Meredith Monk "Song of Ascension"

Meredith Monk

Songs of Ascension

Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble
Todd Reynolds String Quartet
M6 Voices
Montclair State University Singers

“Songs of Ascension” is a major new recording from composer Meredith Monk and her vocal ensemble. Written in 2008, it is conceived as a continuous composition, a departure from Monk’s earlier collaged or episodic extended works. In recent years Meredith Monk’s been expanding into the worlds of orchestra and string quartet. On “Songs of Ascension” she teams up with a string quartet of New York players well versed in new music. With winds, percussion and two vocal groups added to her already extraordinary singers, this is one of Monk’s most musically ambitious ventures. Voices and instruments are paired and balanced against each other to an extent rare in her music. Inspirations for the work included the Song of Ascents, a group of psalms said to have been sung during pilgrimages, and a timely invitation to perform at an 8-story tower designed by visual artist Ann Hamilton. “Songs of Ascension” finds Monk playing with the musical, sonic, metaphysical and literal connotations of upward movement.

You should be able to find this album in fine record stores but for your convenience, here is the link to the page on Amazon where you can preorder: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TB6GSQ?ie=UTF8&tag=various02-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B004TB6GSQ

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Konitz/Mehldau/Haden/Motion "Live at Birdland"

Konitz/Mehldau/Haden/Motian
Live At Birdland

Lee Konitz: alto saxophone
Brad Mehldau: piano
Charlie Haden: double-bass
Paul Motian: drums

A quartet of master musicians and a programme of jazz classics. “Live At Birdland” presents the finest moments from two inspired nights at New York’s legendary club, as Konitz, Mehldau, Haden and Motian play “Lover Man”, “Lullaby Of Birdland”, “Solar”, “I Fall In Love Too Easily”, “You Stepped Out Of A Dream” and “Oleo” with freedom, tenderness, and a love of melody that only jazz’s greatest improvisers can propose.

You should be able to find this album in fine record stores but for your convenience, here is the link to the page where you can order: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004PKOKTS?ie=UTF8&tag=various02-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B004PKOKTS

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Colin Vallon Trio "Rruga"

Colin Vallon/Patrice Moret/Samuel Rohrer
Rruga


Colin Vallon: piano
Patrice Moret: double-bass
Samuel Rohrer: drums

Release Date: May 10, 2011

“Rruga”, meaning ‘path’, ‘road’ or ‘journey’ in Albanian, is the evocative title of the ECM debut by the trio of pianist Colin Vallon, bassist Patrice Moret and drummer Samuel Rohrer (who was previously heard on the ECM recordings “April” with Swiss/Dutch singer Susanne Abbuehl and “Currents” by the Wolfert Brederode Quartet). After shared musical experiences on the Swiss jazz scene, they began their trio journey five years ago, and have grown into one of Europe’s most promising bands, shaping a rugged and individual music, inspired by songs and singers, and by the music of the Caucasus region as well as by the jazz tradition. Challenging conventions of the modern jazz piano trio, the instrumentalists meet on equal terms as the music is created, arranged and developed collectively.

Listen to a few sample tracks here:

http://player.ecmrecords.com/vallon


You should be able to find this album in fine record stores but for your convenience, here is the link to the pages where you can order it:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004D0YX1U?ie=UTF8&tag=various02-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B004D0YX1U

Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ECMUSA