Terry Riley Curved

After Terry Riley's revolutionary In C, it certainly never seemed that the compositionally brash cofounder of the minimalist movement would take on a lyrical bent. But that's what he's done on this collection of pieces for violin, guitar, and percussion. Violinist Tracy Silverman and guitarist David Tanenbaum play warmly and sublimely on Cantos Desiertos, finding pristine melodies and high, arching curves around which to spread their finesse. Tanenbaum gets unbelievably rich tones from his guitar, and his range is the one consistent ingredient throughout these pieces. He duets with Riley's son Gyan, himself an accomplished guitarist, on "Zamorra" and with percussionist William Winant on Dias de los Muertos. Winant's marimba and gongs are especially appropriate for Tanenbaum's resonant string work, fluctuating from an absolute crispness to a milky froth. Where Riley's chamber works, such as Salome Dances for Peace, are intensely rhythmic, these works veer much more stealthily toward a kind of glorious flowering, even if the blooms are in dusky colors and muted, curvy patterns.

Terry Riley, known for his masterpieces such as "A Rainbow in Curved Air" and "in C," currently resides in Japan. His long-awaited new album was recorded in Kobuchizawa, Yamanashi Prefecture, just after his arrival in Japan in early spring of 2008, before he decided to move there. The new album is titled "Terry Riley STANDARD(S)AND -Kobuchizawa Sessions #1-" (SHIGERU-001) and consists of Jazz standards and original compositions, colored with a wide range of sounds of dense and delicate piano and psychedelic synthesizers. This album is a masterpiece that vividly records his essence as an "improviser. Of the ten tracks, six are cover songs and four are original compositions. During his stay in Paris as a young man, he became familiar with Jazz standards, which led him to this cover work. He is 88 years old. We cannot take our eyes off this living legendary artist!

Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of a new clamshell boxed set featuring all four of Curved Air’s classic albums recorded between 1970 and 1973. “The Albums” features newly remastered versions of “Air Conditioning”, “Second Album”, “Phantasmagoria” and “Air Cut”, along with bonus tracks ‘It Happened Today’ (single version), ‘What Happens When You Blow Yourself Up’ and ‘Sarah’s Concern’, all originally issued as singles.
Originally issued on the Warner Bros. label in November 1970, “Air Conditioning” showcased the highly innovative talents of Sonja Kristina (vocals), ex-Royal College of Music student Darryl Way (violin), former Royal Academy of Music student Francis Monkman (electric guitar, piano, mellotron, VCS3 synthesiser), Rob Martin (bass) and Florian Pilkington-Miksa (drums)…

Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of a new clamshell boxed set featuring all four of Curved Air’s classic albums recorded between 1970 and 1973. “The Albums” features newly remastered versions of “Air Conditioning”, “Second Album”, “Phantasmagoria” and “Air Cut”, along with bonus tracks ‘It Happened Today’ (single version), ‘What Happens When You Blow Yourself Up’ and ‘Sarah’s Concern’, all originally issued as singles.
Originally issued on the Warner Bros. label in November 1970, “Air Conditioning” showcased the highly innovative talents of Sonja Kristina (vocals), ex-Royal College of Music student Darryl Way (violin), former Royal Academy of Music student Francis Monkman (electric guitar, piano, mellotron, VCS3 synthesiser), Rob Martin (bass) and Florian Pilkington-Miksa (drums)…

Minimalist composer Terry Riley premiered his work 'In C' in 1964, a big influence on minimalism in contemporary composition and on subsequent works by composers like Philip Glass, Steve Reich and John Adams. 1967’s 'A Rainbow In Curved Air' and its companion piece 'Poppy Nogood And The Phantom Band' – both mixing repetition, electronics and tape-manipulation – were often performed in marathon, trance-inducing performances, and Riley was regarded a cult musician in avantgarde rock music circles. This 2-CD set presents two radio sessions recorded 1975 in Cologne, newly remastered from the original tapes for optimal sound.

PERSIAN SURGERY DERVISHES is Terry Riley at his best. This is intensive, energetic, hypnotic, trance-inducing sound for strange people. It lacks the polish of A RAINBOW IN CURVED AIR and SHRI CAMEL, but maintains a similar style. That style is Riley alone at his organ playing away as if there were no future and no past, only an eternal now which is a river of ever-changing sound.