Various Artists - Discover Music From the Mediterranean - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Born in 1971, Marco lo Muscio is an organist, pianist and composer who has performed on the great organs of Europe and the US. His own music been performed by the likes of Christopher Herrick, Thomas Trotter and David Briggs. This album focuses on another, more intimate side of his output. There are pieces dedicated to his mother and to the memory of his late father; tributes to both Debussy and Satie; meditations on literary themes from the work of J. R. R. Tolkien in a neo-medieval style; a pair of ricercari originally composed for organ, paying homage to Renaissance-era counterpoint; and to begin with Three American Preludes. Composed in 2001, the first two of the preludes were also Lo Muscio's first works intended for the piano. Their bluesy harmonies and ostinato bass lines are inspired by the playing of Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett. The third of them (from 2009) is a homage to Jarrett, but composed in the style of prog rock - an idiom that the organist adopted with such success that he began to work with the guitarist Steve Hackett, founder member of Genesis. Since first meeting Hackett in 2008, Lo Muscio has made many transcriptions of prog rock classics (by Genesis and others) in a parallel career to his own compositions. The two careers intersect here with Horizons, written by Hackett in 1972 for the Genesis album Foxtrot, and itself derived from the Prelude to Bach's G major Cello Suite. In 2009 Lo Muscio composed his own Meditations on Horizons, which transforms elements of Hackett's piece with a habanera rhythm Having established a career as a pianist with a speciality in the music of Bach (as winner of the 1995 J. S. Bach International Piano Competition), Andrea Padova has attracted international praise for his performances and recordings. His performance of the Goldberg Variation has won glowing encomia The Washington Post wrote that he 'conveys the sen

Album Tracks 1. Samba Arc 2. Brasiliana 3. Mal-Me-Quer 4. Banzo 5. Pomba Voou 6. Aquela Beleza 7. Todo Amor Que Houver Nessa Vida 8. Bombachudo 9. Penhor 10. Melodias Para Katja 11. Brasil Não Seremos Jamais, Ou Seremos? 12. Amazon Journey, Part 1 13. Lambada de Bahia 14. Marinheiro 15. Liberdade 16. Poxa 17. 21-String Samba 18. Angola Dream 19. Guerreiras Da Paz 20. O Amanha

This album clearly harks back to the influences that inspired the original Brit Funk bands. The Brit Funk Association have drawn heavily on the giants of the golden age of music that inspired the sounds of the original Light of the World, Beggar & Co and Hi Tension. There are clear musical references to bands like Kool & The Gang, The Blackbyrds and The Crusaders as well as two stellar versions of the classics in InchPick Up The PiecesInch by The Average White Band and a magnificent rendition of the anthemic InchAlways ThereInch. The album also highlights the musical prowess of the band members with some excellent solos in the tradition of some of the finest contemporary musicians around. InchAncestral VoicesInch is an apt title as the band take also reflect on some of the fantastic music that has driven the genre of jazz funk and soul through the years, sterling brass, driving rhythms. These are on display along with one or two more introspective tracks such as the title track with it's tight vocal harmonies. InchAncestral VoicesInch clearly shows The Brit Funk Association at the top of their game, tracks from the album already going down a storm at their live shows. Album Tracks 1. Let It Flow (5.21) 2. Pick Up the Pieces (3.39) 3. Take It in Stages (Write Those Pages) (3 58) 4. Angel Eyes (6 01) 5. Ancestral Voices (4 51) 6. Freedom' Dancin' (5 40) 7. Always There (5 30) 8. Driftin' (4 12) 9. Snowfall (7 05) 10. Elevation (3 48)