Noise of Choice

Collection Contents

#		Title	Length
1		The Blue Cruise	6:50	Play
2		Processionist	9:37	Play
3		Moon of Maroon	4:01	Play
4		Evening Dream	5:30	Play
5		Elephant's Memory	10:07	Play
6		Crazy Eight	4:35	Play
7		Mark 4	6:08	Play
8		Kesh	5:22	Play
9		Owed to Bo	5:16	Play
10		Taj	6:12	Play

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Description	Amount
Bitmunk Marketplace Service	USD $0.98
CD Baby Artist Royalty	USD $5.97
CD Baby 9% Digital Distribution Cost	USD $0.54
Bitmunk Download Service	USD $0.82
Bitmunk MicroPayment Service	USD $0.01
Total	USD $8.30

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Description

I love drumming. I've played and composed a lot of music for dance, and many of my works, including several from this CD, have been used as a basis for dances by a great number of professional and college level choreographers. My background is wide, made up of classical western musical experience and training, a lot of drum set playing in bands, years spent studying Indian music and tabla, and a well practiced "by ear" approach to varius African Diaspora hand drums. I play a lot of marimba as well.

I like to make music that functions well in a variety of situations. It's ideal if the listener is only listening, but the reality is that this is only one possibility among many. I like the idea of a CD being a useful, well designed tool in the household, like a nice lamp, or a good sharp knife.

Over the centuries and from one culture to another, music has been put together combining some elements that are consistent and steady, and some that change more rapidly. Such music is inherently satisfying, because it's the model we wish to have in our lives. Sure we crave variety, but how would you like never sleeping in the same bed at night? A lot of the music I make is based on this model. It's not so much about self expression as it is about accessing energy from the world and beyond, but with more inherent edge and intelligence than some new age music that basically just puts you to sleep. Mozart, Bach, mbira music from Zimbabwe and Indian classical music are all good examples of this type of music.


NOISE OF CHOICE consists of ten works, divided into two sets. The one thing I miss about LP records is that the music was organized into two sides, and this CD reflects this thinking. The first five works are for marimba, with some percussion overdubbing. My style of marimba playing is influenced by such African instrumental traditions as kora and m'bira. The following set is for the softer types of hand drums such as tabla and frame drums. One piece uses just a spaghetti pot and a five gallon water jug, enhanced by rhythmic vocalizations. Mark Stuart, now with Paul Simon's band, adds a beautiful track
for mandicello, and Phillip Hamilton of the Pat Metheny band contributes a stunning vocal.

All of the tracks on Noise of Choice are rhythmic throughout. It's a versatile CD that is effective in the car, in dance technique class, for yoga, for little kids, and for parties, as well as for dedicated listening.