Label: Soundset Recordings Item Number: SR1176 Format: CD Year Recorded: 2024 Sessions Rhode Island Sessions
Sessions Sessions: is an extraordinary musical journey, brought to life by the creative minds of directors Dr. Scott Borg and Adam Levin. Recorded as part of the renowned URI Guitar Festival, this unique collaboration showcases the artistry of master musicians as they explore both the distinctiveness and commonalities of their musical heritages. Sessions is a celebration of tradition and innovation, a synthesis between the old and the new, offering listeners a profound and immersive experience that bridges continents and cultures. The collective's debut album Sessions: Rhode Island transcends borders, blending rich cultural legacies into a harmonious whole, bringing together world-class musicians from across the globe, uniting diverse traditions through the universal language of plucked string instruments. These uniquely crafted arrangements capture the essence of these world cultures - the tranquil tones of the Japanese koto, the heartfelt melodies of the Chinese pipa, the vibrant and hypnotic instrumental layering of Javanese gamelan, the soulful strains of Eastern European music, and the lively strumming and rhythms of the Irish fiddle. Simon Shaheen, Oud Jacob Reuven, Mandolin Badi Assad, Vox Bridget Kibbey, Harp William Knuth, Violin René Izquierdo, Prepared Guitar Chinnawat Themkumkwun, Prepared Guitar Victor Main, Prepared Guitar Adam Levin, Guitar Matthew Rohde, Guitar Mike Block, Cello Derek Gripper, Guitar Jim Perona, Guitar Jim Davidson, Steel String Guitar, Slide Guitar and Bass Silviu Ciulei, Flamenco Guitar David Cobb, Bass Ramin Yazdanpanah, Percussion and Didgeridoo Scott Borg, Conductor and 8 String Guitar Kecapi Suling (9\'40\") - this is based on traditional Javanese Gamelan. The suling soloists are Simon Shaheen on Oud, and Yaki Reuven on Mandolin. As part of the ensemble we had Rene Izquerdio, Matthew Rohde. Chinnawat Themkunkwan, Victor Main, and Adam Levin on prepared guitar using tac, chopsticks, paper clips etc, Bridget Kibbey on Harp, Will Knuth on Violin, Jim Davidson on Electric guitar with effects, Badi Assad on guitar and voice, and Scott Borg conducted and played Bass and 8 String Guitar. The piece is in 4 sections and starts with the Oud and Mandolin presenting to traditional solo \'Suling\'. The next section is the typical Gamelan texture with a strict transcription notational-wise. Section C we move to commentary on the industrialization and removal of the forests, represented by distortion, guttural grunts and growls, Badi making multiple animal noises, and various percussive effects on the instruments of the ensemble. The composition finishes with a more subdued representation of Section B. The lower bass notes, which in Javanese belief represents an earthly pulse slowly fade out showing the fragility of nature. Bacha Nagilia (11\'26\") - As the title suggests, this is a combination of Bach and the Hava Nagila, but this is so much more. This crazy recomposition is a fusion of Portuguese Fado, Flamenco, Rumba, with some little homages to ACDC! This version of Hava Nagila is not like anyone has ever heard it before. On this track we have Derek Gripper (Guitar), Silviu Ciulei (Flamenco Guitar), Yaki Rueven (Mandolin) and Badi Assad (Voice), and Mike Block (Cellist and Director of the Silk Road Ensemble) taking a majority of the solos. The rest of the band is Matthew Rohde, Jim Perona, Victor Main, Jim Davidson, and Adam Levin on various types of guitars, and the rest of the Maharajah Flamenco Trio of David Cobb on Bass and Ramin Yazdanpanah on percussion and didgeridoo, and Scott Borg conducted and played 8 string guitar. It is a WILD ride! Although every note was notated, the final product incorporated significant improvisation from the source material. Kudan for 2 Kotos (7\'18\") - This is a 1-minute, 2-line piece that Scott Borg expanded out to 10 minutes and 9 lines! Many effects on the guitar are used to create the essence of Japanese Koto. The lead roles are Bridget Kibbey on Harp and Will Knuth on Violin. The rest of the counter voices interweave in a unique way, highlighting the prepared guitars of Rene Izquerdio, Matthew Rohde. Chinnawat Themkunkwan, Victor Main, and Adam Levin on prepared guitars with tac, chopsticks, paper clips, etc. Jim Davidson on Bass, and Scott Borg played 8-string guitar and conducted. View of a Village (12\'01\") - loosely based on a Chinese melody, this is the largest ensemble piece of the album, and uses everyone at one time or another taking a leading role. Texturally this is the most dense which the 10-minute piece leads to an enormous highpoint which also represents the climax of the album. Featured on this piece Derek Gripper, Victor Main, Matthew Rohde, Jim Perona, Silviu Ciulei, Adam Levin on Guitar, Jim Davidson on steel string and slide guitar, Badi Assad on vox and guitar, Mike Block on Cello, David Cobb on Bass and Ramin Yazdanpanah on percussion and didgeridoo. Scott Borg conducted and played 8-string guitar. The \"Butterfly\" Jig (12\'09\") - To conclude the album we have a lively Irish Jig! This Jig, however, consists of 6 separate Jig\'s interlays on top of each other. Derek Gripper is the main theme of the \"Butterfly\" which starts the piece. Slowly but surely, different musicians start to sneak in performing their own Jig. Later, the Butterfly interrupts and becomes slowly incorporated in the piece, until finally at the end all the musicians get on board with a rounding rendition of the Butterfly. Performers include Derek Gripper, Victor Main, Matthew Rohde, Jim Perona, Silviu Ciulei, Adam Levin on Guitar, Jim Davidson on steel string and slide guitar, Mike Block on Cello, David Cobb on Bass and Ramin Yazdanpanah on cajon and didgeridoo.
Label: Soundset Recordings Item Number: SR1176 Format: CD Year Recorded: 2024 Recording Engineer: Matthew Anderson Artwork Designer: Carlie Boyton Producers: Scott Borg, Adam Levin, Matthew Anderson The collective's debut album Sessions: Rhode Island transcends borders, blending rich cultural legacies into a harmonious whole, bringing together world-class musicians from across the globe, uniting diverse traditions through the universal language of plucked string instruments. Not Available | Physical CD $16.99 US MP3 Album $10.00
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