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A new release
LE GECKO
Stafford JAMES (bass & compositions)
Don ALIAS (percussion)
Gene JACKSON
(drums)
Emil SPANYI (keyboards)
To order
please contact me
by email, including your name, address, and quantities.
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"Le Gecko", which has a tuning of
A=442.0, starts with the rubato melody of "AU CAP
BéNAT
". It is written for the specific strokes one down and two up,
then reversed. The object is not to hear the stroke movement. The Calypso rhythm
provides the momentum for the melody to make the melodic statement.
The second
composition LE GECKO
is the title song of the CD. The melody is best
articulated starting on the E flat above the harmonic D on the D string. The
harmonic movement is chromatic and has the cadence ending C7 to D flat major 7
flat 5 going back to F major. The strokes are 3 to 1 starting on down with
mid-bow articulation. This is an excellent stroke for the melodic articulation
and solo because of the reverberative projection of the stroke.
GAIA was
written for tip or upper third articulation with a two in one bow stroke. Don
Alias plays the seven layers of the guan guanco to symbolize the Earth Goddess.
CRISTALLISSIME was written to show how the two sides of pizzicato and arco
reflect each other on the instrument. The strokes are all separated strokes
which make the intervals of the double stops ring clearly.
CHANGING WORLD - Our world today
GOOD NEWS A COMIN'- WHEN AND HOW
was written
for the drummer to play only mallets to set the dark mood of the
piece.
ESPOIR- was initially written for the famine victims of Ethiopia as
part of the ETHIOPIA SUITE. The meter is in 14/8 and is subdivided into two
phrases of 8/8 and 6/8. The bridge is in 4/4. The strokes are two by two in the
14/8 section and single strokes for the bridge. The Spiccato is saved for the
end with the rubato melody. This was first recorded in New York with the
Orchestra of St. Luke's and choreographed for 10 dancers.
KISSES AND RAINBOWS
- this composition is ALL about strokes and jumping out of the position
to make the next interval. The melody is best articulated mid-bow and tip as the
frog takes away the flow of the line.
TONGUE AND CHEEK is justly written for
the frog of the bow to the mid. A meaty sound is required .
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