Search - Bernie Krause :: Rhythms of Africa

The goal in creating this album was to ensure that the music was inspired, derived, and influenced directly by the ambient sound sculptures of the Amazon rain forest. To achieve the desired connection and harmony between the natural and created sounds, all of the music on this album was performed live to the tracks of the nature sounds. Prior to recording, all musicians were brought together and listened to the nature sound tracks to which they would perform. Notes were made on "events" (featured animal sounds) and the musicians added their own impressions of the animal voices during the course of their performance. In most instances, the music voices were performed on acoustic instruments. A maximum of two synthesized tracks were used in certain instances to enhance the quality of the performance. Contemporary jazz fusion melodies by Rodney Franklin were composed to specifically blend with the mystical rain forest music of howler monkeys, cicadas, parrots frogs and other jungle dwellers in this exceptional example of the harmony between music and nature. Journey into the depths of an Amazon rain forest and surround yourself with the intriguing sounds that echo through this wild, mysterious habitat.