MIKE McGINNIS With KYOKO KITAMURA / JASON KAO HWANG / SEAN MORAN / SARA SCHOENBECK / HARRIS EISENSTADT et al -

Angsudden Song Cycle [LP + CD]

Over the past years, I have been noticing the work of
local reeds player, Mike McGinnis more and more. He is a member of
crafty but under-recognized Four Bags, as well as collaborating with
Rob Reddy and Sean Moran. McGinnis also had an earlier CD on the RKM
label which I found recently and thought was pretty great. For this
disc, Mr. McGinnis has put together a fine octet of Downtowners whose
names you should recognize (like Schoenbeck, Eisenstadt & Kitamura).

  'Angsudden Song Cycle' was recorded on my birthday (6/19/12) a
year ago and sounds like McGinnis has put a great deal of work into
composing this work. All of the instruments are acoustic, superbly
recorded and the sound is most exquisite. Ms. Kitamura, who has sung
here at DMG on several occasions with Ras Moshe, uses her soft,
charming voice selectively speaking and singing skeletal story. I
love the way blend of the clarinet, acoustic guitars, bassoon,
strings and percussion sounds, consistently enchanting. There is a
section where the bassoon and vocals play together and actually sound
like the same instrument. I love that this music is in between
categories, sort of chamber jazz but really it is unique.

-Bruce Gallanter

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