“Anyone could play “Meditations” on that day in this time of ours when everyone is fighting everyone else all over the world. Man, woman, religious sects, people in general, colors. I felt like I was playing for god. Well, it’s time people get together and try to fight their way through to love with something that warms them and brings them together. Look what you’re doing! Look how sad you make me feel! I do have a freedom here in this society, even though it is limited”
Charles Mingus on the liner notes for “Mingus at Monterey”, 1964
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This album is a result of two years listening to Charles Mingus, Eric Dolphy and Mal Waldron. The way these people chose to play, the way they wrote music and the way they chose to shape their ensembles.
The recording of "Meditations" on this album is also the result of frustration with Australia's slide toward fascism - the human and civil rights abuses committed in our names. We hope that by re-telling this Charles Mingus story in part, we commit a small act of rebellion.
Recording write up:
www.oscarneylandmusic.com/blog/2019/2/16/meditations
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Excerpt from liner notes from David Sampson -
"The greatest Mingus renditions of Meditations were thrilling, extended sextets or quintets with his greatest band – Dolphy and Clifford Jordan (two alto saxists, like Wirecutters), Jaki Byard, Dannie Richmond and often Johnny Coles. The recordings from Cornell University and throughout their 1964 European tour are staggering, unrepeatable feats of open composition, inspired musicianship and flaming chemistry, honed by a two month residency at the Five Spot. Mingus also did a big band version at Monterey but recordings of it have been dire, often sounding ragged and under-rehearsed.
So Neyland's decision to augment Wirecutters' to a slightly miniaturised big band, a dectet, by adding trumpeter Reuben Lewis, trombonist James Macaulay, pianist Daniel Sheehan and the thrilling Sydney-Korean drummer Chloe Kim is a master-stroke. To be brief, there is no doubt that this is a highly significant re-orchestration and a titanic recording of a major work in jazz history. Neyland's arrangement is superb, the soloists and swirling ensembles are exciting and each of the additions in personnel is crucial."
Full liner notes available at
www.oscarneylandmusic.com/blog/2020/4/1/wirecutters-release-and-extended-liner-notes
We acknowledge that this album was recorded on the stolen land of the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin nation and wish to pay our respects to their elders: past, present and emerging. We recognize that their sovereignty was never ceded.
released April 16, 2020
Oscar Neyland - Double Bass, arrangements
Cheryl Durongpisitkul - Alto Sax
Flora Carbo - Alto Sax, Bass Clarinet
Shaun Rammers - Tenor Sax
Adam Halliwell - Guitar, Flute
Hannes Lackmann - Drums, Percussion
"Meditations" also features
Reuben Lewis - Trumpet
James Macaulay - Trombone
Daniel Sheehan - Piano
Chloe Kim - Drums
Tracks 1-3 recorded by Myles Mumford on February 10th and 11th 2019 at Rolling Stock Studio, Mixed and Mastered by Myles Mumford at Rolling Stock Studio, June 2019.
Track 4 recorded at home on Boon wurrung land, June 1 2020, mixed by Oscar Neyland.
Cover artwork "She Never Looked Back" (photography) by Joris Graaf, 2020 -
www.jorisgraaf.nl