Very excited to see this news from Robert Rich. A new album and tour dates:
- New Solo CD: Ylang
Robert Rich's first solo studio album in almost three years,
Now available directly from us at
http://robertrich.comThe title comes from ylang ylang, a flowering tree that grows
in South Asia, with a mysterious fragrance that embodies
elements of shadow and light, eros and gnosis, earth and sky.
Ylang pushes the boundaries of Robert's melodic world-fusion
vocabulary, such as on Seven Veils or Propagation.
Ylang blends Rich's expressive steel guitar, shimmering organic
electronics and yearning flute melodies with influences as
diverse as south Indian Karnatic music, pulsing minimalism
and pensive jazz; while its deconstructed drums and blurry
guitar feedback might feel at home with Sigur Ros or Bark
Psychosis.
Rich enlists help for this undertaking from a circle of trusted
musician friends. The rhythmic scaffolding for the album comes
from two very different drummers. Ricky Carter adds his
intelligent sparse drumming, fluid with syncopation but complex
in meter. These rhythms could be a slow tempo homage to Jaki
Leibzeit from Can. Post-processing transforms them into rubbery
chuffing abstractions. The other rhythmic foundation comes from
the Karnatic mrdungam playing of Sakthivel Muruganandhan, which
also wanders into Rich''s sonic blender, shifting from time-
stretched blurs into organic live duets with bansuri master
Sunilkumar Sankarapillai.
Lilting in and out of this heady atmosphere of South Indian
music and minimalist space jazz, the wordless voice of art-pop
virtuoso Emily Bezar adds a feminine intelligence to several
pieces, and subtle melodic guitar additions from Haroun Serang
augment Rich's soaring lap steel feedback. With acoustic bass
from Paul Olguin and string additions from Forrest Fang and
Hans Christian, the sonic texture warms to a glowing woody
earthiness. Rich's audiophile production and delicate sound
design glue the textures together into a seductive and inviting
mossy nest. From these disparate elements, Ylang forms a sonic
entity unto itself.
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- 2010 North America Tour
A tour is taking shape for late springtime. Below are the dates
so far. These should become more certain in the following weeks.
Check
http://robertrich.com for updates.
Sunday April 25
Toronto, ONT Canada
St. George the Martyr Church
197 John Street, Toronto, ONT, M5T 1X6
Saturday, May 1
Philadelphia, PA
The Gatherings
St. Mary's Hamilton Village, 3916 Locust Walk.
Details at:
http://www.thegatherings.orgTuesday May 4
Hartford CT
University of Hartford, Wilde Auditorium
Friday May 7
Burlington Vermont
Flynn Space, 8:00 PM, $28 ($20 students)
Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
153 Main Street, Burlington VT 05401
Box Office: 802-863-5966,
www.flynntix.orgSaturday May 8
Sherbrooke QUE
Plymouth-Trinity United Church
380, Dufferin Street
Info: Erich Langlois <erich_langlois@hotmail.com>
Saturday May 15
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - One Thousand Pulses house concert
www.onethousandpulses.comTuesday May 18 (awaiting confirmation)
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington St., Chicago IL 60602
Friday May 21 (TBA)
Louisville KY - University of Louisville
Sunday May 23 (TBA)
Memphis, TN - University of Memphis?
Friday May 28
Kansas City MO
Gottlieb Planetarium at Union Station
30 West Pershing Rd, Kansas City, MO. 64108
Saturday May 29 (TBA)
Des Moines IA
Friday June 4 (TBA)
Santa Fe NM
Sunday June 6
Tucson AZ
Solar Culture, $10
31 East Toole Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 884-0874
Saturday June 12
San Jose, CA
CET Soto Theater
701 Vine Street
San Jose, CA 95110
Saturday June 19
Pomona, CA
DA Gallery. free admission
252-D South Main Street, Pomona CA 91766
Thursday June 24
Portland, OR
The Clinton Street Theater
2522 SE Clinton St.
Portland, OR 97202
Events Phone: 503.238.8899
Message/Contact Phone: 503.238.5588
Friday June 25
Portland, OR
Sleep Concert - limited audience
Sunday June 27 (TBA)
Seattle, WA