a r t i s t : Exploding Star Orchestra
t i t l e : We Are All from Somewhere Else-
d a t e : 2007
l a b e l : Thrill Jockey
g e n r e : Other
r l s. d a t e : Dec/2006
t r a c k s : 10
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 78,4 MB
_______________________________________________________________________
Exploding Star Orchestra:
In 2005, cornetist Rob Mazurek was approached by The Chicago
Cultural Center and the Jazz Institute to put together a group
that would represent the more contemporary / avant-garde side
of sound in Chicago for a concert in Millennium ParkÆs Frank
Gehry-designed concert hall. The music was
conceptualized/composed in Manaus Brazil, Fontevraud, France
and Chicago, and developed over more than a dozen performances
of the Orchestra before it was recorded by John McEntire at
his Soma Studio in Chicago.
We Are All From Somewhere Else is comprised of 3 distinct
sections, and corresponds to a story involving an exploding
star, cosmic transformation, a sting ray, the travels of the
sting ray, intelligent conversations with electric eels, the
destructive power of humans, the death and ascension of sting
ray, the transformation of sting ray ghost to flying bird, and
the transformation of bird to phoenix to rocket to flying
burning matter to a new-born star.
Says Mazurek, ôI could clearly see and hear the events as a
kind of animated adult/childrenÆs story that could be
presented in book or video form. In the end you have a poem
text based on the original story line that is then flipped
backwards to reveal another perspective on the poem. The
flipped text was orchestrated by Portuguese video artist and
conceptualist Joao Simoes, while I was in Lisbon making final
preparations for the release of this recording.ö
As the arrangements of the parts of the pieces came together
it became more and more evident that Nicole MitchellÆs flutes
would play a major role in the realization of the music. That
said the intent of the music is not to featuring individual
players (although this very well could have featured any
individual in the group, as they are all very strong soloists
and improvisers) it is more about the projection of a certain
sound pertaining to imagination and the trajectory of the
sound as movement in time and space, weaving patterns and
non-patterns around and inside the idea of the poem. The
overall organic approach included actual organic sounds - for
example, the sounds of electric eels recorded by Mazurek at
INPA research laboratory in Manaus. The juxtaposition of two
drums, two basses, two mallets, multiple flutes, two cornets,
bass clarinet, ARP synthesizer, guitar, trombone, voices and
flugelhorn all played important roles in the development of
the final sound.
ôPsycho-Tropic Electric Eel Dreamö is a group improvisation
centered around the sound of electric eels. The electric eel
tanks Mazurek recorded at INPA contain two species of eels,
Pulsating and Waveform. The sound was recorded in a special
tank of 15-20 eels of various sub-species, each with its own
tone. The results are fascinating tonal clusters not unlike
the sound of violins. This track reveals the beauty of these
fine creatures and juxtaposes our improvisation with them, and
concludes with spoken word by Rob Mazurek (ôRobert Ashley was
in my head during this partö), some ARP by Jim Baker and some
final cascades of NicoleÆs flute, which was snuck into the
recording on the bass amp mic sitting in the hallway while
Nicole was playing in another room. ôBlack Sunö features Jim
BakerÆs lovely piano playing. ôThis piece was originally
written for the great French pianist Jeanne-Pierre Armengaud,ö
says Mazurek, ôwho I had the pleasure of working with at
Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud in France during my residency
there.ö What you hear is JimÆs emotionally charged and
understated improvisation on the theme of the composition. The
sound corresponds perfectly to the text/poem of the recording
in which the death of the stingray is a new re-birth of the
bird and eventually a new star.
ôCosmic Tomesö starts out with storm sounds from the Amazon
reversed. The powerful first section reveals a wide-open
improvisation on a specific theme and then deconstructed
through 3 harmonic centers. The Cornet is that of composer and
leader Mazurek. Corey WilkesÆ poignant flugelhorn plays an
important role within the center of the piece and for a moment
he takes off in a more grand gesture. The song then melts into
the second part of this suite; repeated lines based on the
last harmonic chord of the first section find the bass taking
the lead and Matt BauderÆs two tenor parts and bass clarinet
part playing a major role. One hears Jeff ParkerÆs guitar, Jeb
Bishop`s trombone, Josh Berman`s cornet, Matt Lux`s electric
bass, Jim Baker`s modified piano, Nicole Mitchell`s flute, and
some excellent cutting, filtering post-production work by John
McEntire. Part 3 of ôCosmic Tomesö is meant as a kind of
prayer or meditation on the idea of unity in the
world/universe.
ô15 Ways of Looking at a Finite Universeö is a quick piece
inspired by the Anna Levine book ôHow the Universe got its
Spotsö, and catapults the recording into the last piece, ôpart
5,ö In which we travel back to space, birthing or re-birthing
new galaxies. Nicole MitchellÆs flute floats over the thick
harmonics with Matt Bauder`s bass clarinet doubling the bass
of Matt Lux and Jason Ajemian, creating the foundation for the
sweet melodic interplay.
The Exploding Star Orchestra is, for this recording:
Rob Mazurek û Composer, Director Cornet, Electronics
Nicole Mitchell û Flutes, Voice
Jeb Bishop - Trombone
Corey Wilkes - Flugelhorn
Josh Berman - Cornet
Matt Bauder - Bass Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
Jeff Parker - Guitar
Jim Baker û Piano, ARP Synthesizer, Pianette
Jason Adasiewicz - Vibraphone
John McEntire û Marimba, Tubular Bells, Edits, Recording
Engineer
Matt Lux - Electric Bass Guitar
Jason Ajemian - Acoustic Bass
Mike Reed û Drums, Percussion, Saw
John Herndon - Drums
All compositions, arrangements, text and concepts are by Rob
Mazurek unless otherwise noted.
_______________________________________________________________________
01-String Ray and The Beginning Of Time, Pt. 1 [11:41]
02-String Ray and The Beginning Of Time, Pt. 2 [02:09]
03-String Ray and The Beginning Of Time, Pt. 3 [07:49]
(Psycho-Tropic Electric Eel Dream)
04-String Ray and The Beginning Of Time, Pt. 4 [04:41]
05-Black Sun [03:08]
06-Cosmic Tomes For Sleep Walking Lovers, Pt. 1 [04:52]
07-Cosmic Tomes For Sleep Walking Lovers, Pt. 2 [04:31]
08-Cosmic Tomes For Sleep Walking Lovers, Pt. 3 [06:33]
09-Cosmic Tomes For Sleep Walking Lovers, Pt. 4 [00:11]
(Fifteen Ways Towards A Finite Universe)
10-Cosmic Tomes For Sleep Walking Lovers, Pt. 5 [05:20]
-------
50:55 min