FEATURES FOR THE WEEK
Monday October 2, 2000 AXIOM OF CHOICE: MIDDLE EASTERN MYSTICISM Axiom of Choice is headed up by two Iranian musicians, singer Mamek Khadem and guitarist Loga Ramin Torkian. On their second album, NIYA YESH (Narada World) they orchestrate a sensual and mystical sound that mixes Torkian's quarter-tone flamenco/Persian guitar style with ambiences from India, percussion from the middle east and the darkly alluring voice of Khadem. Singing in Persian and with wordless vocals, her voice laces many of these songs with a dark mystery. In their Los Angeles store, surrounded by artifacts and antiques from the Middle East and Asia, they talk about their music.
Tuesday October 3, 2000 DEUTER: SONGS OF THE EARTH Deuter is a veteran of modern instrumental music. For 30 years he's been exploring a sound that ranges from ambient sound designs to the mostly lyrical of melodies. Mixing recorders, synthesizers, hammered dulcimers and other instruments, he presaged artists like Kitaro in creating an exotic world space music. Deuter recently released the album SUN SPIRIT (New Earth) He lives in Sante Fe now, but we talked with this German born composer a few years back when he was living in Maui. Deuter tells us about the car accident that changed his life and the evolution of his music.
Wednesday October 4, 2000 PETER ROSS: SHAKUHACHI WINDS The shakuhachi flute was born in the meditations of Japanese Zen Buddhism, but Seattle based musician Peter Ross has adapted the instrument to a more contemporary sound on albums like PRIMITIVE HEART (Cloud Hands). He adds in Indian percussion and covers compositions by John Coltrane. In his Seattle home, Peter Ross talks about his Shakuhachi winds.
Thursday October 5, 2000 A LIVING ROOM CONCERT WITH RICHARD LEO JOHNSON Richard Leo Johnson is a firebrand acoustic guitarist. He plays a double-necked acoustic guitar with 12 and 6 string courses and orchestrates a finger ballet on their strings. He's just released his second album, LANGUAGE, on the Blue Note label. Richard is among a new generation of acoustic players, expanding the range of their instruments and incorporating sounds from country blues to flamenco, jazz and beyond. This is a virtuoso performance not to be missed.