Title - Owl Dreams
Artist - Dharma Down
For those not in the know, drawing on their eclectic backgrounds and passions, Dharma Down delivers a musical adventure spanning centuries and the globe, while always pushing their genre-bending music into the future.
Presenting music across the jazz compendium, Dharma Down also draws on influences from East European and Middle Eastern music and turns this identity crisis into its biggest asset.
The group’s just released debut album, Owl Dreams, prominently features original compositions inspired by American and Arabic traditions.
The ensemble is made up of some of New England’s top players united by their love of modern jazz and middle eastern music: Mike Effenberger (piano), Duncan Hardy (alto sax & qanun), Scott Kiefner (upright bass), and John Mettam (percussion) create a sound that is as intimate as it is powerful.
Trust me when I say that their compelling rapport creates an exciting new ensemble to follow closely for years to come.
1. Jalla Man (Trad.)
2. Bubu Jinn
3. Baghdad
4. Ex One Blues
5. A Murder of Cheerleaders
6. Tadafuqun
7. Among the Reeds
8. East 73rd Street
9. Michel
10. Jurjina
11. Thoughts and Prayers
Featuring 10 original tracks plus a modern reinvention of a 1000-year-old classical Arabic song, their debut recording opens on just that, the spirited traditional fare of Jalla Man and then brings us the highly impassioned Bubu Jinn, the languishing Baghdad, the playful modern and postmodern jazz found within Ex One Blues, and then we get brought forth the all-embracing A Murder of Cheerleaders.
With the recording leaning into the breadth of the group’s influences and styles, buoyed by the sensitivity and virtuosity of the individual players, along next is the intricately-sculpted, middle eastern influenced jazz of Tadafuqun and the late night, warming ambiance of Among the Reeds, the perky, veritably skittish East 73rd Street, the free flowing Michel, the recording rounding out on the flourishing Jurjina, closing on the shimmering Thoughts and Prayers.
www.dharmadown.com
Dharma Down @ Instagram
Dharma Down @ Facebook