Compilation Episode 1 - feat. Nick Ogawa, Morgantown Rounders, Luminescent Orchestrii, L. Subramaniam (feat. Jiebing Chen)

Nick Ogawa - "If it Feels Good"
Morgantown Rounders - "Policeman"
Luminescent Orchestrii - "The Stranger"
L. Subramaniam (feat. Jiebing Chen) - "Blue Lotus"

http://bowed.org/c1/c1.mp3

Hey,

This show is being released as I am waiting at the airport to fly back to Cleveland from Seattle where I have been for the past few days at my sister's wedding. So in order to keep my promise of one show a week while not drowning in this whole "trip" thing, I have decided to compile a show featuring some of my favorite pieces from the last two years.

Nick Ogawa was featured on episode 012 ("The Corbin Keep episode" ) with this tune that I still haven't been able to get out of my head to this day.

The Morgantown Rounders were featured on episode 017 ("The Chris Boros episode") . These guys are a favorite of mine and my daughter's - we listen to their disc in the car all the time. This tune wasn't the featured tune on that show, but I sneaked part of this song in as the exit music.

The Luminiscent Orchestrii appeared on episode 001 ("The Lex Coffman episode") . I had the pleasure of playing in a band that opened for these guys when they played in Cleveland back in 2004 -- long before this show was ever thought of. A great band to see live.

And finally, L. Subramaniam - the premier Indian violinist in the world - was featured on episode 009 ("The Acoustic Ross episode"). Entrancing, exquisite, exotic.

... and just for the record -- this past Sunday - 8 Jul - was my birthday. And I didn't receive a card or anything from ANY of you, you miserable wretches! We'll just see if I remember YOUR birthday or not!

More great music next week!

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

Episode 031 - feat. Chris Murphy, Invert, James Sudakow, Kari Tieger

Invert - Truth Serum
Kari Tieger - Sonatine pour violon et piano
Chris Murphy - "Night of the Hunter"
James Sudakow - "Black"

http://www.bowed.org/031/031.mp3

Hello everybody,

This show comes to you from the Doodlebug Memorial in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The Doodlebug was a single-car commuter train that collided with a 73-car freight train in the summer of 1940. The incident had begun to fade into local memory until three local middle school students started doing a research project on the incident - a project that swelled into a major fundraising campaign to build the memorial. It was dedicated on the 65th anniversary of the crash at a service that I am proud to say I attended. Details about the event and pictures of the memorial are available here on the website -- http://www.bowed.org/031/cotw.html.

Invert makes a second appearance on this show - the string quartet with two cellists. In between their last appearance and this one, the group has released a CD called The Strange Parade. This is the final cut from that disc, a tune called Truth Serum.

Kari Tieger, a pianist and composer out of Riverside, Rhode Island, is on for her second appearance as well. This is a recently composed duet with violinist Lauren Benowitz.

Chris Murphy is an electric violinist fron Los Angeles, currently supporting his recent release Luminous. I confess I hadn't heard of Chris before he sent me his CD, but his disc features two musicians I have had a great deal of respect for for some time: Mike Watt (formerly of fIREHOSE and The Minutemen) and Nels Cline (of Wilco and, incidentally, Mike Watt's touring band). This tune features Nels on guitar - and he and Chris sound amazing together.

James Sudakow is an up-an-coming artist out of Long Beach, California. His latest release, Green is an ambitious progressive rock exploration of soud and texture. A very engaging and enjoyable listen.

Next week finds me in Seattle. I'll do my best to have a show out by next Monday. But we'll see.
Thanks for listening!

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

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

Episode 026 - feat. Stratospheerius, Penn State Viola Ensemble, Richard Brooks, Acoustical Romance

Stratospheerius - "Heavy Shtettle Part II: Heavier Shtettle"
Penn State Viola Ensemble - View from the Rear Window
Richard Brooks - "Loops 1"
Acoustical Romance - "Road to Fortitude"

Hosted from aboard The Pennsylvanian

http://bowed.org/026/026.mp3

Greetings! And to those in the USA, a Happy Memorial Day!

Stratospheeerius is a group out of New York led by violinist and Joe Deninzon. The self-described bastard child of Frank Zappa, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Dave Matthews, and Blues Traveler; these guys have a brand new disc out called Headspace with which they are touring a substantial portion of the US.

The Penn State Viola Ensemble is, as one might guess, a string ensemble comprised solely of violists -- performing works written specifically for multiple violists. Their offering on this program is a recording of the world-premiere performance of Robert Gardner's View from the Rear Window

Richard Brooks is a fusion jazz violinist in the New York City area who dabbles in the styles of various traditions from around the world, as well as developing his own experimental work. This piece is a "loops" piece developed for solo violin concert performance.

And rounding things off is Acoustical Romance, a young acoustic ensemble from the Frankfurt area featuring the talents of cellist Manuel Schröder. These guys have just created a beautiful, delicate collection of recordings that sounds mature well beyond their years.

Enjoy the show!!

Mark
string@bowed.org

Episode 025 - feat. Upton Trio, David Kempers, George Gao

The Upton Trio - "Electromagnetism"
David Kempers - Danse Macabre
George Gao - "Crying by the River"

recorded at the Peninsula Library, Peninsula, OH

http://bowed.org/025/025.mp3

Hi everybody -- feeling better

The Upton Trio is a group out of South Carolina led by violnist and composer Mary Lee Taylor. Her broad compositional style with this trio is both programmatic and impressionistic. Not too reserved to get dangerous when the occasion arises, yet not too cerebral to enjoy a sweet melody. This tune is from their recent release Transformations.

David Kempers is a Cleveland-based violinist whose latest project Electronic Symphonica explores the violin in a wide variety of styles, from electric violin rock operas to multi-tracked renderings of classical scores. The selection featured on this show is one of the latter - a recording of Saint-Saens' "Dance Macabre." He acheived the effect of a 32-member string orchestra by multi-tracking his violin in various tunings 32 times -- then added the solo line on top.

And finally on the show is George Gao, an erhu player based in Toronto. Gao performs many of the traditional Chinese works on the erhu, but often backs them up with a Western-tinged accompaniment. This piece is a take on the traditional Chinese piece "Crying by the River."

Enjoy the show!!

Mark
string@bowed.org

Episode 024 - feat. Sierra Noble, Stereo Art, Lucio Amanti, Deadwood Revival

Sierra Noble - "Orange Blossom Special"
Stereo Art - "Messner's Messenger"
Lucio Amanti - "Chega de Saudade"
Deadwood Revival - "Bound to Go"

http://bowed.org/024/024.mp3

Hello listeners. I regret to report that I have had a cold all week long. I recorded my bits in moments of lucidity, but just in case... "do not adjust your set."

Sierra Noble is a fiddler from Winnipeg specializing in the traditional music of the Metis people. Her work also extends into traditional North American old-time and country western music. This tune is a take on the 1939 Ervin Rouse and Chubby Wise fiddle tune "Orange Blossom Special" - later covered by artists such as Charlie Daniels and Johnny Cash.

Stereo Art is a group out of London, England featuring cellist Martin Radford and electronics wizrard Tatsuji Mikajiri. Their full-length release entitled 11:11 will be released later this month. A stunning mix of electronica and soul, these guys are a lot of fun.

Lucio Amanti is a cellist based in Berlin. A jazz player, he is in the practice of making smooth multi-tracked recordings with the cello playing every part - from the bass line to the solos to the percussion -- all performed on the cello.

And finally is a tune from Deadwood Revival - a guitar and banjo duo out of Washington state. For this tune, they were joined by fiddler Ellie Holzemer of the group Cross Eyed Rosie. Big fun. Big sound. Good stuff.

Enjoy the show!!

Mark
string@bowed.org

Episode 023 - feat. Moripton, Helix Quartet, Basilica, Avner Dorman

Moripton - "Sakura"
The Helix Quartet - "Tea For Two"
Basilica - excerpt from theforevervictoriousunfathomablegreatmightyone
Avner Dorman - Mandolin Concerto

http://www.bowed.org/023/023.mp3

Moripton is a violinist out of Osaka, Japan. He has been primarily working as a guitarist with the band Stonehenge. He is currently devloping his violin work - this ia one of his first recorded pieces.

The Helix Quartet is a group out of France. A non-traditional quartet, their instrumentation consists of two violins, tenor violin, and double bass. Their work is wildly eclectic - with elements of Irish, gypsy, jazz, country-werstern, and others

I have been waiting with some considerable anticipation for the release of the debut disc by Basilica. An uncommon mix of death metal, math rock, and chamber music, these guys are relentlessly creative. An unearthly mix of the pious and the profane.

Rounding off the show is composer Avner Dorman - Israeli by birth and currently a resident of New York. His work is seamless, using non-traditional instrumentation with great invention of melody. Or to rephrase, his work doesn't sound nearly as strange as you might expect. The recording featured on this program is the world premiere, recorded late last year. The US premiere will take place on May 24 at the Angel Orensanz Center for the Arts, 172 Norfolk Street in the lower east side of New York. Featured mandolin soloist will be Avi Avital.

Enjoy the music!!

Mark
string@bowed.org