O'Brien Party of 7 - Reincarnation - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Yoriko Ikeya - Souvenirs / Virtuoso Concert Pieces [COMPACT DISCS] date 04/27/2004

Black Oak Ensemble, the Chicago-based string trio with an international following, treats listeners to a double-album of stylish and often witty French treasures written between the World Wars. The ensemble offers seven rarely heard delicacies from the 1920s and 30s, including world premiere recordings of trios by Henri Tomasi, Robert Casadesus, and Gustave Samazeuilh along with works by Jean Cras, Emile Goué, Jean Françaix, and Gabriel Pierné. Most were written for and dedicated to the virtuosic Trio Pasquier, which ranked among the era's chamber music superstars. Tomasi's Mediterranean roots are heard in the Provençal folk melody referenced in his Trio à cordes en forme de divertissement, noted for it's colorful, kaleidoscopic finale. Casadesus's Trio à cordes combines fine craftsmanship and poetic sincerity. Samazeuilh, a disciple of Claude Debussy, wrote his Suite en trio in the form of a Baroque dance suite. Celtic-infused folk music of his native Brittany emerges in Cras's Trio pour violon, alto et violoncelle, as does an homage to Beethoven's Op. 132 string quartet. Goué wrote his Trio pour violon, alto et violoncelle, energized with folk-dance elements, on the eve of his World War II army deployment. Françaix's Trio displays his trademark textural clarity, agility, and sense of humor. Pierné's Trois pièces en trio has even more fun with the listener with it's satirical finale conjuring intoxicated, stumbling house cats out on the town.

The Elephants are now free to roam about the country Nederland, Colorado is high up in Rocky Mountain country, a place where people live and play in a picturesque time and space. And in this remote mountain town, there's a unique ensemble of egoless Earth dwellers that are known around these parts as Elephant Revival. This soulful, seductive quiver of 20-something songwriters and multi-instrumentalists reign from points across the United States. Since Oct. 2006, Dan Rodriguez, Bonnie Paine, Dango Rose, Sage T. Cook and Bridget Law have herded in a greatly applauded neo-acoustic gyptic revival at festivals, clubs, house concerts and theaters from the Rockies to the Ozarks and all points in between. The revival is totally original yet pays homage to some influences - Little Feat, The Band, Leftover Salmon, Tha Musemeant, Billie Holiday, Bonnie's mom, Taj Mahal, Bob Dylan, Randy Crouch, Holy Modal Rounders, traditional Celtic and Scottish song-craft, Colorado bluegrass, roots reggae and mountain hip-hop. Each Elephant possesses remarkable and uncanny vocal abilities which can be heard during every performance. The individual members also carry a vast amount of instrumental talent - Rodriguez plays a distinctive finger-style acoustic guitar while Law enchants the audience with her fiddle. Rose grooves on the upright bass and mandolin while Cook plays a variety of instruments including electric banjo, electric guitar, mandolin and upright bass. Ms. Paine channels the rhythmic mean on the washboard and djembe, and occasionally will bow an eerie yet angelic line out of the musical saw. Bonnie's vocal prowess has been compared to the likes of Natalie Merchant and Grace Slick but her uniqueness cannot be pinned down by comparison. Individually and collectively the band members have performed with some of the most prolific performers of our time like Michael Franti, Bela Fleck,