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Billy Childs Ensemble: Lyric: Jazz-Chamber Music Vol. 1
ByThe harmonic layering that unfolds throughoutvia the harp/piano/acoustic guitar mixhas an unusual and unusually lush and beautiful feeling beneath the classical colors of the ensemble. All the tunes here are Childs originals, except for Paul Simon's "Scarborough Faire," a lilting, gentle, melodically subtle tune that typifies the sound on Lyric. The set is full of low-key melodies that wander a bitthe opener, "Carson's Eyes," contains a drifting Childs piano solo characterized by his light touch, a dash of daring, and a penchant for unalloyed melodic beauty.
Lyric is one of those discs that probably won't appeal to listeners who insist that their music fit into well-defined categories, or people who haven't accepted the jazz "with strings" genreand they are the poorer for it. Like last year's offering by Charlie Haden, Land of the Sun, Billy Childs concerns himself more on Lyric with the creation of beautiful sounds than fitting them into a box. And he succeeds.
Following Maria Schneider's lead with ArtistShare, Lyric is being sold only at Billy Child's web site.
Track Listing
In Carson's Eyes' Goodbye, Friend; Into the Light; Prelude in Bb Major; The Old Man Tells His Story; Hope, in the Face of Despair; Scarborough Fair; Quiescence; American Landscape.
Personnel
Billy Childs: piano; Larry Koonse: nylon-string and steel-string acoustic guitar; Bob Sheppard: soprano sax, alto sax, alto flute, Bb clarinet; Carol Robbins: harp; Scott Colley: acoustic bass (1,2,4-6,8); Brian Blade: drums (1,2,5-8); Jimmy Johnson: electric bass (3,7,9); Marvin
Album information
Title: Lyric: Jazz-Chamber Music Vol. 1 | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Lunacy Music
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