I lead a jazz ensemble, Perpetual Motion, that specializes in original music for violin, guitar, and rhythm section. I've written a number of things that we have recorded, but I get a different experience out of RPM. I have gone into both year's projects with a loose idea of what I want to do, and it hasn't turned out how I envisioned yet. I use this month to just churn out ideas, and the creative rush is amazing. I just let the muses talk to me, and I write what they give me. I have musical ADD, so my songs go from one genre to the next. This year I've got bossa, tango, african inspired stuff, swing, and blues. I've been experimenting with a loop generator and layering rhythms drawn from various world music traditions. All songs were written during the month of February as well as recorded during this month, so I look at it as a rough draft. Recordings were done in the basement. To hear more professional productions of some of my stuff take a look at www,perpetual-motion.net.
Group Members:
Josie Quick, acoustic and electric violin
Tom Carleno, acoustic guitar
2008 RPM Album Info
Date mailed or hand-delivered:
03/01/2008
Date Received:
03/03/2008
Genre:
Instrumental
Album Name:
From The Fog
Album Description:
I wrote all these songs during the month of February. When I went to check on the rules for when the deadline is, on February 27, and that’s when I discovered that I’m just supposed to record original material this month, not write it as well. That’s okay, because what I really got out of it was the unhindered flow of creativity. I wrote whatever came into my mind, no self-editing. I’ve concluded that if I give myself the time, I can be a very prolific writer. I’m not saying it will all be good, but I have to purge the bad music in order to get to the good stuff. If those bad songs keep rattling around in my brain that’s what keeps trying to get out. So this disc has some purging, but I think there’s some really good stuff, too. I even wrote lyrics, which I’m strictly an instrumentalist. Until now. I even sing on one track, and I think it’s good evidence to remain an instrumentalist. I think my composing is stronger this year, but in my haste the performances could have been more polished. I had less personal time to devote to it this year, so there was a down to the wire rush to finish.
I like to challenge myself by assigning myself a genre to write in, and see if I can do it. Sometimes I just see what the universe gives me. The songs appear in the order that I wrote them.
Tracks (w/numbers):
1. Freedom
Inspired by the layering of African marimba ensembles, this was done with my loop generator. This is a single track, and all sounds are made with an acoustic violin. I wrote this after recovering from a severe bout of congested ears, so bad that it was painful and my hearing was compromised. I couldn’t hear the sparrows outside my window for about two weeks, and I had trouble following conversations and hearing the TV. It was so confining to not be able to communicate, and when it cleared I felt liberated.
2. Dance of Two Souls
I woke up one morning and decided to write a bossa nova. I think it’s the best tune on here.
3. Triple Tango
Again, just to see if I could.
4. The Blue Jews
Written for two of my adult violin students, who have become good friends and are playing gypsy/eastern european/klezmer and blues duets. I decided to write something for them that incorporates both klezmer and blues, which was quite a challenge! I sing, and Tom Carleno provides additional vocals.
5. Little Brother Blues
Another loop generator tune. I distilled the 12 bar blues form into 4 bars so it doesn’t take so long to set up. Then I went nuts with layering parts. All sounds from the acoustic violin.
6. Going Nowhere
I named this song after getting frustrated with it. It’s based on an African drumming pattern called Mandjiane. Another loop generator song.
7. Stephanology
A tribute to Stephane Grappelli, gypsy jazz violinist.
8. From the Fog
The last song I wrote, another with the loop generator.
Preferred Track:
Dance of Two Souls
Band Bio:
My partner in my band, Perpetual Motion, panicked when faced with the idea of doing this in one month, so this is my project although he plays on several tracks.
I am an all-purpose violinist. I play professionally as a soloist, with my classical string quartet, and with my jazz ensemble, Perpetual Motion. I teach blues, jazz, classical, and bluegrass violin/fiddle. I have a Bachelor's of Music degree from the University of Denver Lamont School of Music. I love playing all styles of music, and my writing reflects that by being all over the place stylistically.
Band Members & Instruments Played:
Josie Quick, acoustic violin, vocals
Tom Carleno, guitar, vocals
Band Location (city, state or province, and country):
Denver, CO
music, etc
RPM 2008 demos, works-in-progress, or tracks-finished-early... a musical sketchbook. This is just a sampler -- complete and finished albums will be uploaded into the real jukebox in March!
Kavin.s Acoustic Church
