Key West composer and former Washingtonian Hal Howland is pleased to announce the release of his new retrospective jazz CD, 10 YEARS IN 5 DAYS.
Called "eloquent, modern, first-class" by STEREO REVIEW and awarded Best Jazz Recording and Best Debut Recording (and nominated Best Small Jazz Ensemble, Best New Artist, Best Song, and Best Record Design) by the Washington Area Music Association, this timeless music features seven of D.C.'s finest players: Chris Battistone, trumpet; Brian Bennett, piano; Hal Howland, drums and percussion; Jon Metzger, vibraphone and marimba; John Previti, bass violin and bass guitar; Tom Reed, vibraphone; and Bruce Swaim, saxophones and flute. The CD includes eight Howland compositions and two by Tom Reed.
10 YEARS IN 5 DAYS was recorded and mixed by Bob Dawson at Bias Studios, Springfield, Virginia, in 1984, 1985, and 1988. The title track was remixed by Jim Robeson at Bias in 2003. The pristine original tapes were digitally remastered by Charlie Pilzer at Airshow Mastering, Springfield, in 2003.
10 YEARS IN 5 DAYS features cover art by Key West painter Janet Mueller. Prints of Mueller's painting JAZZ GUYZ are available for purchase as giclée on canvas, from an edition of 500, measuring 30" X 24", stretched, varnished, signed, and numbered by the artist. See the CD booklet for ordering information.
The European cover design of 10 YEARS IN 5 DAYS is by Key West graphic artist Bob Bender.
The CD was manufactured by Oasis CD Manufacturing, Sperryville, Virginia.
Here's some of what the music world has to say about REIKO (1995):
"Hal Howland's recordings reward close and repeated listenings because they benefit from both strong compositions and talented contributors. Impressionistic, evocative, multi-thematic, lovely, dark-hued: a striking example of Howland's versatility as an arranger and colorist." THE WASHINGTON POST
"This great production has a definite poetic quality. I can play it in the background, and I can play it if I want to listen to music-and there are not many CDs that have both. It is a fine balance." Hugo Pinksterboer, author of THE CYMBAL BOOK
"A beautifully thought-out and realized production" Drummer-composer Peter Erskine, author of REIKO's liner notes
"Seasoned, versatile, bustling, bouncing, impressionistic, inventive, exciting" CADENCE
"Exquisite: a mature and deeply felt work of crystalline clarity" TALKING DRUMS
"A great recording: deep jazz roots and a sense of vision" PERCUSSIVE NOTES
"Great stuff!" Royal Stokes, author of SWING ERA NEW YORK
"Deft, unique modern jazz" MODERN DRUMMER
Hal Howland's first book, THE HUMAN DRUMMER: THOUGHTS ON THE LIFE PERCUSSIVE, is in progress. Howland's master's thesis, "The Vibraphone" (the definitive history of the instrument), is published in PERCUSSIONIST (summer and fall 1977). Since 1978 he has contributed to ARTSPIRIT, CULTURE, the KEY WEST CITIZEN, L'ATTITUDES, MODERN DRUMMER, MUSIC RETAILING, PERCUSSION, PERCUSSIVE NOTES, SCENE, STICKS & MALLETS, TALKING DRUMS, and UNICORN TIMES.
Howland was born on 30 August 1951 in Washington, D.C. He showed a love of music about the age of four, studied the piano from age eight, and began to play drums, guitar, and bass at twelve. He has performed and composed classical, avant-garde, jazz, rock, and folk music in America, Europe, and the Middle East. Howland received his B.A. in music from James Madison University in 1973 and his M.A. in music history from Catholic University in 1976. Among his teachers were Fred Begun (National Symphony Orchestra), Kenneth Krohn (Israel Philharmonic), and Bill Reichenbach (Charlie Byrd Trio).
Since 1981 Howland has presented his award-winning BMI jazz compositions (supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts) with the Howland Ensemble, whose critically acclaimed recordings include the audiophile phonorecord THE HOWLAND ENSEMBLE (1986) and the compact discs REIKO (1995) and 10 YEARS IN 5 DAYS (2003). Howland is the timpanist of the Miami Bach Society. He was the timpanist of the National Chamber Orchestra (recording for the KOCH International label) from its inception in 1984 through its fifteenth anniversary season. He is a busy freelance musician and an accomplished singer-songwriter. He teaches music at his studio on Sugarloaf Key, Florida, and in Monroe County schools.
Hal Howland plays Gretsch drums, Paiste cymbals and gongs, and Vic Firth sticks, brushes, and mallets.
Visit www.halhowland.com for more information.
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