IT'S POSSIBLE

Since moving back to Austin from Amsterdam eight years ago Tina and I have been getting together on a weekly basis. I felt it was time to have a CD that represented what we'd been exploring. Our wide ranging eclectic tastes are represented on the CD by pieces like Ornette Coleman's Lonely Woman, Harry T.Burleigh's classic spiritual Deep River as well as a suite dedicated to Steve Lacy and Peace Prayer (an improvisation accompanied by the tolling of the World Peace Bell). The tile track, It's Possible, is an improvisation with text adapted by Tina from a poem of Antonio Machado.

Last year a trip to the National Flute Association in Albuquerque coincided with a recording session with our friend Steve Feld and Accra Train Station. Steve had recently begun studying ashiwa (something like a bass kalimba)  and I thought it would be a great addition to what Tina and I were doing.  The ashiwa functions both melodically and percussively. It's also able to simultaneously evoke ancient and modern feelings. For the CD we use various formations of duos and trios.

The CD is dedicated to Bob Paredes. Bob was part of a regular improvisational circle in Austin in the late 1980's that also included me, Tina and Steve, and recorded with us on Leadbelly Legacy Band's Out On The Western Plains. (Originally released in 1988, on vinyl and cassette, as Daagnim17 and
reissued on Cd Postout 1999 A.) We had several discussions about recording while listening to and then removing ambient sounds.  I loved his compositional ideas about the nature and usage of overdubs and studio headphone monitoring. I've used some of his techniques throughout the recording.

The CD also reunites us with original CO2 member Rock Savage who has done the artwork and design.

Alex Coke