Album Notes

ABOUT SHANNON AVENUE:

This collection began with Tom & Chris as an exploration of moods, aural textures, and the placement of sonic objects in space. Compulsive attention was paid to the details of the sounds, much like hand rubbing sculptures to soften the edges while accentuating the robustness of the figure. Rhythmic elements were used, but more to provide a visceral substrate to an otherwise cerebral brew.

No rules were imposed as to instrumentation, so any piece could easily be cataloged as electronica, lounge, nu jazz or even modern classical -- or any combination -- so that the collection seems to gleefully defy genre boundaries.

The melodic components generally emerged from the structure spontaneously -- often taking months to be fully realized -- and eventually rendered a storyline for each piece. Once fully developed, these melodic threads were carefully woven into the extant structure. With delicate and technically precise ears, the overall collection was then rounded out in post-production to ensure that, at every instance of the listener's experience, any instrument at any level could be distinguishable and recognized for its contribution to a given piece.

The result of this effort is a collection of musically thoughtful and moving episodes that can be enjoyed at many levels, from many approaches, from theoretical scrutiny to meditative ambiance.

ABOUT TOM HUNT & C. MILES CODY

Tom Hunt (Minimum Blue) writes music that is both distinctive and unique in its combination of traditional instrumentation and electronic elements. Though Tom's music is firmly rooted in the traditions of jazz and folk, there is a strongly adaptive and experimental component -- he has been drawn to electronica and nu jazz as a foundation for his current work. Tom's style has been described as eclectic and texture-centered, and both elements are abundant in the Shannon Avenue collection.

C. Miles Cody composes for performance, film, broadcast and therapy. With a strong focus on piano and lyric composition, his credits include the scores (with sound engineering and additional material from Tom Hunt) for the independent films "Moonlight, "Dukkha" and "Emociones", currently making the festival circuits. Always intent on leading the listener on an intimate walk through the aural landscape, he brings to the Shannon Avenue collection a fresh and distinctive melodic style along with a brilliant ear for harmony and rhythm.