By German guitarist Ottmar Liebert I have stand-alone cds: Nouveau Flamingo (1990), Borrasca (1991), Solo Para Ti (1991), The Hours Between Night + Day (1993). He’s classified as new age but for me is more ‘interesting’ than that label. An amazing acoustic guitarist his playing is precise, emotionally appealing & rarely sleep inducing – sleepy is what ‘new age’ implies to me. His sound is consistent through the cds I have & this there is a predictability to the music but it always a welcome presence. The lps become progressively more reflective & less flamingo. If you are unfamiliar Nouveau Flamingo is a great start.
Another fine acoustic guitarist is Brazil’s Romero Lubambo. I have his as part of Trio da Paz’s Black Orpheus (1994), & his solo Lubambo (1999). Both are amazing latino jazz with a touch of folk. The Black Orpheus is an incredible reworking of that sound track. The original soundtrack is also sensational & was responsible for the rise of world music – the film is also amazing. The Trio is joined by the likes of Herbie Mann in their exploration of the soundtrack. His solo work is less folksy, more jazzy & timeless. Very different from the Liebert treatment of latino music – not as slick. Some of it moves from jazz into contemporary classical. Both of these are worth searching out.
Now we come to Hawaiian Arthur Lyman. I have The Best Of 1996 (compilation): American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. His group popularized a style of faux-Polynesian music during the 1950s and 1960s which later became known as exotica. Exotica is a fun blend of cocktail piano jazz with jungle sound effects – bird, monkeys – plus percussion. Songs would have titles like Sleepy Village Sunset.
Lyman came by his faux by being real a Hawaiian. His piano playing is thoughtful & easy but don’t mistake it for gimmick. He influenced Dave Brubeck & countless other more serious jazz pianists. Exotica itself spilled over into what became World Music. Countless groups, from Santana to Pink Floyd, also used sound effects so the Lyman influence transcend his niche. Try him you won’t be disappointed.
Arts und Krafts
Kind readers, one thing your reporter neglected to mention in my wee report yesterday was the Christmas Arts und Krafts display at St. Sufferer’s Cathedral’s Fun Fair. Like many of you I have seen my share of knitted booties for rifle stocks and candle holders made out of moose dung but there were some unexpectedly fine pieces from the near by College of Arts and Reconstructionist Designers of Palmixalitato County.
I am well aware of the rivalry that has been going on between the students in that county and our own but remember we did trounce them the last three years in the Provincial Open Court Peach Pit Curling Play Off. So we can afford to allow them to excel at something and excel they did at the Fun Fair.
There were the many charming crystallized bones pieces from the Anatomy of Design classes there. I was particularly taken by the crystallized moose bone reproductions of the Departments of the Cross that one Leslie-Ann Marie-Betty McDellon had created.
I can’t imagine what sort of skill it takes to do such fine work but I can certainty respect the work that it took.
Also many were charmed by the spiderwood furniture Gregh O’Treple has wrought there. A sturdy eight legged rocking chair with a fine webbed seat and back was very comfortable to sit in for long periods of time. He hopes to follow in the family footsteps and may be opening his own furniture and restraints shoppe right here in Crab Apple Corners. He will surely be missed in Palmixalitato County. But their misery is always our gain.
Another feature of the Fun Fair that cannot be neglected was the food pavilion. Over 20,000 were seated at one time for a fine feeding of Trish Creamly’s delicious sprung bark toffee pie. Trish you have out done yourself this year. Just save that recipe for my wedding reception. I know if you keep your hands on the crust you’ll keep them off my man – just kidding folks.
The children at the Fun Fair were also treated to a production by the local Armature Theatre Guild. They performed tragic scenes from various plays. The beheading of John the Baptist brought the crowd to their feet and kudos must go to Hank Grebly who did a fine job in the title role of that piece.
TOpoet 