The Olympians - In Search Of A Revival The Olympians

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 materialised 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.