Mostrando postagens com marcador John Stowell. Mostrar todas as postagens
Mostrando postagens com marcador John Stowell. Mostrar todas as postagens

26.4.21

DAVID FRIESEN & JOHN STOWELL - Through the Listening Glass (1978-2007) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

On first glance, Through the Listening Glass is a duet recording between bassist David Friesen and guitarist John Stowell, at the time two burgeoning jazz fusion musicians whose kinship to the world sound of the group Oregon is easy to recognize. As one absorbs this music, you realize this album could easily be titled "The Art of the Overdub." Using multiple basses and guitars, percussion instruments, and the soprano sax of Gary Campbell, Friesen and Stowell create landscapes and skyscapes of sound on sound, at times a bit busy, mostly reaching for inner truths and a connection to some other dimension. There's no modicum of earthiness, but they strive to reach for the heavens, and use the technology of the times to create conversations within basic texts, layering them to a degree approaching epiphany. Friesen's spiritual center is quite prevalent on pieces like "Wings of Light" yet has a jazzier construct, and a pared-down focus among the three players. "Autumn Ballet" is the most uncomplicated piece, a simple bass/guitar duet with no accoutrements, while a similar sparse style is identified with a dual bass excursion in the intro, Stowell's 12-string invited to cozy up on "High Places/Secret Moments of Silence." The larger, orchestral-oriented "Peace for the Enduring Heart" is pastoral, featuring four bowed bass tracks, and two soprano and one tenor sax overdub from Campbell. "Opening Out" features the always-far-reaching Stowell on his own with two 12-string guitars, a six-string, and a cymbal in loose refrains. The title track, as beautifully rendered as all of the other selections, is particularly angelic and lovely in its ultra-melodic, memorable stance that resonates with Friesen's bass, Stowell's 12-string and Campbell's two soaring soprano sax tracks dancing the joyous, passionate night away. There's some African-influenced music here too, as log drums and shakuhachi flutes are employed during the more new age, space-music track "Wisdom's Star." "Ancient Kings" is perhaps a definitive track that uses the overdub technique to the hilt, as a mbira and log drum played by Stowell buoy Campbell's two soprano tracks, and Friesen's bowed morning horizon, semi-tropical bass/bass/percussion, and a cymbal stroke here and there. The unlikely quick, romping and rolling beat of "Carousel Parade" with just the headline participants seems a rushed afterthought, but still is fun to listen to. This album has been reissued on CD, and along with Stowell's Golden Delicious, Friesen's Star Dance, and Waterfall Rainbow, and the duo's Other Mansions provides a five-part look at what these quite capable artists were creating as fusion waned in the late '70s. by Michael G. Nastos  
Tracklist :
1. Wisdom's Star 2:48
2. Tabla / Eternal Friend 7:00
3. Opening Out 3:43
4. Through The Listening Glass 3:24
5. Peace For The Enduring Heart 2:30
6. Carousel Parade 3:01
7. Ancient Kings 2:55
8. Autumn Ballet 3:35
9. Frontal Dichotomy 3:23
10. Wings Of Light 4:48
11. High Places 1:41
12. Secret Moments Of Silence 2:46
Credits :
Acoustic Bass, Shakuhachi [Shakuhachi Flute], Bell Tree, Percussion – David Friesen
Guitar [Six And Twelve String Guitars], Drum [African Log Drum], Thumb Piano, Cymbal [Cymbals] – John Stowell
Producer – David Friesen
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Gary Campbell
Written-By – David Friesen (faixas: 1 to 8, 10 to 12), John Stowell (faixas: 9) 

DAVID FRIESEN - Waterfall Rainbow (1977-2018) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

David Friesen follows up his excellent debut album Star Dance with a program of original compositions that advances both his spiritual center and his love for the music of the ensemble Oregon. Though never officially a member of Oregon -- that space is always reserved for Glen Moore -- it seems he would fit in naturally, and displays that compatibility by employing Ralph Towner and Paul McCandless for this effort. Percussionist Jim Saporito, drummer Bob Moses, and electric guitarist John Stowell are also included, making for a group that fully understands how Friesen's religious beliefs and love of nature easily factor into his organic, contemporary jazz-influenced sound. Unlike Star Dance, there's no tour de force music here, but the title track is close to being classic in its galloping pace, guitar and English horn unison, with a wonderful flute solo from the usual baritone saxophonist Nick Brignola. Towner and Stowell prove compatible partners on acoustic and electric guitars respectively for the lovely "Spring Wind," a wedding song in beats of four and six that would be perfect for an outdoor nuptial ceremony in the woods. The two plectrists also show up together on "Song of Switzerland" which is neutral between Towner's strummings and the wafting oboe of McCandless. "Dancing Spirits Before the Lord" is memorable in that it echoes the Oregon concept, as the instruments all chime in agreement, a pretty but quick piece. There are several overdubbed solo tracks by Friesen, including the improvised "French Festival," a patient, strummed "The Peace That Passes Understanding," a stereo separated "Flight of the Angels," and the virtuoso display during "Song of the Stars" where the bassist's awesome technique takes on many bowed and plucked stances. Because of the solo pieces, this is a more self-indulgent, but no less impressive effort from Friesen, thankfully once again in print on compact disc. by Michael G. Nastos  
Tracklist :
1     Spring Wind (A Wedding Song for Vincent and Sharon) 7:59
David Friesen
2     French Festival 4:22
David Friesen
3     Waterfall Rainbow 4:30
David Friesen
4     Castles and Flags 3:27
David Friesen
5     The Peace That Passes Understanding (In Memory of Andre Gerand) 3:03
David Friesen
6     Song of Switzerland 5:46
David Friesen
7     Song of the Stars 5:19
David Friesen
8     Dancing Spirits Before the Lord 7:21
David Friesen
9     Flight of the Angels 2:41
David Friesen
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – David Friesen
Classical Guitar, Twelve-String Guitar – Ralph Towner
Composed By, Arranged By – David Friesen
Drums – Bobby Moses
Electric Guitar – John Stowell
Flute – Nick Brignola
Oboe, English Horn, Bass Clarinet – Paul Mc Candless
Percussion – Jim Saporito

e.s.t. — Retrospective 'The Very Best Of e.s.t. (2009) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

"Retrospective - The Very Best Of e.s.t." is a retrospective of the unique work of e.s.t. and a tribute to the late mastermind Esb...