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E.J. Antonio: Rituals in the Marrow: Recipe for a Jam Session
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DigStation - Indie Music Downloads

Rituals in the marrow: Recipe for a jam session

E.J. Antonio - poetry and vocals

Christian McBride - acoustic bass

Michael T.A. Thompsom - percussion

Christopher Dean Sullivan - acoustic bass

Mark Taylor - French horn & Mellophone

Joe Giardullo - reeds & shaker shells

Eddie Allen - trumpet

Saco Yasuma - bamboo sax

Tyehimba Jess - harmonica

Executive Producer - E.J. Antonio / EJAri Publishing/BlueZygo Records

Producer - Michael T.A. Thompson / POS Productions, Inc. Copyright - 2010

Track Listing: 1. foreign monkey 5:35 2. ballad mambo 4:50 3. shade of the cedar tree 7:39 4. tangerine moon 2:59 5. every old ny jazz club 2:54 6. see-line woman 4:14 7. bluesman/truth be told 6:07 8. koto suite 8:12 9. pullman porter 6:00 10. witness 5:06 11. duchess 8:46 12. rituals in the marrow: Recipe for a jam session 4:18 At the Jam:

TRACK INFORMATION FOR E.J. Antonio - Rituals in the marrow: Recipe for a jam session:

Track 1 - foreign monkey was inspired by a stone sculpture of the same title by Daisy Youngblood. This poem represents the struggle of birthing self and sound, and the struggle of survival once the birth has occurred.

Track 2ballad mambo was inspired by a composition by musician Warren Smith entitled Marion’s Mambo.  This is a poem about the bygone days of youth. The dance we all danced with abandon, and how memory can keep you moving.

Track 3shade of the cedar tree was inspired by Christian McBride’s big band composition of the same title. The music always brings to mind a child playing and growing under the protective shade of the cedar tree, i.e., the family, and the root that keeps you grounded and safe.

Track 4 – tangerine moon is the endless wait for the return of a loved one from a dangerous situation. And all the while you wait, life keeps happening, keeps wrapping you in the endless loose ends of living.

Track 5 – every old ny jazz club is the feeling I had sitting in my second or third NY jazz club. There was no mistaking where I was or how the set would change personnel.

Track 6 – see-line woman was inspired by Nina Simone’s “Sea Lion Woman” and a doll someone gave me as a gift. We often forget to look behind the mask to see the person. I tried to see the person behind the lore.

Track 7 – bluesman/truth be told really adds up to the A and B side of a 45rpm record. One minute you’re abundantly happy; the next you’re burning down the house.

Track 8 – koto suite was inspired by the music of June Kuramoto. The sound of the koto instrument so intrigued me that I researched it and found it is likened to a flightless dragon. The poem is one of inner journey, of finding the peace within self.

Track 9 – pullman porter was inspired by a NY Times article dated April 4, 2009 on the life of the Pullman Porter. The poem attempts to show the sacrifices those men made to make it better for future generations.

Track 10 – witness is the intersection of social injustices, civil rights and jazz. It’s the updated version of the 1970s, 1980s on-the-corner soapbox activist.

Track 11 – duchess was inspired by Mark Taylor’s composition “Duchess”. The first time I heard the music; Mark asked what we thought about. Someone said, “It sounds like a woman walking down the street.” I said, “No. It sounds like a hussy walking down the street in a yellow hat.” And the poem took off from there.

Track 12 – Rituals in the marrow: Recipe for a jam session talks about the blues. The cadence of the voice in collaboration with the music moves like a New Orleans second line.