MandoMorphosis – 2010 – [www.mandomorphosis.com], 64:34 *****:
In different parts of the world, the mandolin has varied associations: bluegrass in the US, Italian chamber music in Europe, and choro music in Brazil. MandoMorphosis is a new ensemble that tries to push the boundaries of musical associations for this often pigeon-holed instrument. And in this recording, 2010, MandoMorphosis succeeds on many levels.
MandoMorphosis, the brainchild of producer and mandolinist Scott Schafer, is made up of seven virtuoso members who all play mandolin, in addition to other instruments like the guitar, tenor guitar, and dobro. With this instrumentation, you might assume this CD is bluegrass, but it’s much more than that. With tracks that flow from one to another, MandoMorphosis 2010 is more of a musical journey that visits the passions and interests of the players. While there are a few bluegrass-sounding numbers, there other genres represented here, like classical, minimalist, Latin, folk, and even rock-styled jam band. Most of the tracks are written by the members of the group.
In recording the CD, the group took a different approach. The music was a careful and deliberate mix of written and improvised. One the players, Matt Sircely said, “The whole idea was to create something fresh in the studio. It was going into a studio and not to be overly prepared—that was one of our goals—to capture freshness. That was a really unique experience.” This attitude shows in the performance, which crackles with energy and excitement. If you are becoming more and more put off by the current recording industry’s highly homogenized and pasteurized commercial products, MandoMorphosis 2010 offers a refreshing alternative. Highly recommended.
TrackList: Crash; Matt’s Idea; A Minor Squabble; Impromptu Redux; Santa Morena; CrimeDog; Zone 429; Hamhock’s Razor; Pete’s Wish; Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2; MandoMorphosis; Out of the Furnace and Into the Fire; Nero’s Fiddle; Dos Somorgujos; Ghostown; Ed; Cascadia Raga
– Hermon Joyner
