Search - Vicki Richards :: Parting The Waters

Mining an area of sound somewhere between world music and jazz, Richards and her excellent backing band bow, blow and drum their way through tunes that will have you thinking of South America one minute, then Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East...One of the best releases in 1991. There are several soothing ensemble pieces, a few abstract duets between violin and tape delay and one dizzying solo partita that sweeps along in a blithe show of technique. Supple searching melodies backed with light percussion and acoustic guitar. Expanding with vocalise, "Mother Compassion" is powerfully orchestrated and develops a Korean Buddhist Chant to Kwan Seum Bosal. Musicians from Zawinul Syndicate: hand drummer Robert Thomas Jr, guitarist Amitava Chatterjee, drummer of the year Layne Redmond are playing