Schadowrider: Artists and Releases

Schadowrider Records Releases
Artists & Releases: Info & Reviews

CD: $15. Latin Landscapes -- featuring the music of José Manuel Lezcano, with José Manuel Lezcano, guitar, Paul Schliffer, flute and Matthew Shubin, bassoon

Track Listing:
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  • 1. La Bella Cubana - Habanera (White)
  • 2. Adios Nonino (Piazzola)
  • 3. Diarios: Rumba Són: A los Rumberos de RFAG
  • 4. Diarios: Fiestas Andinas
  • 5. Diarios: A Tourist in Central Park
  • 6. Diarios: ¡Brasilierando!
  • 7. Bachianas Brasileiras #5: Aria (Villa-Lobos)
  • 8. Suite del Recuerdo (Merlin)
  • 9. Goyescas - Intermezzo (Granados)
  • 10. Alfonsina y el Mar (Ramirez/Luna)
  • 11. Sonata Tropical: Canción de Madrugada
  • 12. Sonatina Tropical: En Clave de Són
  • 13. Cançao do Amor (Villa-Lobos/Vasconcelos)
  • 14. Homáge to Toru Takemitsu
  • 15. Estudio de Charango (Anonymous)
  • 16. Cuban Sketches: Guaracha Nevada
  • 17. Cuban Sketches: Una Ventana de Estrellas (Bolero)
  • 18. Cuban Sketches: Miami Merengue

Latin Landscapes
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From the liner notes:

The music of Latin America has long appealed to audiences worldwide. With roots in Spanish, African,
and Indigenous peoples and cultures, Latin music is known for its soulful lyricism; propulsive, syncopated
dance-rhythms; and a deep connection to history, nostalgia, and tradition. Composers such as Villa-Lobos, Piazzolla, White, and Ramirez have inspired me to arrange the music on this disc for our trio of guitar, bassoon, and flute.

Starting in 1996 I began writing pieces to perform with classically trained friends and colleagues at
festivals in Ecuador, Peru, and Europe, and to reconnect with my Caribbean roots. Cuban Sketches was the first effort in this vein — really a notated improvisation exploring Cuban folkloric styles.

Guaracha Nevada was written during a major New England snowstorm, Una Ventana is a romantic bolero in the style of a trio sonata, and Miami Merengue came to light while crawling through that city’s famous traffic and listening to Dominican radio stations! Sonatina Tropical, of which Paul and I play two movements, uses a jazzier harmonic language but stays true to its Cuban-American roots. Homage to Takemitsu is a tribute to the Japanse composer’s film music.

“Diarios” (2007), a work inspired by my travels and musical enthusiasms, was commissioned through a
grant from the New York State Music Fund, and dedicated to the members of the Rochester Folk Art Guild — especially to my wonderful colleagues, Matthew Shubin and Paul Schliffer. The opener, “A los Rumberos
de RFAG,” is built on the rumba, music from the Cuban city streets that features rich cross-rhythms and
syncopations. “Andean Fiestas” recalls my fieldwork in Ecuador and Peru. The quoted folksong, “Ojos Azules”
is played on flute, accompanied by simple harmonies on guitar and interjections from bassoon. A minimalist
middle section evokes competing bands and snatches of melody typical of ritual Andean music — Reich meets
Ives at an Andean festival! “A Tourist in Central Park” opens with a tender theme on guitar in a Bill Evans vein, and the finale, “¡Brasilierando!”, laced with the double-bell pattern of Afro-Brazilian drumming, pays homage to the samba. A slow episode quotes “Berceuse Campesina” by the Cuban composer Alejandro Caturla (used nostalgically in Andy Garcia’s beautiful film “The Lost City”) before being rudely interrupted by the samba tune which drives relentlessly to the end.

— José Manuel Lezcano

John Bent reviews "Latin Landscapes" for new millennium Guitar Publishing: "Before I proceed with any details, let me just say that this is one of the most beautiful guitar recordings I have ever heard. Everything about it works. The players are superb and joyous. The music is well chosen. Each composer is represented here, perhaps, at his best. As I cannot go into details with each track (as that would make this review too long), I will touch on the highlights."

Schadowrider News

New releases finally out!
12 Jun 2009
We're excited to announce that the two latest Schadowrider Records CD's have been released and are now available: "Reflections" by the Ensemble Resonance Trio, and "Latin Landscapes" by Lezcano, Schliffer & Shubin.
[read more]

Glenn

2 new Schadowrider releases to be part of NYS Music Fund grant
11 Feb 2007
The Rochester Folk Art Guild announced on February 2, 2007, that it is the recipient of a grant from The New York State Music Fund for its 2007 Concert Series 'Legacies' and two new recordings produced from…
[read more]

Glenn

Ensemble Resonance Concert
13 Oct 2006
Ensemble Resonance plays the music of Gurdjieff/De Hartmann on Sunday, October 29th at 3:00 pm, at The Rochester Folk Art Guild, 1445 Upper Hill Rd, Middlesex, NY. The full Ensemble Resonance, a blending of…
[read more]

Glenn

Concert performances by members of Ensemble Resonance
19 Sep 2005
The Rochester Folk Art Guild and Schadowrider Records are pleased to announce two performances by members of the internationally renowned Ensemble Resonance - Michael Hunter (piano), Paul Schliffer (flute)…
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Glenn