U of A Music Student Releases Album, 'Vanimal Kingdom'

University of Arkansas graduate composition student Van Powell produced and released an album entitled Vanimal Kingdom this month. The album is mostly funk-rock, with some elements of psychedelic rock and reggae. Most songs include guitar, drums, bass, and a two-piece horn set, but instrumentation varies slightly on each track.

"The whole album isn't necessarily about one thing," Powell said, "a lot of these songs were written at different times in my life. It's just now getting recorded in a fashion that I'm willing to put out there."

Powell recorded the album in an eight-hour session at East Hall Studio and another shorter session in a basement studio, with help from other UA Music students who collaborated on the album. Artists include Powell on bass guitar, Joey Farr on guitar, Don Mayall on drums, Cas Harvey on saxophone, Micah Walsh-Levi and Erick Amaya on trumpet, Blake Manternach on trombone, and Florencia Zuloaga on piano.

In addition to writing, recording and producing his own music, Powell also plays double bass in the University Symphony Orchestra and takes lessons in jazz arranging from Rick Salonen, director of the UA Jazz Band. Powell said he's also had help from UA guitar professor Jake Hertzog, with one of the songs on Vanimal Kingdom based on a composition he did in Hertzog's jazz improvisation class.

An album release party for Vanimal Kingdom is 9 p.m. Friday, March 30, at the Smoke & Barrel Tavern. Powell's band will play songs from the album, along with performances by Block St. Hot Club and Dkloud. Everyone is welcome.

Vanimal Kingdom will be available for download on iTunes and other media platforms on March 30.