Search - Richard Hunter :: The Second Act of Free Being

The Second Act of Free Being is an amazing set of compositions and arrangements for solo harmonica, harmonica with guitar, and harmonica with vocal by Richard Hunter, the internationally recognised author of Jazz Harp. Recorded in 1997, The Second Act of Free Being is the followup to Hunter's 1996 release The Act of Being Free in One Act, a groundbreaking performance that pianist and composer George Winston cites as an influence in his 1997-98 concert tour program notes, and that the Stamford Advocate described as "a solo instrumental tour de force complete with enough virtuosic firepower not only to attract a listener's interest but to keep it." Eleven of the fourteen pieces on The Second Act of Free Being are new compositions by Hunter. The CD's moods range from the jazzy How Long Have I Loved You to the striking 2-part counterpoint of Bela's World, whose quiet, eerie tone evokes Bela Bartok's night music, the Aaron Copland-esque sound of Requiem and a blistering, rocking workout on the traditional song Billy The Kid. The CD also includes two duets with Sonny Rollins sideman Jerome Harris on guitar, and a wrenching duet with San Francisco-based vocalist Susan Cutrona on Bob Dylan's It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes A Train to Cry.