FEATURED THIS WEEK:
Tuesday, September 6, 2005
AINE MINOGUE: MEDITATIONS AND LAMENTATIONS
Irish harpist and singer Aine Minogue is a scholar of fairytales, myths and legends from the Emerald Isle, but her music is anything but academic. She mixes her Celtic harp and fragile soprano voice in songs heavy with atmosphere and mood. On her latest CD, CELTIC LAMENTATIONS,(Sounds True) she explores the Irish keening, a special kind of lament. Aine Minogue talks about Celtic Lamentations and Meditations.
Wednesday, September 7, 2005
THE ECHOES CD OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER: JEFF OSTER: RELEASED
Jeff Oster is a flugelhorn player with a taste for the ambient, and he explores it in all its lush electro-orchestral glory on his debut CD, RELEASED. Produced by Windham Hill founder and guitarist, Will Ackerman, who also plays on the disc, Oster is joined by pianist Philip Aaberg and singer Happy Rhodes on a series of reflective tone poems ranging from pastoral ambience to deep lounge chill. It's the Echoes September CD of the Month.
Thursday September 8, 2005
A LIVINGROOM CONCERT WITH BAKA BEYOND
Baka Beyond has been creating a musical roadway between the British Isles and West Africa since their 1993 debut, SPIRIT OF THE FOREST(Hannibal). The band fuses pygmy chants, songs, rhythms and melodies with Celtic songs, instruments, rhythms and melodies in an often magical and infectious brew. They've just released a new CD called RHYTHM TREE (March Hare Music) and will be touring the states in September. Baka Beyond came to Echoes and brought some spirit of the forest to the Echoes Living Room when they play live.
Friday, September 9, 2005
SALLY POTTER: DIRECTOR AS MUSICIAN
Most film directors hire composers for their films. But British director Sally Potter often scores her own movies. Sally Potter is known for idiosyncratic films like ORLANDO, THE MAN WHO CRIED and THE TANGO LESSON, each of which boasts music by the director herself. Her latest movie is YES, starring Joan Allen and Sam Neill. The YES score (Sony Classical) mixes music from Philip Glass, Tom Waits and classical music along with her own textural pieces. Sally Potter talks about a musician's approach to film making.