Home » Stories » VOCES8 artistic director; Barnaby Smith talks with classical radio about 'Enchanted Isle'

Stories for October 23, 2019

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    Resisting hatred and injustice, Ola Onabule's 'POINT LESS' spurs contemplation / 'DOWNBEAT'
     
    Posted At : October 22, 2019 12:24 PM

    Socially conscious singer/songwriter Ola Onabulé has built an enviable career as an international touring performer and has now turned his attention to the North American market with a newly recorded collection of original songs. Onabulé's meticulous attention to detail in his arrangements and production as well as the support from Sennheiser/Neumann have contributed to the manifestation of an impressive recording.   Point Less, boldly expresses Onabule's views on social injustice, reminiscent of Marvin Gaye's What's Going On. It is an activist's call - at once a celebration of life and a cautionary take on the social forces that threaten it. Violence, immigration, xenophobia, betrayal, and dignity are themes considered on Point Less, rendered with a powerful and knowing generosity of spirit. Onabulé is rueful yet optimistic. Downbeat reviewed the recording for their December 2019 issue and commented; "Resisting hatred and injustice, Ola Onabule spurs contemplation"  See reviews as story cover

  • Ola Onabule presents: 'POINT LESS' podcast
     
    Posted At : October 22, 2019 12:00 AM

    'Point Less' is the title track of the album and for good reason. It is on the face of it, an exploration of the pointlessness of violence, but it aims to delve a little deeper and asks why in the modern era there seems to be a tendency to point the finger of blame at the victims of violence. The song addresses how peoples who are afflicted by subjugation to a violent culture, ironically have a tendency to enact greater violence on one another . It uses a play on the words point and less and the word pointless to explore these complex relationships. The POINT LESS podcast with Ola Onabule: POINT LESS The POINT LESS podcast is a series that boldly expresses views on social injustice. It is an activist's call - at once a celebration of life and a cautionary take on the social forces that threaten it. Violence, immigration, xenophobia, betrayal, and dignity are themes considered and rendered with a powerful and knowing generosity of spirit.So embodies the artistic - and entrepreneurial - philosophy of Onabulé, whose latest album release, Point Less, is a giant leap forward and deeply soulful Rueful yet optimistic, Onabulé's reach is global. His three-and-a-half octave baritone and the powerful emotions he conveys with it connects with audiences around the world. "Hands-on, self-sufficiency has always been my mantra for survival in the music game," says the songwriter. Produced & Narrated by Max Horowitz - Crossover Media This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.

  • The Austin Chronicle interviews The Comet Is Coming
     
    Posted At : October 22, 2019 12:00 AM

    A freewheeling powerhouse of manic sax riffing, melodic synthwave, and thundering grooves, the Comet Is Coming combines the rhythms of modern electronica. Credit keyboardist Dan "Danalogue" Leavers and drummer Max "Betamax" Hallett and the improvisational fire of contemporary jazz courtesy sax master "King Shabaka" Hutchings. The leaderless UK collective ("It's like an experiment," says Danalogue. "Can anarchy work in a musical format?") presents a unified vision on second LP Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery, which explores notions of connection to the infinite and universal unity. The Comet Is Coming combines the rhythms of modern electronica and the improvisational fire of contemporary jazz. "We're delving into that one specific, deep mystery, which is one that we all share," muses the keyboardist. "No one knows what's gonna happen after you die, right? You've got paradise mythology, heaven mythology, people going into psychedelic trances where they swear they've gone into the afterlife and come back. It's such a rich area of investigation." The trio continues its philosophical, spiritual, and cosmic explorations on new EP The Afterlife, six thematic tracks recorded at the same time as the full album. READ THE FULL Austin Chronicle INTERVIEW

  • The Comet Is Coming flips the minimalist palette into an electrifying, apocalyptic sound / Pitchfork
     
    Posted At : October 22, 2019 12:00 AM

    The cosmic fusion group skewers the jazz-trio format as it's typically understood, flipping the minimalist palette into an electrifying, apocalyptic sound. Since their debut was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in 2016, the Comet is Coming's saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings has become a formidable presence in the international jazz scene in his own right, making fans of Beyoncé and Virgil Abloh along the way. Hutchings landed not just one but three different bands on the Impulse label in the process. From the Afro-Caribbean stomp of his Sons of Kemet to the South African spiritual jazz of Shabaka and the Ancestors, his music is simultaneously rooted in the traditional, broadly international in scope, and thoroughly of the moment. But there's something in the way the Comet Is Coming skewers the typical jazz trio that stands apart from his other projects. Its surface speaks to the cosmic sounds of Sun Ra, but there's something raw and earthy at the core. Comet draw from the minimal, restrained palette of the trio format to make something that's electrifying and apocalyptic all at once, able to tear the roof of jazz-as well as rock, jam band, and EDM-festivals. A companion piece to this year's Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery, The Afterlife continues to hover over that album's scorched earth, not replicating the rush of "Summon the Fire" but instead exploring in greater detail that set's most somber moments. It's concise yet also shows the trio's depth in just over 30 minutes. READ THE FULL Pitchfork REVIEW

  • In reversal, WNYC says 'New Sounds' will stay on the air
     
    Posted At : October 21, 2019 12:00 AM

    In a complete reversal, WNYC will no longer go through with its controversial decision to cancel the music program New Sounds. Instead, the 37-year-old eclectic music program, which has since its inception been hosted by John Schaefer, will continue to air seven nights a week on the radio and through its online stream. Goli Sheikholeslami, the president and CEO of New York Public Radio (which owns both WNYC and Gothamist), made the announcement in an internal email to staff on Monday morning. The news did not come as a complete surprise. On Friday, following a tense meeting with a packed room of WNYC and WQXR employees who protested the decision, Sheikholeslami said that she would take the weekend to think about the decision announced more than a week ago to drop the show. Along with Schaefer, Caryn Havlik, the producer of New Sounds, were set to be let go at the end of year; they will now both remain at the station. PHOTO BY TODD FRANCE READ THE FULL gothamist ARTICLE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px}


  • May the Scores be With You - Anne-Sophie Mutter joins forces with John Williams / Q&A's with WFMT
     
    Posted At : October 21, 2019 12:00 AM

    Imagine the scrolling main title of Star Wars or wizards taking flight in Harry Potter without triumphant brass and sweeping strings. These cinematic moments would lose their emotional resonance without the iconic music of John Williams. With 51 Oscar nominations and countless awards, John Williams has defined movie music for a half-century. So what happens when one of the most celebrated film composers teams up with one of today's foremost violinists? Anne-Sophie Mutter says that she's dreamed of collaborating with John Williams for decades. In the new Deutsche-Grammophon album Across the Stars, Williams conducts Mutter and the Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles in selections from some of the composer's most memorable film scores. These short pieces, which Mutter calls "little violin concerti," explore the virtuosic capabilities of the instrument, from the blazing, Paganini-esque rendition of Hedwig's Theme from Harry Potter to the contemplative, melancholy interpretation of Sayuri's Theme from Memoirs of a Geisha. In a recent interview with WFMT: CHICAGO, Mutter discusses her long-time admiration of John Williams' scores, how she convinced the composer to collaborate (it involves some German gingerbread), and her thoughts on the importance of film music. READ THE Q&A p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px}

  • Ramin Karimloo brings his amazing vocal prowess to 'From Now On' / Kings River Life
     
    Posted At : October 18, 2019 12:00 AM

    Ramin Karimloo is an actor and singer best known for his performances on London's West End and Broadway. He has played the leading male roles in both of the West End's longest running musicals: the Phantom and Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera, and Jean Valjean, Enjolras, and Marius in Les Misérables. Ramin made his Broadway debut as Jean Valjean in the 2014 revival production of Les Misérables, for which he received a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical nomination.ramin karimloo He has brought his amazing vocal prowess to the 12 songs on his new CD called From Now On. The title song is from the Movie Musical, The Greatest Showman. Ramin's voice is amazing and he sounds wonderful singing pretty much anything! The album contains songs from The Last Five years, Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, The Bridges of Madison County, among others. One of my favorite songs on the album is "What You Own" which is from my favorite musical Rent. Another favorite is the classic song "I Will Always Love You," from the movie The Bodyguard. READ THE FULL Kings River Life REVIEW p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px}

Top 10 for Oct

  • John Coltrane :

    Blue World

     In 1964, John Coltrane and his Classic Quartet went into Van Gelder Studios and, in an unprecedented move for Coltrane, recorded new versions of some of his most famous works.
  • Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra :

    I Shouldn't Be Telling You This - Let'sFaceMusic

     Jeff Goldblum is back!    The Hollywood legend, coolest man on the planet and purveyor of fine jazz will release his second album in November on Decca Records.
  • Angele Dubeau & La Pieta :

    Pulsations

     With a career spanning over four decades and an impressive discography of more than forty albums, Angèle Dubeau continues to leave her mark in today's music world.
  • The Comet Is Coming :

    The Afterlife

     "Bridging the gap between experimentation and accessibility" (Rolling Stone), The Comet Is Coming announces the digital release of the group's highly-anticipated mini-album The Afterlife, via Impulse! The Afterlife will serve as a companion piece to the group's breakout album Trust In The Lifeforce Of The Deep Mystery and the lead track "Lifeforce Part II.
  • Jon Batiste :

    Anatomy of Angels

     In the fall of 2018, pianist and bandleader Jon Batiste played a six-night residency at the historic Village Vanguard in downtown New York City.
  • Jim James, Teddy Abrams, Louisville Orchestra :

    The Order Of Nature

     THE ORDER OF NATURE presents a hypnotic meeting of the classical and folk-rock worlds with both classic and brand-new material by Jim James (lead singer of critically/commercially successful My Morning Jacket) and fused with Teddy Abrams' inspired orchestrations with the Louisville Orchestra.
  • Jan Lisiecki :

    Beethoven Complete Piano Concertos

     In anticipation of Beethoven's 250th birthday in 2020, Jan LIsiecki presents a full cycle of Beethoven's five piano concertos, accompanied by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
  • Ola Onabule :

    POINT LESS

     Socially conscious singer/songwriter Ola Onabul? has built an enviable career as an international touring performer and has now turned his attention to the North American market with a newly recorded collection of original songs.
  • Paula Cole :

    Revolution

     "Revolution is an exceptional piece of work, a timely reminder of how soulful, perceptive and harrowing a writer and singer Cole is and has always been.
  • Anne-Sophie Mutter :

    John Williams - Across the Stars

     Legendary film composer John Williams conducts a brand-new album of many of his beloved movie themes in stunning new adaptations written especially for his superstar violinist friend and collaborator Anne-Sophie Mutter.

VOCES8 artistic director; Barnaby Smith talks with classical radio about 'Enchanted Isle'

Posted: March 11, 2019 12:00 AM | By: Admin
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The British vocal ensemble VOCES8 is proud to inspire people through music and share the joy of singing. Touring globally, the group performs an extensive repertory both in its a cappella concerts and in collaborations with leading orchestras, conductors and soloists. Versatility and a celebration of diverse musical expression are central to the ensemble's performance and education ethos. Thier latest Decca Records release; Enchanted Isle is an album reminiscent of rolling hills, green valleys, rugged mountainsides, and sleepy villages. Enchanted Isle features reimagined pieces originally written for film or television (such as Lord of the Ringsand Game of Thrones), new arrangements of Scottish and Irish melodies, and compositions set to texts by great English poets.

In conjunction with the album release; VOCES8 conductor, Barnaby Smith has agreed to discuss with classical networks and stations throughout the US. Watch for our tweets!

Crossover Media Projects with VOCES8

  • VOCES8

    Enchanted Isle

    The British vocal ensemble VOCES8 is proud to inspire people through music and share the joy of singing. Touring globally, the group performs an extensive repertory both in its a cappella concerts and in collaborations with leading orchestras, conductors and soloists. Versatility and a celebration of diverse musical expression are central to the ensemble's performance and education ethos.

    Voces8 releases Enchanted Isle, a new album of music reminiscent of rolling hills, green valleys, rugged mountainsides, and sleepy villages. Enchanted Isle features reimagined pieces originally written for film or television (such as Lord of the Ringsand Game of Thrones), new arrangements of Scottish and Irish melodies, and compositions set to texts by great English poets.

  • VOCES8

    Winter

    Breaking typical expectations of a seasonal album, Voces8's new release Winter paints a portrait of the season through a sparse and powerful aural landscape, invoking a meditative, inspiring feeling of solitude and unity‎. The album includes four world premiere recordings, notably "Winter," written exclusively for the album by award-winning composer Rebecca Dale.

    17 NEW  52 TOTAL
    SYND:     Classical 24, CBC
    Direct: MOOD, AccuRadio 
    Markets include: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, Wash DC, Atlanta, Seattle, Cleveland, Houston, Minneapolis, Portland, Kansas City, Baltimore, Austin, Albuquerque, Berkeley CA, El Paso, Rochester NY, KS(Network), ME(Network), MN(Network), Honolulu
    INTER: Canada, Spain, Romania
    Online: Journeyscapes, Musicas Imaginadas

     

  • VOCES8

    Lux

    British a cappella octet VOCES8 releases their second album for Decca/Universal Music Classics, Lux, available January 27, 2015. The recording features a selection of pieces spanning over 400 years: from Thomas Tallis and Gregorio Allegri to Massive Attack (Teardrop) and Ben Folds (The Luckiest - which appeared on the soundtrack for Richard Curtis's film About Time). The album title ‘Lux' refers to the Latin word ‘light,' which has inspired composers throughout history with the meaning of hope, banishing darkness, and nurturing both the body and the spirit. Voces8's celestial performances on the album prove how few can better evoke the power of light in all its physical, spiritual and mystical guises than the timeless sound of a choir.  In addition to the soothing sound of unaccompanied voices blended in harmony, several tracks feature additions of saxophone, cello, harp and water glasses.

    35 Total
    SYND:     Classical 24, CBC
    Direct: Music Choice, MOOD
    Markets include: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Wash DC, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Denver, St. Louis, Baltimore, Austin, New Orleans, Buffalo, Canada
    Online: ClassicallyHip

  • VOCES8

    Eventide

    One of Britain's most exciting and versatile vocal ensembles, VOCES8, makes their debut on Decca/Universal Music Classics with the release of Eventide. VOCES8 features eight young singers who form one perfect sound while adding a contemporary edge on their new album with original arrangements from plainchant to Paul Mealor and from Saving Private Ryan to Emeli Sandé. Eventide showcases the ensemble's perfectly-blended voices interwoven with haunting melodies for solo cello, harp and saxophone and provides an immersive sonic experience which will soothe, beguile and inspire. Evoking the spirit of Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble, VOCES8 and saxophonist Christian Forshaw create their own captivating sound world with arrangements of the ancient Latin hymn Te lucis ante terminum and Tallis's setting of the same text.

    28 New 'ON'  52 TOTAL
    SYND:     PRI/Classical 24
    Direct: Music Choice
    Markets include: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Wash DC, Dallas, Atlanta, Seattle, Cleveland, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Denver, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Detroit, Austin, Memphis, Buffalo, Honolulu
    Online: Taintradio