Monday, November 19, 2007

Episode 050 - feat. Rosie Westbrook, Kong Sauce, Cellorhythmics, Douglas Johnson

Rosie Westbrook - "Amoeba"
Kong Sauce - "Through the Mountain"
Cellorhythmics - "Clocktower"
Douglas Johnson - "Into the Agape"

http://bowed.org/050/050.mp3

Hello everyone,

This week finds me a little under the weather. Do not (as they say) adjust your set.

Rosie Westbrook is a bassist and composer from Melbourne, Australia. Her pieces are rich, warm, brooding, and evocative. Wonderful sounds from my favorite instrument! This piece is from her latest disc, Big As the Ocean.

Batting second on this program is Kong Sauce, a group from my veritable backyard in Cleveland, Ohio. Aggressive and melodic - my first thought when I heard them was that they sounded like later Pixies albums like Bossonova. A fun and creative group I know you wil enjoy - features the violist Krissy Brannan.

Cellorhythmics is a group from the UK featuring cellists James Hesford and Alfia Nakipebekova. Their current project is The Cellorhythmics Acoustic Project, wherein Hesford has written a new composition based on found objects for each new monthly gig - adding a new musician to the original quartet for each subsequent gig in the twelve-part series. They appeared earlier on this program in Episode 012.

Closing off the show is yet another bassist, Mr. Douglas Johnson (two basses in one show!). For this piece he has layered 16 bass tracks - performed on both a 5-string Louis Lowendall double bass and a 6-string Clevinger electric upright. Wonderful stuff.

Take care everyone -- thanks for listening!

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

Monday, November 12, 2007

Episode 049 - feat. John Ettinger, Judgement Day, Riad Abdel-Gawad, Boldwood

John Ettinger - "Dual Diagnosis"
Judgement Day - "Out of the Abyss"
Riad Abdel-Gawad - "Sama'i Sultanah Yakah"
Boldwood - "Hundson House"

http://bowed.org/049/049.mp3

Hey kiddos,

One more note on the email front, I have actually switched email providers, so I can guarantee you that "inbox full" messages will not be plaguing you anymore. So that said, here's the goods on the show.

John Ettinger starts off the show with his free-jazz exploration "Dual Diagnosis" from his latest disc Kissinger In Space. In all honesty, I don;t believe I've heard anyone play the violin like John does here -- his playing is raw and wild, totally abandoning the "sweetness" of tone that marks Stephane Grappelli's playing for example. On this tune (and on others on the disc) he phrases in and out with tenor saxophonist Tony Malaby -- and often it is difficult to tell them apart. He truly takes the conventions of the violin to a new level - and frankly I hope it catches on.

Bay-area heavy metal group Judgement Day makes a return to this show after their first appearance on Episode 013 (the infamous "Dawn and Drew" episode). This tune is their new single and is available for free download from their MySpace site. Bear in mind while you listen that no guitars are used onthis recording; all that sound is made using violin, cello, and drums.

Riad Abdel-Gawad is a violin virtuoso based in southern California. He is well versed in western classical music, the 20th century avantgarde, and traditional Arabic music - particularly the current folk music scene in Egypt. This is a tune in the Arabic tradition from his most recent disc entitled Autochthonic Enchantment.

Closing off the show is Britain's Boldwood. These guys perform nearly-forgotten dance music of the 18th century, breathing new life into these old folksy tunes. Their latest disc, entitled Feet Don't Fail Me Now is available online from their website thru Hobgoblin Records.

In another note, I am interested in trying to get some local press for the show. Is there a local music magazine in your area? Pass along some news about the show to their "story ideas" link!

Take care everyone -- thanks for listening!

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

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Episode 048 - feat. Patrick Grant (feat. The Young Eight), William Susman (feat. Joan Jeanrenaud), Mark Simos & Friends, Caroline Stinson

Patrick Grant (feat. The Young Eight) - "Hip Hop Experience - Part 1"
William Susman (feat. Joan Jeanrenaud) - "The Work - Children - Alter"
Mark Simos & Friends - "John Bloom"
Caroline Stinson - Figment

http://bowed.org/048/048.mp3

Hello everyone,

Patrick Grant starts off this episode with a recording of the debut of his piece "Hip Hop EXperience" live from "Chamber Music at the Barn" in Wichita, Kansas - July 19, 2007. The performers on this piece are from an African-AMerican string octet called The Young Eight. The recording quality here is a bit shoddy, but the energy of the performance is undeniable -- and if you know me at all, you know that I love this kind of "bootleg" recording of a hot performance.

William Susman is a film composer with a number of indie soundtracks under his belt including Oil on Ice, Native New Yorker, and Global Procession. This piece comes from his most recent soundtrack for Sarah C. Sifers' film Fate of the Lhapa. The cellist in this soundtrack is Joan Jeanrenaud - formerly of the Kronos Quartet.

Mark Simos is a fiddler of the bluegrass and old-time tradition and a member of such groups as UnBeaten Path, Fair Play, and the Cliffhangers. This tune is a cut from his 2006 disc called Clifftop Notes Vol 1.

Cellist Caroline Stinson is a repeat offender on this program, having appeared as a member of the group Cello - featured on episode 011. She is one of the biggest names in the performance of new music.

Thanks everybody! Take care!

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