Bambino Nomad

Sound Dreams is an album of great relevance to me because it brings together my closest collaborators. For over 17 years I have shared with Ensemble NOMAD a professional career that includes the recording of two monographic CDs: Bestiario (Bestiary) and Pruebas de vida (Proofs of Life), released by Urtext Digital Classics in 2011 and 2015, respectively. My long lasting collaboration with guitarists Norio Sato and Pablo Garibay as well as with shakuhachi player Reison Kuroda, shamisen player Hidejiro Honjoh and koto player Maya Kimura has been equally enriching both personally and professionally. I am convinced that this recording possesses the cohesion and warmth that can only arise from a group of friends that have been playing/ creating music together for a long time.

Stephan Micus is a unique figure in music. In his numerous journeys all over the world he seeks to study and understand traditional instruments, the sounds that they produce and the cultures that brought them to life. He then composes original pieces for them, playing all the instruments himself and multi-tracking the compositions in many layers. In this way he combines instruments that would never normally be heard together, chosen from different cultures simply for their character, texture and sonic beauty. Micus’ music is profound, powerful and very original. Songlines magazine described his as “a one man universe of sound.” Nomad Songs is his 21st album for ECM.
While his last album Panagia was a meditative reflection around prayers to the Virgin Mary, this new one, Nomad Songs is more earthy and more vigorous.

Urban Nomad are an eclectic progressive rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. A quartet, the band consists of Will Neufeld (keyboards, vocals), Nick Rempel (guitar, vocals), Justin Kroeker (bass), and James Neufeld (drums). Formed around 2009, the band recorded their only release, a self-titled EP, over the course of 9 months, from October 2011 to June 2012. The EP was largely recorded independently as a home production, but nonetheless maintains the quality of a professional recording. Released in October 2012, the 30 minute long Urban Nomad sees the band playing an intricate yet melodic take on prog rock with heavy leanings into jazz fusion.

The Cowboy Junkies' 2012 collection The Nomad Series combines all of the releases the band recorded over an 18-month cycle and conceptualized around common but separate narratives. Included is 2010's Renmin Park, which featured songs built around loops, conversations, street performances, and found sounds recorded during guitarist/songwriter Michael Timmins' time adopting two children from China…

Like the Armenian merchants of the 17th century, Nomad Express contributes, with this record, to the meeting ant the cross-breeding of musical cultures coming from the Orient and the Occident.

Walking through nature, letting your mind wander, building an awareness of all things supporting life; and at the same time going with the rhythm of modern life, keeping up with the pace of cultural progress. It’s that old dichotomy which is displayed in the selection of Cubic Nomad’s fourth of his albums outside the club continuum (and sixth in total). Appearing more introvert than ever, there are two main storylines that alternate along the walk: Lost-in-reverie ambient pieces reflecting nature and sullen downbeat electronica with prominent shuffling rhythms. Throw in a couple of bemused piano instrumentals and new mixes of the two most recent adult pop tunes with vocalist Emma Susanne, and you sure will enjoy this 70 minutes magical walk…

Joined by percussionist Glen Velez and harmonica player Howard Levy, Larry Karush delivers a uniquely global take on piano jazz on Piano Crossroads – backed by hand drums and other instruments of Indian and African descent, he combines Eastern and Western musical traditions with real dexterity.