GA Russell Posted February 19, 2014 Report Posted February 19, 2014 A Bill Laswell production. For Immediate Release Please M.O.D. Technologies TO ISSUE FIRST EVER SOLO PIANO RECORDING BY BERNIE WORRELL ELEVATION The Upper Air AVAILABLE IN STORES AND ONLINE NOW! ABOUT THE LABEL - M.O.D. Technologies - revealing light on the development of new sound experiences in material culture. A multi-directional music / sound / information system. Initiated in 2010 by bassist / producer Bill Laswell and Giacomo Bruzzo, co-founder of the progressive / future music label RareNoise. M.O.D. - A futuristic hybrid of music exploration - dub / dub step / reggae / world / africa / drum'n'bass / mutant hip hop / avant metal / experimental / vocal music / instrumental / DJ culture and much more. M.O.D. resumes and continues the legacy of AXIOM, the timeless imprint established in 1989 by Bill Laswell with Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records. http://www.mod-technologies.com New York, February 18, 2014 - Bernie Worrell, keyboard legend, founding member and essential collaborator / composer / arranger in George Clinton's Parliament/Funkadelic, has worked with an extremely diverse array of artists - Talking Heads, Bootsy Collins, The Rolling Stones, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Black Uhuru, Fela Kuti, Burning Spear, Pharoah Sanders, Buddy Guy, Sly & The Family Stone, Mos Def, Albert King, Sly & Robbie, etc. He is among the most influential and emulated electronic keyboardists in modern music. His synthesizer work defined 80's and 90's West Coast Hip Hop and is still recognized in the pop hits of today. Elevation is his first solo acoustic creation. Intimate, personal, atmospheric and touching, a humble statement which is both vulnerable and child-like. Songs and themes appear as flashbacks and memories, some accessible, some subconscious; they are based on motifs by John Coltrane, Joe Zawinul, Bob Marley, Carlos Santana, Charles Mingus and others. Featured are delicate impressions of classic soul music from his own history and three original ambient soundscapes - all delivered with his signature hand. Produced by legendary iconoclast, Bill Laswell, with original artwork by Japan's modern master Shinro Ohtake. TRACKS 1. In a Silent Way 2. I'd Rather Be With You 3. Alabama 4. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat 5. Light On Water 6. Ooh Child 7. Samba Pa Ti 8. Realm of Site 9. I Wanna Go Outside In the Rain 10. Wings 11. Redemption Song Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted February 19, 2014 Report Posted February 19, 2014 Wow, solo piano! - this could be very interesting! Quote
JSngry Posted February 19, 2014 Report Posted February 19, 2014 Which one is his signature hand? Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted February 19, 2014 Report Posted February 19, 2014 So, what Worrell leader-dates are recomended? I used to have Funk of Ages, and remember liking it quite a bit (no idea what happened to my copy). From Wikipedia... 1978: All the Woo in the World 1991: Funk of Ages 1993: Pieces Of Woo: The Other Side 1993: Blacktronic Science 1997: Free Agent: A Spaced Odyssey 2007: Improvisczario 2009: Christmas Woo 2010: I Don't Even Know 2011: Standards Quote
mikeweil Posted February 19, 2014 Report Posted February 19, 2014 You can listen to samples on the MP3 page of the album at amazon.com - I ordered a copy. A guy like him selecting these tunes ..... he sounds at peace with himselves, that's enough for me. Quote
JSngry Posted February 20, 2014 Report Posted February 20, 2014 Worrell's been the type of guy I appreciate (deeply) in the aggregate, not so much as a "soloist" but as a musician, somebody who can always bring something to the table that will leave it better than it would have been otherwise. I'd call him a "parts player" if that didn't have such an air of dismissal, the guy is not to be dismissed, never, or even a little. But I don't know how much of a "need" I have to hear him on a solo date like this. I can be convinced, though, so if y'all get it and really feel it, please, speak up! Quote
GA Russell Posted March 1, 2014 Author Report Posted March 1, 2014 This one is now up on Spotify. I enjoy it. It's quite melancholy, not what I expected from someone associated with Parliament/Funkadelic. Quote
mikeweil Posted March 1, 2014 Report Posted March 1, 2014 Received my copy a few days ago - nothing sensational, not even top class ballad playing, just very solid, and for its tranquility just the right stuff for me at the moment. This has a very appropriate simplicity all over it that our curent top notch jazz pianists couldn't do. Quote
GA Russell Posted April 22, 2014 Author Report Posted April 22, 2014 Bernie Worrell is featured in today's email from Wolfgang's Vault. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.