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