A Change of Light is a music/visual art collaborative performance project by cellist/arranger Audrey Riley (Muse, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews) and international piano soloist Andrew Zolinsky, who wished to build on their work together in the contemporary music ensemble Icebreaker. Riley and Zolinsky asked guitarist and fellow Icebreaker member James Woodrow (Gavin Bryars Ensemble, Merce Cunningham), to join them, along with visual artist Philip Riley, and the drummers (and brothers) Nick Allum (Fatima Mansions, Triffids, Cathal Coughlan) and Rob Allum (Turin Brakes, High Llamas, Add (N) to (X)).
This recording features just four of the special music works created for the ensemble.
Both Woodrow and Riley have been longtime associates of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, with which they often perform "Bi-ped", a work by English composer Gavin Bryars, music that is particularly close to their hearts. As a result Bryars was one of the first people they turned to for a new work for the group. "Lauda (con sordino)" for cello, piano and electric guitar is the result. Composed by Bryars in 2002 and dedicated to Audrey Riley, it has all the beauty and intensity of "Bi-ped", but compressed into a thirteen-minute time span.
The New York composer David Lang has long been involved with Icebreaker as well as with pianist Andrew Zolinsky, for whom he wrote the piano concerto "Fur" in 2005. Zolinsky has also performed many of Lang's solo piano works, include his set of "Memory Pieces". This CD includes a live recording of Zolinsky performing one of the those pieces, "Wed", written in 1992.
Lang, whose work "Cheating, Lying, Stealing" for solo cello and ensemble has been performed many times by Icebreaker, was therefore a natural candidate to write for the project. "How To Pray", written in 2002, is marked "heavy, slow, and drugged". It is for cello, piano, electric guitar, and two drummers. Just for fun Riley added a Hammond Organ.
Steve Hillier is the former keyboardist and main songwriter for the group Dubstar. Riley and Hillier's connection dates back to the string arrangements Hillier asked Riley to make for their 1995 album "Disgraceful". Having always loved Hillier's harmonic world, this time Riley returned the compliment by asking Hillier to write for her instead. Hillier sent back "Dryker Storr, a landscape of harmony and sounds, in three short movements. The work is described by Hillier as "three reflective pieces linked by a love of Scandinavia and it's people".
For more information about the project and it's performers go to www.a-change-of-light.com
This Cd is a release from AR Records. You may be also be interested in two other titles from this label. Candy Time and Candy Time II, James Woodrow's jazz ensemble project. Available also on CD Baby.
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