Andreas Vollenweider

Andreas Vollenweider's 1984 effort White Winds, subtitled "Seeker's Journey," features the composer's modified electric harp in pieces that are much more experimental than what would later emerge as the prevailing sound of new age. A brief introduction features the lapping of a boat in a slip, but it soon fades into the angular forays of "Hall of the Stairs," which itself drifts into the more conventional ethno-jazz of "Hall of the Mosaics (Meeting You)." Vollenweider's harp is joined by full percussion and a bank of synthesizers for "The Glass Hall (Choose the Crystal)," breaking the song down to showcase the unique sound of his instrument. Even when it's accessing the soothing tones of new age, White Winds seems to lie closer to contemporary jazz instrumentalism, as the repeated phrasing of these songs suggests…

A selection of live concerts from all over the world, from the early 80s until 2007. It is an interesting time document, highlighting the many stages of development of the Andreas Vollenweider & Friends project over 25 years.
Andreas Vollenweider was one of the few musicians to gain superstar status as a "new age artist" back when the term was first used as a marketing category in the mid-'80s. The Swiss harpist, however, quickly transcended the need for alternative record sales when his albums simultaneously broached Billboard's pop, jazz, and classical charts in 1986.

Eolian Minstrel is Andreas Vollenweider's debut SBK Records release and the long awaited followup to his 1991 #1 NAC and jazz album, Book of Roses. Andreas plays a harp, but one that has been modified to produce an extraordinary range of sounds. A damper which he designed himself allows him to strum and pluck with more crispness and percussive attack. A microphone attached to each string allows for greater articulation of individual notes, and hand-made strings further define his unique sonorities. This recording is Andreas' most daring album to date and for the first time features guest vocalists, such as Carly Simon and Eliza Gilkyson.

Andreas Vollenweider's Grammy-winning effort is dominated by the Swiss musician's electrically modified harp. Its distinctive sound runs throughout the album, supported by the usual tinkering synthesizer effects and light percussion. After an extended introductory interlude, the title track zips into a vaguely Caribbean-styled rhythm. "Water Moon" features a different, more organic harp sound; it's mixed with the windy tones of a flute, suggesting ghostly moonshafts lancing through falling rain. Vollenweider plays the harp strings off of guitar strings on the surprisingly twangy (for new age, anyway) "Drown in Pale Light." The composer weaves the album's instrumentals together with a goody bag of pan-ethnic influences; the album's margins are full of these little touches that nevertheless make a big difference. Down to the Moon will appeal to anyone looking for music that's as interesting as it is soothing.

Selections from "Trilogy", "Down to the Moon", "Dancing with the Lion", "The Book of Roses" and "Eolian Minstrel", performed live by Vollenweider and his collaborators in concert tours from 1992 through 1994. This 2-CD set also includes an additional nine tracks of previously unreleased material done in a similar style to the cuts on the aforementioned albums - a wonderful bonus for fans of vintage Vollenweider. It's nice to hear the in-concert variations and improvisations of old favorites, and how gratifying also to hear all the live cheers and applause for this truly amazing artist and his repertoire of uniquely fascinating compositions.