Wed Oct 04, 2006
Kathakali Dance Piece mp3 for podcast playlist
Kathakali Dance Piece, playlist format
Kathakali Dance Piece, download
keeping podcast pingers happy.
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Thu Mar 23, 2006
The latest Bhangra/metal/funk demos
1. The "Curtis Mayfield visits the Punjab" remix
A more balanced version of last year's early foray. A straight ahead Bhangra loop courtesy Bally Sagoo and some heavy alt/post-grunge guitar are the backbone for an almost Iommi-esque leadline - but the dig the funky wah rhythm guitar part as well:
Bhangra Demo 1, March 2006 remix, playlist format
Bhangra Demo 1, March 2006 remix, download
2. Hindustani Art-Rock demo
I did all the drum programming on this one, as best I could - nothing will beat a live drummer for this stuff, though. Fretless and fretted electric guitars, keyboard bass ( as is all the bass throughout these samples).
2 solos on the fretless, apart from the melodic line, which as in most of these demos - is meant to hint at what a singer might do. Tends to evoke a Rush or late led Zep feel.
Art-Rock demo, playlist format
Art-Rock demo, download
3. Adana
Sarod, Bally Sagoo loop, and a perky bass line. This is what the alap - see previous post - would feed into.
Bhangra Demo 2, Adana, playlist format
Bhangra Demo 2, Adana, download
4. Oud intro
sets up the next piece.
Oud Intro to Number 3, playlist format
Oud Intro to Number 3, download
5. Bhangra 3, "Heavy"
Oud, fretless and fretted electric guitars. Bally Sagoo loop. A fairly crushing tune - I was probably thinking of Led Zep and a touch of Alice in Chains.
Bhangra Demo 3,"Heavy", playlist format
Bhangra Demo 3, "Heavy", download
6. Raag Marwa "Isaac Hayes goes to India"
from last year, more balanced. If Isaac Hayes learned to work with this more mysterious of ragas, it may sound something like this. After a short alap, it moves into a wacka-wacka retro guitar and an ethereal recurring floating line to frame the main guitar work. I layered two drum loops on this, one of Sagoo's and another of my own creation.
Raag Marwa, playlist format
Raag Marwa, download
Also see last year's "Blood in the Sand":
playlist format
download
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Tue Jun 28, 2005
press photos
For press use, here are set of thumbnails of current Sama' Duo photos, with a link to the high res (300 dpi) version next to each. Feel free to email me if there is any trouble!
NEW:
from Outpost Perfomance Space, April 27, 2007. Download high res version
from High Mayhem Festival, Santa Fe, 2004. Download high res version
MSD, The Teahouse, August 2004. Download high res version
Jefferson Voorhees, Teahouse, August 2004. Download high res version
Taos#3, June 2005. Download high res version
Taos#4, June 2005. Download high res version
Taos#5, June 2005. Download high res version
Travel Bug, March 2005. Download high res version
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Sun Jun 05, 2005
avant flamenco - duo/w Ramon Lopez (post for podcast)
ramon5.mp3
ramon7.mp3
ramon9.mp3
ramon12.mp3
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Fri Jun 03, 2005
the recent mp3s for podcast
Kirwani0513
Blood In The Sand
Viraha0513
Apparently podcast ping sites like to have the links at the very top, so here, once again are these latest.
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Thu Jun 02, 2005
Everything all at once (quick list of music samples)
Oud, flamenco, sarod, electric - where can you find it all in one roof?
For those who want a consolidated locale to find some music examples, I offer this succinct post.
Oud:
Barakah - from 0408
A happy, joyous piece, on oud - Barakah means "blessings" in Arabic.
playlist format
download
God's Mirrors, from 0128
A tight little number in 7, with a Turkish feel to it.
playlist format
download
Sarod:
Kirwani, from 0513
This piece seems to have a poignant, smoldering quality about it.
playlist format
download
Love, from 0328
A tender, simple piece.
playlist format
download
Flamenco:
Last Home (2002)
A minor Key alegrias, alternating between Iraqi oud and guitar.
playlist format
download
Hijo (1997) (
A gentle melody, for sons and fathers everywhere, and the love, lessons, and inspirations they give each other. Por mineras.
playlist format
download
Electric:
Blood In The Sand,0530
Recorded just days ago, this shows the fretless guitar in a fairly raw environment. Power chords morph into sarod-inflected birds squalling as they fly over a Mississippi porch.
playlist format
download
More samples are certainly available, if you need or want to hear anything else ... explore the site, or else post a comment and I'll be happy to direct you.
Enjoy!
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the first mp3 for the fretless
As you've probably read on the other blog, I acquired a fretless electric earlier in the year. My initial reactions were posted on the old blog:
The whole articulation of it, and the resultant timbral qualities that generate, is very unique. Subtle shades from across the aural spectrum linger on the fringes of consciousness, ghostly sonic subliminal imprints: bottleneck slide, reverse tape (that classic 'backwards effect'), vina, and trombone. Soundtracks from deep dreaming seem to emanate from this instrument.
The most intriguing possibility is doing beautiful glisses in melody voice leading between chords; this will be a serious challenge to nail down accurately, as you have to hold the rest of the chord stationary. It worked beautifully in a couple of spots with Nacha last night, though, and definitely an avenue worth exploring.
Many thanks are in order: to Uwe Salwender, U.S. distributor, for scoring me this on such short notice! to Jeff Berg, webmaster of unfretted.com, and all the regulars there; and of course to Patrice Vigier, luthier.
Also to my musical colleague J. A. Deane (aka Dino) for urging me to make this logical progression, and especially to my wife, who, as CFO of the house, gave the blessing for its acquisition (that in turn allows a thank you also to Brad at After Midnight guitars for selling the previous electric to make this one possible).
I still love it. It can sound elegant and somber with the Duo where I tend to go for lush, slightly chorused clean tones for thsi axe (well suited and an interesting timbral choice to try dowmn the road, a stricter classical Indian approach). That said, it 'puts out' well in a raw, full-bore rock mode - very intriguing feedback possibilities.
I've yet to come up with some satisfactory documentation, however. Jeff Berg offered me a slot on their upcoming compilation CD of fretless guitarists, but didnt have anything quite ready.
That's changed.
Recorded just 2 days ago (how's that for trying to be more timely!) with my wife's cousin Craig Sears on hand percussion, here's an excerpt from a more extended jam which seems to be developing into a full-born piece. Direct to minidisc, and added the bass via a low-tech keyboard the next day. Surprisingly little guitar tweakage needed, left the mastering EQs absolutely untouched - the rebuilt Silvertone amp sings beatifully when driven hard.
Blood In The Sand came out with a raw intense vibe, to my ears. Dubya's continuing blunder of horrors should be sufficient explanation for the title.
Brace youreself, but enjoy!
Blood In The Sand:
playlist format
download
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New travel bug mp3s - give your feedback!
Two more samples, from the last installment at Travel Bug on May 13. Its'a lot looser, freer, more conversational - see what you think:
Kirwani, from 0513:
playlist format
download
Viraha, from 0513:
playlist format
download
Jeff and I think we have enough by now for a reasonable demo - the question is, which versions do we send out/ what's the best representation? Please post comments here, as we really need your input. I'm looking for your thoughts on the best /most interesting performances - not necessarily recording quality. The quality is OK for what we want to do with it, at this stage.
Compare these May 13 renditions with the versions in the previous post below (and there's still two versions of "Love" there that we also can't decide on).
Thanks for helping us put our best foot forward!
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Wed May 04, 2005
The best of Travel Bug on mp3: your thoughts?
Ive finally edited down what i feel to be some of our best work so far for the duo, and would like to share it with you. Im eager to get feedback, good or bad, don't be shy!
Barakah - from 0408 playlist format
download
A happy, joyous piece, on oud - Barakah means "blessings" in Arabic.
raag Kirwani - from 0408 playlist format
download This one will be titled, but im still meditating for the right one. Suggestions?
Kirwani is similar to the western harmonic minor. The piece seems to have an intense, poignant quality about it.
Viraha, from 0408 playlist format
download
Viraha is the Hindavi term for the classic Sufi concept of the pain of separation from the Beloved. The piece is loosely based on raag Bhairavi, which usually holds a similar mood.
God's Mirrors, from 0128 playlist format
download
This tune had a few possible versions to submit, but the general tone and execution and the rather tightly symmetrical improvisation made this particular rendition worth sharing. Compare it to the Trio versions on that page.
Love, from 0328 playlist format
download
Love, from 0422 playlist format
download
Finally I have two versions of this tender ballad - like piece. Here's where I could really use feedback, as i'm not sure which one to include on some demos I need to mail out soon.
Which do you think is the more compelling performance - and why? im not looking for technical things such as room noise, etc - i want to know, in spite of that, which of these two versions do you find more interesing, more compelling?
Thanks for your help, and enjoy the tunes!
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