Serenity In Minimalism

A mix for the calm winter storms and frigid air.  For the minimal movement the body makes in order to make it from Point A to Point B - and for those in warm places or the southern hemisphere, you can just imagine what it is...

Serenity In Minimalism Track Listing:

    1.    (0:01:02) Kronos Quartet PAREDES: CANCAO VERDES ANOS - One of the most prolific quartet in modern music, founded by violinist David Harrington.  Harrington, John Sherba on violin, Hank Dutt on viola and Joan Jeanreaud on cello, who was later replaced by Jennifer Culp, who was also then replaced by Jeffrey Zeigler.  Their forte is literally everything, so there is probably not a genre out there they have not straddled in some respect.  This happens to be from their wildly eclectic Kronos Caravan LP, where they did simply that, carried the colors of the multifaceted world music scene.  They have also performed pieces by Henryk Gorecki who intentionally closes this mix!  
    2.    (0:03:53) Duffy STEPPING STONE - Another brilliant track off Rockferry, the debut album of Welsh singer-songwriter.
    3.    (0:07:13) The Nightrats ALLIGATOR MAN - A second track from this up & coming Brooklyn band.  Please check out my man, Chris McMillen, on bass and vocals rippin' it up whenever you can when they tour through your area code.  This is one of my personal favorite tracks, and think there can be many takes to this expansive song, because it pushes in pulls but never strays too far from its intentions.  They tease with the bass drum patterns which could easily lead to heavier cymbal work and ghost notes for a heavier sound, or could easily play this acoustic and pull it back in a monologue-like expression.  Very cool!
    4.    (0:10:18) Paco de Lucia, John McLaughlin & Al di Meola LA ESTIBA - Also known as The Guitar Trio (although Larry Coryell originally formed the trio with John and Paco, before Al took his place), or at least alluded to in this 1996 entitled album.  Paco is from Spain, John from the UK, and Al from the States.  They are arguably 3 legends of the flamenco and jazz guitar standard, and have all played with the best in their respective genres.  Paco has recorded 10 albums with singer Camaron de la Isla, and made his name known at age 11 awarded a special prize in the Jerez flamenco competition.  By 14, he was touring with flamenco dancer Jose Greco.  John played with Miles Davis, and he even named a song for him off Bitches Brew.  He is also well known for his large part in The Mahavishnu Orchestra as well as the jazz/Indian fusion band Shakti along with tabla guru Ustad Zakir Hussain.  Al's big break, so to say, was with Chick Corea's Return To Forever, which is a jazz fusion band from the 70s.  His solo works Land Of The Midnight Sun and Elegant Gypsy are two of his best works, largely due to his immaculate guitar playing as well as the line of brilliant musicians he had backing him, including drummer extraordinaire, Steve Gadd.
    5.    (0:15:43) Ashes Divide FOREVER CAN BE - A Perfect Circle without the center, Maynard James Keenan.  This is Billy Howerdel in his purest form on his newest output with drummer, Josh Freese and co. - one of the best drummers out there!  Howerdel probably felt in the shadow of Keenan (lead singer of my all-time favorite group, TOOL), even though he formed the band A Perfect Circle, and was the lead songwriter.  To be honest, his song writing is far better on APC, and Maynard has a much more powerful lead voice, but I give Billy props.  Especially starting as guitar tech for TOOL all those years, never getting the proper attention.
    6.    (0:20:16) PJ Harvey YOU CAME THROUGH - From one of my all-time favorite albums, Uh Huh Her.  I remember when I first bought this album at midnight in the eve of its release I seemed to be disappointed, overjoyed, or confused, because it wasn't heavy hitting nor perfect sounding like her Mercury Prize winning, Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea, and was recorded mostly on her 4-track and 8-track home studio.  All instruments were handled by Miss Harvey, except for one of the most natural drummers and personally admired, Rob Ellis.  
    7.    (0:22:46) Psapp UPSTAIRS - This will be the last track by this group, since it seems I have included them in each of the last few mixes.
    8.    (0:26:02) Charlie Hunter & Bobby Previte WAVE LINK - 8-string guitar virtuoso playing with multi-textured drummer to produce nice melodic and spacious jazz riffing-beat-minimalism.
    9.    (0:31:28) Savath & Savalas DECATUR QUEEN - Another track from Prefuse 73 mastermind, who I prefer as Savath.  
    10.  (0:34:37) Iron & Wine WOLVES (SONG OF THE SHEPHERD'S DOG) - Another brilliant track from folk rock star, Samuel Beam, this from his most critically acclaimed, Shepherd's Dog.  Great music coming from the one of the biggest music scenes on the planet down in Austin, TX.
    11.   (0:37:09) Tricky JOSEPH - Another track from Tricky's latest, Knowle West, which hasn't been received as well as others, however, I find this album to be one of his most enjoyable.
    12.   (0:39:32) David Zinman and the London Symphony Orchestra with Dawn Upshaw on soprano GORECKI: SYMPHONY NO.3, OP. 36, SYMPHONY OF SORROWFUL SONGS MOVEMENT I - From the first movement of 3 to this masterpiece.  My brother first introduced this piece to me long ago, I think after he saw the movie State Of Grace with Sean Penn, and I was completely moved from start to finish.  I'm not big on vocal performances in classical music, but Miss Upshaw provides perfect accompaniment to this wonderful post-war piece.  This was originally composed to commemorate the memory of people of Poland lost during the Holocaust.