Zach Brock is here with. his second appearance on this show. This is a cut from his most recent disc Live From the Jazz Factory - a rewarding listen from start to finish
Gisele Scales is an electric player from Sydney, Australia combining dub and beats to her soulful voice -- with much of her work sung in many different languages. This cut is from her most recent release, 2 Think
Neo Collage closes out the show, an academic ensemble from Rochester, New York. They bring the concept of string ensemble to a new level with their use of pop hooks and electronics.
Paul Mercer made his first appearance on this program on Episode 039. This violin anthropologist of sorts, in his recent project Ghosts, builds recorded pieces based on the sound, tone, and history of specific instruments.
John Ettinger makes his second appearance on this program with a piece that is positively trippy. His playing is raw and wild, totally abandoning the "sweetness" of tone that marks the playing of many others in the jazz violin idiom. 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.
The next group consists of a live performance by three talented Danish artists - double bassist Andreas Bennetzen, pianist and composer Greggers Kirkegaard, and violinist Helianne Blais. Their collaboration is featured in a full-length disc entitled Impressions: Music For Glassworks.
Traditional Irish group Rattle the Boards finishes off this show. They are based out of Tipperary and on their latest disc The Parish Platform explore many popular traditions in the Irish folk canon. Trumpeter Decky O'Dwyer gives this piece a bit iof a New Orleans flavor. Great stuff!
Jaime Basulto is a composer and guitarist from Barcelona. His music blends traditional flamenco stylings with an inellignt avant garde sensibility - taking the music to fascinating places. This piece is performed by his own ensemble El Paño Moruno and is from his most recent recording entitlted Garam Masala.
The Fiddler Crab Band is a southern rock outfit based out of Roanoke, Virginia led by fiddler Boyd Clement. These guys have a show-topping stage presence and boilier full of energy. Get up and dance!
Stefano Pastor is a composer and violinist from Genoa, Italy and was featured on Episode 033 of this program with one of his contemporary classical compositions. He is featured here with one of his jazz compositions. Incredible work here.
Closing out the show is Kate Russo, an electric rock violinist from Nashville, Tennessee. With a voice like Joan Jett and a violin like Eddie Van Halen's guitar, she can really wail.
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.
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.
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. .
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. .
Merietta Oviatt is a violist based in Las Vegas, who brings her unique string arrangements of old-time gospel tunes. These arrangements are for multi-tracked viola - a boon or all you violists who are feeling underrepresented on this show!
The Yeah Yeah Yemen are a group based in London comprised of Yemeni and German musicians, self described as a "travelling circus," incorporating Arabic and European sounds into a musical creole of sorts. In late 2007, the group was playing in areas all across Yemen, collaborating with local high-profile musicians and composing one song for each area they visited. This piece is taken from a live on-air performance on Yemeni radio.
Ben Mason is a violinist and digital artist from North Carolina whose recordings are improvised live with electric violin and computer. His work is programmatic like many film soundtracks, though more engaged. Several of his works are available for free download from his website.
And finally, George Sarah is an electronic artist who performs his work on synthesizers and drum machies accompanied by live strings. His work has been featured on numerous television shows and films.
So long kids!
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.
A quick note: I still have not been able to generate sufficient financial support for the program to keep it going. If you enjoy the format of the show as it currently is, please consider offering your financial support.
Starting things off is violinist Anna Stafford, a rock violinist from southern California. She has the unique ability to create an aggressive rock sound using only strings. Those who have been catching the String Quartet Tribute series on Vitamin Records may also recognize her name - she spearheaded the String Quartet Tribute To INXS among many others.
Emily Price is a cellist out of New York who builds her sound with mutli-tracking and looping while experimenting with timbre and tone color to create something new and off-beat. A lot of fun. And you gotta love that scratchy old turntable sound!
The Upton Trio is a modern classical chamber ensemble based out South Carolina featuring Mary Lee Taylor on violin, and Billy Shepherd on piano. The Uptons have a new cellist named Dusan Vukajlovic, but this piece, from a performance in 2000, features cellist Jacqueline Taylor. This piece was composed by Miera Warshauer.
Chapa is a group led by guitarist Russ Chapa and drummer Deacon who create a rich stew of music incorporating traditions from around the world and a dense mixture of melodies. Dizzying in its arrangement yet majestic in its groove - these guys are unlike anyone you've heard before.
This show comes to you from the local Panera Bread
So long kids!
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.
