New Sounds Archive
November 2006
November 2006 New Releases
Thursday, November 30, 2006
It's that time of the month again for John Schaefer to carefully separate the wheat from the chaff for this penultimate new releases show for this year. He'll sort through the stacks, bins, and boatloads of new CDs which have come across his desk over the past month to present some of the finest new releases. He'll skim off the cream. He'll pick the lentils from the ashes. He'll make sure that we get the good nuts. You get it.
New Music for Solo Piano
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
There’s new music for solo piano by the likes of Seth Kaufman, whose piano sound draws on the dramatic gorges of the Finger lakes area of upstate New York, as well as New Orleans. Shake those up and you have passionate and intense works rooted in jazz, rock and minimalism. We’ll hear music from his latest record, "Compartments," on this edition of New Sounds. Also, listen to works by German pianist/composer Hans Otte from a new compilation disc of reissued works, “the book of sounds.” Otte served for 25 years as the music director for Radio Bremen, in addition to his written output of musical theatre, poems, and drawings. Plus, piano music by minimalist master Terry Riley, and much more.
yes is a pleasant country
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
For this New Sounds program, listen to several different new music settings of poems by E.E. Cummings. Hear some from the collection of settings to soundscapes by Evan Sornstein, called Curium. It’s a suite of twenty-two Cummings poems, read by twenty-two different people evenly spaced around the world from Taipei to Glasgow, Sardinia to California. Speaking of Calfornia, we'll hear music from Cali-based Daniel Lentz - a work called The Crack in the Bell, based on a Cummings poem, which uses tape delay and repeated notes to create bent and curved textures of tones. Listen to a new music setting or two by wunderkind composer Eric Whitacre, whose close attention to E.E. Cummings’ poetry brings out the emotion underlying every word. Plus, music by Susanne Abbeuhl and Joan Baez, among others.
What's Old Is New
Monday, November 27, 2006
Listen to two recordings by Steve Reich –Reich’s most recent work, “You Are (Variations)” and a 1977 live performance from New York’s New Music venue The Kitchen. Reich “just set out to have a good time composing” with “You Are (Variations),” for voices, and at times, four pianos. With texts drawn from philosophy and scripture, like the Jewish mystic Rebbe Nachman of Breslov’s statement “You are wherever your thoughts are,” the four movement work explores aspects of existence, in a set of variations. The work receives its premiere on 24 October at Disney Hall in Los Angeles. Also, hear “Six Pianos,” an early work by Reich, played by six pianists: Glen Velez, Steve Chambers, Russell Hartenberger, James Preiss, Bob Becker and Steve Reich. It’s just one of the works on a newly released disc of performances by Steve Reich and Musicians, recorded back in 1977, but only just discovered in 2002 in a dusty box in the Kitchen’s archives.
Virtual Cathedral
Sunday, November 26, 2006
From the New Sounds Live concert series, William Duckworth and The Cathedral Band play music on real and virtual instruments from Duckworth's enormous, 5-year multimedia web-based piece Cathedral. The live concert, recorded at the World Financial Center's Winter Garden Atrium, also incorporated the music made by concert-attending laptop users and those who played along through the world wide web on the virtual instrument called Pitchweb.
Click here to view a slideshow of this New Sounds Live concert recorded at the World Financial Center's Winter Garden.
Ethio Jazz Live
Saturday, November 25, 2006
From the New Sounds Live concert series, the Either Orchestra, the Massachusetts-based brass band, plays arrangements of classic Ethiopian pop music, with special guest Mulatu Astatqe, one of the leaders of the Ethiopian pop scene in the late 60s/early 70s. The E/O's innovative and tricky "Ethiopian Suite" was a definite show-stopper. Hear it and other works recorded at the World Financial Center’s Winter Garden Atrium this past fall of 2004.
Click here to view a slideshow of this New Sounds Live concert recorded at the World Financial Center's Winter Garden.
Sampling Don Cherry
Friday, November 24, 2006
The great trumpeter, world music icon, jazz explorer, improviser, and part Choctaw Indian - Don Cherry - is no longer on the planet, but his work lives on in recordings. On this edition of New Sounds, we'll sample some of the music of Don Cherry, which reaches across a weird and wonderful range of musical idioms and forms. Listen to Cherry's work as Codona - a group with Collin Walcott and the Brazilian percussionist Nana Vasconcelos - whose musical flavourings draw from Africa, India, South America and the Middle East. There's also some of the "American Indian jazz" that Cherry played with tenor sax player Jim Pepper. Plus, hear from collaborations with Latif Khan, Adam Rudolph, Hassan Hakmoun, Lou Reed and Talking Heads, among others.
Unusual as Folk
Thursday, November 23, 2006
"Triple-exile" composer Osvaldo Golijov brings together elements from his Eastern Europe roots, from his Jewish heritage, and from his native Argentina and melds them with Western classical traditions, and Mediterranean folklore. On this New Sounds program, we’ll hear from Golijov’s latest release, Ayre, a song cycle featuring the soprano Dawn Upshaw. On Ayre, he incorporates the sounds of accordion and ronroco (the South American fretted lute) as well as the laptop (a 21st century folk instrument to Golijov), and has scored texts in Arabic, Hebrew, Sardinian, Spanish and Ladino (the lost language of Spanish Jews.) We’ll also hear folk-tinged music from multi-instrumentalist /composer/producer Gustavo Santaolalla, from his CD “Ronroco,” and perhaps from the two songs he wrote on Ayre. Plus, there's music by Luciano Berio, with whom Golijov shares the talent of obscuring the distinction between 'folk" and "art" music, and more.
A World in New York
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
From the New Sounds Live concert series, three great women’s voices in World Music – all based in New York. Listen to performances by Yungchen Lhamo (Tibet, via Queens), Susan McKeown (Ireland, via Manhattan), and Angelique Kidjo (Benin, via Brooklyn), recorded live at the World Financial Center's Winter Garden earlier this month.
The Orchestra Rocks
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Listen to Joby Talbot’s remarkable orchestrations of songs by The White Stripes - "Aluminium" - on this edition of New Sounds. Talbot, who was part of the cult British band The Divine Comedy, has collaborated with Ute Lemper, and has written some killin’ scores for films, in addition to reimagining Jack White’s blues-based tunes. There’s also music by Jaz Coleman, who founded the legendary post-punk experimental group, Killing Joke. We’ll hear Coleman's violin concerto based on songs by The Doors. The work was written for Nigel Kennedy, and commemorates those who fell in the Vietnam War. Also, hear Philip Glass’s “Low Symphony,” based on music by David Bowie and Brian Eno. Plus orchestral music by rockers Jon Lord, and David Byrne and more.
New Jewish Renaissance
Monday, November 20, 2006
On this edition of New Sounds, listen to music from the new Jewish Renaissance, including works from klezmer-revival musicians like the Klezmatics, and Andy Statman along with radical Jewish music from John Zorn, and world fusion from Wally Brill and Atzilut. Wally Brill's CD The Covenant, reverently combines the sounds and spirit of Jewish incantations with modern ambient, dub, and other electronic music, and you can dance to it. Plus, Hebrew music traditions with Arab rhythms as played on western, African, and Indian instruments from the group Atzilut. Also, the Klezmatics pay tribute to the Yiddish musical legend and clarinet powerhouse Naftule Brandwein, and we hear the latest from talented instrumentalist, composer and bandleader Andy Statman.
Lit Rock
Sunday, November 19, 2006
From the New Sounds Live concert series, the band One Ring Zero presents its “author project,” with readings and lyrics (and some performances) by authors Rick Moody, Paul Auster, and Siri Hustvedt. The show was recorded last fall at the World Financial Center's Winter Garden Atrium. ORZ and their reinforcements, performed a bawdy song or two, a catchy soon-to-be classic-"Kiss Me, You Brat," and there were some additional surprises, like Paul Auster's daughter as a vocalist!
Electric Ethel
Saturday, November 18, 2006
From the New Sounds Live Concert Series, we present the second half of last fall’s sociopolitical blowout show. The electric string quartet Ethel plays music from Scott Johnson’s work “How It Happens,” built around the unexpected melodic shapes of the taped voice of I. F. Stone. Also, Phil Kline’s “Funeral of Jan Palach” performed by the Zippo Band (violinist Todd Reynolds, percussionist David Cossin, vocal improv by Theo Bleckmann, and the composer himself on guitars.)
Click here to view a slideshow of this New Sounds Live concert from Merkin Hall.
Soundscapes
Friday, November 17, 2006
Experience various soundscapes on this edition of New Sounds. Listen to the latest percussive soundscapes from Mecca Bodega, from their sometimes trance-jazzy release, "Skin." Plus, there's drummer/composer Bobby Previte's chamber improvisations from a piece called "Mirror, Mirror." Also on this program of soundscapes, sample the layered saxophone of Jan Garbarek from "All Those Born With Wings," a recording from 1986. Rounding out the hour are the quiet reflective pairings of guitar with horn on Ralph Towner's "Rumours of Rain," and lots more.
Barely Baroque
Thursday, November 16, 2006
For this New Sounds, hear new arrangements of 17th and 18th century music, including J.S. Bach by the Jacques Loussier Trio, and art songs by The Dowland Project. Also, the new music quartet Clogs mess with baroque minimalism in music by Johann Hieronymus Kapsburger and Ralph Towner flirts with baroque rhythms on his 12-string. And, as always, much more.
Harmonic Presence
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Vocalist, composer, and overtone-singing pioneer David Hykes joins us on this New Sounds to preview new works for harmonic singing. Hykes has a long immersion in Eastern and Western sacred music, cosmology, and yogas of sound. He was the first westerner to connect deeply with the "throat-singing" traditions of Mongolia, Tuva and Tibet, and employ overtones which govern all spatial and mathematical relationships. And as always, much more.
Remix-a-thon
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
New Sounds lays down the new music remixes for this program. We'll hear from DJs and producers who have had at the music of composers like the New Yorker Steve Reich, Irishman Daniel Figgis, and Algerian native Cheb I Sabbah. Plus, Brazilian artist Cibelle re-renders music by the Kocani Orkestar, and a whole host of folks remix Handel’s Messiah.
Music and Film
Monday, November 13, 2006
Film maker Bill Morrison and composer/pianist Philip Glass join us to chat about the music and films being produced for The Film Makers Cooperative. For this New Sounds, Philip Glass performs live in the studio. Plus, listen to musical selections from luminary musicians and composers like Steve Reich, guitarist/composer Elliott Sharp, violinist/composer Todd Reynolds, Bang on a Can All-Star Mark Stewart and many others.
New Sounds Live Is Early
Sunday, November 12, 2006
From the New Sounds Live concert series, take a look back at excerpts from the early years, 1986-1996. Hear live recordings of music by the hypnotic "maximalist" Michael Galasso, "sensualist" Daniel Lentz's Ensemble, the "totalist" music of the Mikel Rouse Broken Consort, and composer and pianist Katrina Krimsky, among others.
Sacred Songs
Saturday, November 11, 2006
There’s a collection of ecumenical works that span the world’s great spiritual traditions on this New Sounds Program. We’ll hear from Illyas Mallaev, a tar (lute) player who mixes the Arab/Persian-influenced court music of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan with his own repertoire of songs that represent the Jewish sacred and popular tradition. Also, the vocal artistry of Premkumar Mallik, singing in the most ancient and austere style of North Indian classical music known as dhrupad. Plus, the Haissmavourk Choir performs Armenian spiritual music, throat-singing from David Hykes, and much more.
Tragic Treasury
Friday, November 10, 2006
Operating under his band-pen name, “The Gothic Archies,” singer/songwriter Stephin Merritt has just released a brand-new compilation of theme songs called "The Tragic Treasury," one written for each of the 13 volumes of Lemony Snicket's "Series of Unfortunate Events" book series, plus a depressingly upbeat band theme song as well. It’s a bunch of crafty new music/Gothic pop songs, featuring author Lemony Snicket on accordion, and we’ll sample a few on this edition of New Sounds. Extra points if you can match these gloomy and hilarious ditties to the corresponding books without looking. And as always, much more.
On Daniel Figgis
Thursday, November 09, 2006
This New Sounds episode features Daniel Figgis, the iconoclastic Irish composer, audio/video installation artist, sampling-innovator, and multi-instrumentalist. Recorded on location in Dublin, he discusses his CD Skipper and presents music from his next recording. Figgis's hypnotic, hauntingly beautiful style defies easy categorization, though the mesmeric Skipper was accurately described by Classic FM magazine as a cross between the "strange familiarity of a David Lynch film, the harmonic simplicity of John Tavener."
John the Revelator
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
For this New Sounds, it's a conversation with Phil Kline, the composer of the gripping and eloquent Zippo Songs, and the mobile, boombox-based holiday piece Unsilent Night. Now Kline has written a modern mass using the early music group Lionheart and the string quartet Ethel, as well as the cathedral-like structure of the World Financial Center’s Winter Garden. He tells us about the making of “John the Revelator,” and gives us a sneak peak before Friday night’s world premiere on New Sounds Live.
Hornucopia
Monday, November 06, 2006
Listen to plenty of horns on this New Sounds program, including tunes by likes of the big-band progressive/experimental “downtown” Microscopic Septet from a brand new set of reissue CDs. Then fasten your crash helmets, there’s Indie big band thrashlounge from the Flat Earth Society. Also, listen to the most recent outing from saxophone player and composer Kenny Garrett, “Beyond the Wall,” something of a spiritual dialogue between Africa and China. And, as always, much more.
Soundcheck Revue
Sunday, November 05, 2006
On this installment of New Sounds, hear live in-studio performances from WNYC’s afternoon program “Soundcheck.” There’s music from the Tin Hat Trio, and their blend of tango, bluegrass, contemporary classical, and Eastern European folk traditions. Listen to music by Calexico, who perch on a pinhead drawing from country, folk, jazz, surf, mariachi, and the blues. Plus, the WNYC Young People’s Radio Chorus sings Tod Machover, tunes from The Bad Plus, Celtic beats from the energetic Irish funsters Flook, and more.
Oh Captain, My Captain
Saturday, November 04, 2006
On this edition of New Sounds, experience Fast ’N’ Bulbous: The Captain Beefheart Project. Sax player/composer Phillip Johnston arranges and conducts the music of one of rock’s most eccentric figures, Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart, featuring guitarist (and ex-Beefheart sideman) Gary Lucas. Both Johston and Lucas join John Schaefer in the studio, along with a band made up of seasoned improvisers from both the worlds of avant-garde jazz and rock, including . Together, they take on the adventure of rhythmic interplay that is Van Vliet’s music, with the horn section taking the place of the vocals. Incidentally, Van Vliet stopped the business of making music and “chucked it all for a painting career in 1982.”
Music Without Borders
Friday, November 03, 2006
A world of musical influences are fused together as the Bombay Dub Orchestra draws from ambient, western classical, Indian classical & light classical music and many other places. On this edition of the program, hear selections from the forthcoming album by Bombay Dub Orchestra, who are UK based producer and composer Garry Hughes and classical composer and arranger Andrew T. Mackay. There’s also music from the Canadian Ghazal singer Kiran Ahluwalia and her sometime Celtic backing band. Ahluwalia was raised in Toronto where she fell in love with ghazals, the sophisticated musical love poems of India she was exposed to by her Punjabi parents. Plus works from Cheb I Sabbah, whose latest release is a mix of Arab, Jewish, and Berber elements.
Musical Meditation
Thursday, November 02, 2006
“All of us have impermanence in common,” according to Meredith Monk. The latest work by the composer/singer/director/choreographer/multi-media artist, “Impermanence,” is currently at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Next Wave Festival. It combines music, movement, video projections, and lighting design (with light almost functioning as another musical instrument), into a haunting evocation of the passage of time. Inspired by her work with hospice patients in London and the death of her long-time partner, Monk has created a musical meditation on the impermanence and ephemeral quality of life. She joins John Schaefer to give us a preview of the work on this New Sounds program.
Striking Violins
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Listen to the latest from violinist and composer Michael Galasso, whose previous projects, especially his collaborative work with director Robert Wilson and Wong Kar-wai ("In The Mood for Love,") made lasting impressions in film and theatre music. On Galasso’s latest release, “High Lines,” he offers ghostly textured outgoing music which side-steps between genres, with help from guitarist Terje Rypdal, double-bass player Marc Marder, and percussionist Frank Colón. We also hear from the Swiss violinist/composer Paul Giger, from his mesmerizing 1989 ECM CD “Chartres”, which features the Swiss violinist playing in the crypt and upper church of the great French cathedral.
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