Episode 030 - feat. Orange Mighty Trio, Thomas Storrs & Sarpolas, Julia Kent, John Pascuzzi

Orange Mighty Trio - "Billy in the Lowground"
Thomas, Stors, & Sarpolas - "Clay Hippopotamus"
Julia Kent - "Barajas"
John Pascuzzi - "Ignition"

Hello everybody,

This show comes to you from Tannery Park in Kent, Ohio - the site of a tannery built in the 1830s by abolitionist John Brown. This park is on the banks of the Cuyahoga River and adjoins the B&O Railroad (found on your Monopoly board)

Tannery Park fishing deck on the Cuyahoga River. B&O Railroad is up the hill.

Here's who's on this week:

My stuff in Tannery Park.

Orange Mighty Trio is a group out of Minneapolis, MN featuring a violinist, a pianist, and a bowed double bassist. Flashy, showy -- these guys create an almost Baroque sensibility to the exploration of jazz and old-time Americana. A new ep is available in both CD an mp3 format on their MySpace site.

Thomas, Storrs, & Sarpolas is a collaboration featuring the work of violinist Rob Thomas, whom I consider one of the finest jazz players in the world today. He has been able to perform some of the most "violin unfriendly" idioms of the many forms of jazz and make it sound easy. His skill as an improvisor is apparent in this free-jazz piece. Julia Kent is a New York cellist/recording artist whose latest disc is about airports. Called Delay, this disc is currently avilable only in Europe. It is expected to be released in North America lter this fall. Rich with multi-tracked celo and found sounds, this disc is a real treat for people who love the sound of a bow on a string.

John Pascuzzi takes instruments from all over the world (and beyond) and bends them to his will. This track features the igil, a two-stringed fiddle from Tuva. Or in John's case, the electric igil.

More great music coming next week!

Mark Allender, producer-host
web: www.bowed.org
email: string@bowed.org
phone: 330-781-4387
skype: mark.allender

Episode 029 - feat. James Kennedy (featuring Catherine Lawson), DBR, Joan Jeanrenaud, and the Supernova String Quartet

James Kennedy (featuring Catherine Lawson) - "A Roll of the Dice"
DBR - "The La La Song"
Joan Jeanrenaud - Altar Piece
Supernova String Quartet - "Mr. P.C."

http://bowed.org/029/029.mp3

Hi string fans,

One area that I feel is underrepresented in the field of string music is some good solid blues. Catherine Lawson, a violinist based in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, is here to hopefully fix that problem. She gets it. End of story. She is frequent collaborator with guitarist James Kennedy.

DBR (aka Daniel Bernard Roumain is one of the hottest new talents out there. As a composer and performer, he is able to create some strong and powerful work, classical in structure with a hip-hop sensibility. Nobody else is making music like this. This is a cut from his forthcoming disc entitled etudes4violin&electronix.

Joan Jeanrenaud is known to many as the cellist for the world-famous Kronos Quartet - a position shw held for over twenty years. Having left Kronos in 1999, she set about developing her own solo work. This cut is an original composition from her 2003 disc, Metamorphosis. Another full-length disc of original material will be coming out later this year (and I'll hopefully have a track on the show from that baby as well!).

Supernova String Quartet was a jazz string quartet out of Los Angeles. The group broke up in late 2005 after their principal violinist Ludvig Girdland was seriously injured after being hit by a drunk driver. The various members have been pursuing other projects and Ludvig has been making a slow recovery in his native Sweden. We wish them the best! This is a strings rendition of the Coltrane classic "Mr. P.C."

More great music coming next week!

Mark Allender, producer-host
web: www.bowed.org
email: string@bowed.org
phone: 330-781-4387
skype: mark.allender

Episode 028 - feat. Zapp String Quartet, D-Sharp, Ben Miller, Semyon Kobialka

Zapp String Quartet - De Donder Komt
D-Sharp - "Life in the Fast Lane"
Ben Miller - excerpt from "Somnolence"
Semyon Kobialka - "Lullaby"

http://bowed.org/027/028.mp3

Hi string fans,

The Zapp String Quartet is in many ways a string quartet that thinks it's a rock band - these guys only play originals. Based out of Amsterdam, this group is remarkable for the rhythmic complexity they generate with their instruments -- something I for one am particularly fond of in any string ensemble. Their latest disc Passagio is simply rich with this kind of thing.

D-Sharp is a repeat offender on this program - having debuted here on Episode 014. At 19 years old, this guy is developing a keen sense of artistry as both a performer and a composer. Or to rephrase, this tune will kick your ass! I'd love to see this guy play live...

Ben Miller is a guitarist, actually. And not a "guitar-viol" player, either. Ben is in the habit of (literally) putting his guitar on a pedestal, and finessing sounds out of it with whatever he has on hand. For this tune, he uses a violin bow. A challenging listen perhaps, but a rewarding one I feel.

Closing the show is cellist Semyon Kobialka. As I mention in the audio, the bulk of his latest disc is played pizzicato. I was able to nab a tune from the disc that has a substantial arco section, but hear me say this: the entire disc is @&%king amazing. Check it out!

I have been having some considerable trouble getting female performers for the show. I'm not sure why that is (I have this effect on all women, perhaps?). So -- here's me begging... Ladies! Are you a string player or a composer? Please help save this show from always being an All Male Revue! Contact me with submission information at string@bowed.org

Mark Allender, producer-host
web: www.bowed.org
email: string@bowed.org
phone: 330-781-4387
skype: mark.allender

Episode 027 - feat. Violet Quartet, Rasputina, Chance's End, Slow Six

The Violet Quartet - Waltz, Non-Waltz
Rasputina - "Cage in a Cave"
Chance's End - "Production To Perfection"
Slow Six - "The Pulse of This Skyline with Lightning Like Nerves"

http://bowed.org/027/027.mp3

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Hello everyone,

I am pleased to bring this show to you -- a show that features a whopping four world broadcast premieres. If I keep putting babies like this out, I'll be a happy guy!

The Violet Quartet is a group from all over western Germany comprised of four electric violinists. As if that weren't enough, they are four electric-violinist gadget people. Their works are not simply composed for electric violin -- they are composed around the sounds of the styles and sounds favored by the various players - a trend that I would love to see expand in the future of string music. In addition, this group tends not to play on a stage per se, but with each player in the four corners of the room. Thus, the audience is in many ways on stage as opposed to the performers.

Rasputina is a group that has a wide following - a group without precedent. Two cellos and a drummer making finely crafted, vaguely goth, delicious pop nuggets. Their new disc O Perilous World - set for release later this month - has a louder, more aggressive sound that previous releases. Lyrics get more topical this time around (and in an ironic way, actually more dark and sinister than their previous work). And enjoyable, energetic listen from start to finish.

Chance's End is the work of classically trained Ryan Avery. Under the name Chance's End, Avery explores fine violin playing in an electronica environment. This track is a cut from his forthcoming disc, The Outsider.

Slow Six is a group out of Brooklyn. Somber, yet dense and intricate, these guys make a wholly unique stew of sounds. Instrumentation includes amplified strings, electric guitars, keyboards, homegrown software instruments, and video projections mixed live throughout the space. As I mention in the audio, fans of the group Low may find something special here.

Mark Allender, producer-host
web: www.bowed.org
email: string@bowed.org
phone: 330-781-4387
skype: mark.allender