Episode 062 - feat. skyhook, Euterpe Archpelago, Sam Phillips, Vanessa Rossetto

skyhook - "Wedding at the Mill/The Trippers"
Euterpe Archipelago - "Honte"
Sam Phillips - "Wasting My Time"
Vanessa Rossetto - "Snow Snow Snow Smothering the Mountain"

http://bowed.org/062/062.mp3

Hello everyone,

skyhook is a collaboration of two fiddlers and a guitarist from Sheffield, England. They play traditional tunes and songs from Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton Island, plus some original tunes as well. The piece included here features fiddler Cath James' original piece "Wedding At the Mill."

Euterpe Archiplago is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Clay Corrello - a sound artist out of Muskegon, Michigan. This project fuses electronica with the warmth of acoustic instruments and the recitation of classics of world literature. Modern, highbrow, vaguely Bohemian. A very interesting mix to say the least!

Sam Phillips is a popular singer/songwriter - perhaps known most for the songs she has contributed to the WB Network sitcom Gilmore Girls . In my opinion, she should be equally as well-known for her recurring use of strings in her popular work (her album Cruel Inventions features a string quartet on nearly every track). Her new album Don't Do Anything will be coming out in June featuring Eric Gorfain of The Section Quartet. This is from her 2000 disc, Fan Dance.

Closing things out is experimental violinist Vanessa Rossetto from Austin, Texas. A prolific artist, she has already released three recordings since the start of 2008. With styles that range from free-improv to multi-layered sound sculpture, she will be someone to watch in coming years. This piece is from her 2008 disc Whoreson in the Wilderness.

Your experience of Bowed Radio is made possible in part by Nepenthe Music and Publishing, neo-expressionism for the 21st century, featuring the works of Dwight Ashley, Tim Story, and Hans Joachim Roedelius online at www.nepenthemusic.com.

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

Episode 061 - feat. Nicka, Jean-Phellipe Feiss, Soweto String Quartet, Craig Halliday

Nicka - "The Fall of Greygorn"
Jean-Phillipe Feiss - "Berceuse pour Valentin"
Soweto String Quartet - "Vyfster"
Craig Halliday - "String Fever"

http://bowed.org/061/061.mp3

Hello everyone,

Nicka is a French Canadian electric violinist from Montreal. Her sound is bold and aggressive, utilizing 19th-century idioms in a comtemporary rock format. Her violin was crafted by her musical co-conspiritor, Montreal-based musician and instrument-maker Chris Cuber. Check out the pictures!

Cellist Jean-Phillipe Feiss appeared earlier on this program as a member of the Parisian string ensemble Sibiel (Episode 041). He returns here as a solo artist with a track from his forthcoming CD. His work tends to the avant garde, incorporating extended playing techniques as part of his total sound.

The Soweto String Quartet, as you might expect, is a string quartet from South Africa's well-known Soweto township. Their latest outing is quite an iconoclastic collection - entitled Soweto String Quartet Speel Afrikaanse Treffels - translated as "The SSQ Plays Afrikaans Music" (The Afrikaans being of course the ethnic Dutch of South Africa). Most interesting to me was that one of the ways the SSQ chose to celebrate Afrikaans culture was with a string quartet cover of a popular TV show theme song from the 1980's. A quick Google search of Vyfster brings hit after hit of people nostalgic for when that show was on TV -- and how hearing the theme song brings it all back. Here's a YouTube clip.

... and closing things off is violinist Craig Halliday. A veteran of Riverdance and Andrew Lloyd Weber's orchestra, Halliday puts on a flamboyant show on his Swarovski-crystal violin.

Bowed Radio is made possible in part by Nepenthe Music and Publishing, neo-expressionism for the 21st century, presenting the archival CD Human Being Live at the Zodiac 1968. Information available at www.nepenthemusic.com.

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

Episode 060 - feat. Edgar Gabriel's String Fusion, Willard Morris, Twisted Ph8, Mark Allender

Edgar Gabriel's String Fusion - "Blue 7"
Willard Morris - "Teen Town"
Twisted Ph8 - "Theft at Whitley Bay"
Mark Allender - "The Last Supper"

http://bowed.org/060/060.mp3

Hello everyone,

This show comes to you during the not-so-well reported-in-the-national-press Ohio Blizzard of March 2008. Thank god for the internet's all's I gots to say - else I'd be bored outta my mind!

I am also pleased to report that the show makes an appearance in the Spring 2008 issue of Fiddler Magazine - on newsstands now!

Leading the charge this time thru is jazz violinist Edgar Gabriel and his group String Fusion. This seven-piece group has a clear, clean sound that dips into different styles at every turn. They are currently supporting their cleverly-titled disc Not Radio Material from which this cut is taken.

Willard Morris returns to the show with a Bowed Radio exlclusive: a viola-and-bass arrangement of the Jaco Pastorius "Teen Town." His arrangement pretty well speaks for itself. Incredible.

Twisted Ph8 is the husband and wife team of Jason and Christine Labore, with Jason on a six-string Viper violin and Christine on vocals. Jason is also a touring member of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and is a prolific performer and teacher in northern New Hampshire.

Closing out the show is a track from my own solo recording Battery - a cover of Larry Norman's "The Last Supper." Back in about 1996, I was asked to contribute a piece for a Larry Norman tribute album that never materialized. It is presented here as a memoriam; Larry Norman passed away on February 24, 2008.

Your experience of Bowed Radio is made possible in part by Nepenthe Music and Publishing, neo-expressionism for the 21st century, featuring the works of Dwight Ashley, Tim Story, and Hans Joachim Roedelius. Online at www.nepenthemusic.com. .

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

Episode 059 - feat. String Planet, Bowfire, Cantes do Meu Cante, Charlie Daniels & Dolly Parton

String Planet - "Love for Three Oranges"
Bowfire - "Fiddler in the Hood"
Cantes do Meu Cante - "Meus Senhores"
Charlie Daniels & Dolly Parton - "Daddy's Old Fiddle"

http://bowed.org/059/059a.mp3

Hello everyone,

Starting off this show is the quirky viola and Chapman stick duo String Planet. This is what happens when two oft-neglected instruments get to take the lead. Self-described as Bela Fleck meets Prokofiev meets Esquivel (an apt description), these guys are a lot of fun.

Bowfire is a Canadian performing group featuring the work of roughly a dozen string artists of multiple genres playing together for a show that incorporates dance, theater, and performance art. They take their show on a tour of North America starting this April - check their website for local theater locations.

Cantes do Meu Cante is a Portuguese group featuring the cello of Susana Santos (also a member of Archybak who was featured earlier on this program). This group is a mix of traditional and classical musicians playing together for an eclectic mix of Portuguese music. Gorgeous vocal harmonies, multi-layered guitars, and a warm cello that just sings.

Closing out the show is probably the most famous country western fiddler alive today: Charlie Daniels. This cut is from his new disc entitled Deuces and features Dolly Parton on vocals (who also wrote the song).

Support for this episode of Bowed Radio is provided by The Creative Strings Workshop, an intense educational experience for string players. The 2008 Workshop is happening June 30th thru July 6th. Learn more and register at www.christianhowes.com.

Bowed Radio is also made possible in part by Nepenthe Music and Publishing, neo-expressionism for the 21st century, presenting the archival CD Human Being Live at the Zodiac 1968. Information available at www.nepenthemusic.com. .

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