|
Please enjoy my newest release called “Sonic Inventor” for free, recorded at Sonart Studio (www.sonartrecordingstudio.com) in Mount Tremper, N.Y.
If you enjoy it, please consider making a monetary donation to: Ken Lovelett P.O. Box 65 Mt. Tremper, NY , 12457 Or, purchase the CD for $25, which includes shipping. Proceeds will help make another edition of this CD or future projects. From T.A.o.S. Records, on Facebook and Instagram |
|
Serengeti, is a tone poem that started out as a recording using many of my unique American Percussion Instruments. later, I invited Pete Levin in to work his writing, arranging and playing magic to the composition. Nice !!!!
Coconut - I had a bunch of musicians in my recording studio to record some improvised music. This segment was pulled out of a much longer piece where I then added a lead & background vocals.The rhythm section had this nice and unusual groove so I incorporated it into a Harry Nilsson song that I always admired and ended up with this newer rendition. Peter Head - cigar box guitar, Gus Mancini's - bass clarinet, penny whistles, John Fay - panjo, Erik Nugent - over tone voice, Eric Dahlman - background vocal and myself vocals & bellatope.
Narwhal - Barb Truex, an innovative Appalachian dulcimer player, is playing her custom electric dulcimer using a bottle neck much like on a steel guitar. She was able to make "whale like sounds" at least to my ears, which inspired this piece. Pete Levin added some incredible synth parts as well as an incredible piano melody and solo. The piece takes its time and gradually builds by layering some of my unique percussion sounds like: a giant pod Shaker, the drumbourines, the klacker, the orthogonal lapdrum, various cowbells, timbale and various gongs and suspended cymbals.
The Great Potoo - is an improvisation with Michael Knoblach, playing a 20 " frame drum I made for him with 40 rattle snake tales attached and myself playing the lapdrum. I heard, from one of my engineers, about this instrument called a fujara. I called a wind instrument specialist Thomas Workman, who had such an instrument. So, on went the fujara. Next I decided to put one of my newer percussion inventions ,the slit marimba snare drum, some shakers and sound effects. A great Potoo is a bird mainly found in the Amazon basin !
Mad Honey - hallucinogenic honey, also known as "mad honey," is a unique type of honey found in certain regions of Nepal. It's made from the nectar of rhododendron flowers and contains a chemical compound called grayanotoxin, which can cause hallucinations and other psychedelic effects when consumed in large enough quantities. I chose this name for the sound title because of the beautiful flowers the honey is extracted from ! Written by and playing the hand pan is James Bougill. On all keys is Pete Levin who also created a beautiful orchestration and myself playing the orthogonal lapdrum, triangle, bells, suspended cymbal, Shaker and Travolette.
|
Oppo or Opportunity was a rover sent to Mars that was to last only 90 days but lasted over 5000 sending many interesting photos back to earth. This composition is a musical journey to the different locations visited by Oppo, depicted by the different movements, the last section is where Opportunity now sits FOREVER !!! Sam Morrison on soprano sax and myself on all keyboards and percussion.
Riverdance -is a composition with a poem written by Elizabeth Gordon and a recitation from Patricia Martin. I feel that this element helps to inspire the musicians and the song to become more meaningful. The song has a constant groove with some great guitar playing from Peter Head and Eric Dahlman with some improvised background vocals and trumpet, Barb Truex's electric mountain dulcimer, Gus Mancini's keyboard work, Steve Ellison's Chapman's stick & Baird Hersey's over tone singing and finally ends with a lap drum solo !
Once - I started producing this rap artist several years ago and found myself oddly attracted to the music. I guess this would make good sense with all of the different percussion instruments that I make and play. They just seem to add a different flavor. I decided to make an attempt at a rap song and being a stutterer I decided to do a very simple simple lyric line. I don't remember how I came up with " I'm only going to say this once ", probably from my parents. lol !! The lapdrum intro was influenced by Jan Hammer's intro to the Miami Vice theme, using the drum sound as the melody, and then playing freely from that point. A good friend Gus Mancini played all the synth parts as well as writing the song and I played the lapdrum, as the feature, as well as many other percussion instruments
Peach - Barbara got her first dulcimer in 1972. She decided to call in "sick" the week after getting it so she could dive in and get familiar with it. Her Improvisational and compositional tendencies took off immediately and resulted in this first dulcimer piece called "Peach". Over the years this little tune has been done solo, with a group, faster, slower, with lyrics, Latin-flavored, jazzy, folky, and always with percussion in mind. On the Sonic Inventor cd, Ken primarily plays his lapdrum, klacker, flutter pan, triangle, hand claps and travelette. Jim Rivoli on electric bass and Vincent Pasternak playing beautiful viola solos.
|
What are people saying about Sonic Inventor?
John Schachinger
Hi Ken, Thank you for the CD! I loved it – listening to it again right now and I know you had way to much fun recording this – and you work with an amazing group of musicians. I love the keyboard work throughout. This is the first time I’ve heard your instruments in an ensemble setting. The nuance and gentle timbre of the percussion mix and float all over the place – Each part has freedom but just fits – like they have a melody all their own. The short sudden fills and complex layers are not lost on me, and I hear more each time. …kinda like composed improvisation – Nothing wanders, and I love it when music is intentional and in the moment at the same time. And the recording quality is amazing, especially since it primarily acoustic. So cool, and I’m playing it for friends, letting them know I knew this guy! Thanks again – you made an old man happy with this one….keep in touch
David Laks
The only element missing from "Sonic Inventor" is a feature film for which it would certainly win "best soundtrack" at the Oscar's.
Meticulously recorded with virtuosic musicians. This recording project will send your ears and mind on a fantastical journey of imagery and emotion.
Rich Mollin
excellent, beautiful production.
Theodore Finkle
This is an extraordinary work of art!!! Absolutely love the whole CD. Congratulations !!!
Marilyn Morrison Owen
Marilyn Morrison Owen here. CHS Class of ‘67 (french horn)
I totally enjoyed the creativity of your cd.
Mike Meehan
These are beautiful recordings and I love the backstories
Tim Mungenast
I’m always psyched to hear about what you’re up to! Your “Sonic Inventor” album was brilliant!
Jerry Rockwell
All of these tracks are superb!!! Great musicianship, great production, incredible percussion, and super-quality recording! I loved hearing Barb's dulcimer so beautifully intertwined. Highly recommended!!!!!!
Hi Ken, Thank you for the CD! I loved it – listening to it again right now and I know you had way to much fun recording this – and you work with an amazing group of musicians. I love the keyboard work throughout. This is the first time I’ve heard your instruments in an ensemble setting. The nuance and gentle timbre of the percussion mix and float all over the place – Each part has freedom but just fits – like they have a melody all their own. The short sudden fills and complex layers are not lost on me, and I hear more each time. …kinda like composed improvisation – Nothing wanders, and I love it when music is intentional and in the moment at the same time. And the recording quality is amazing, especially since it primarily acoustic. So cool, and I’m playing it for friends, letting them know I knew this guy! Thanks again – you made an old man happy with this one….keep in touch
David Laks
The only element missing from "Sonic Inventor" is a feature film for which it would certainly win "best soundtrack" at the Oscar's.
Meticulously recorded with virtuosic musicians. This recording project will send your ears and mind on a fantastical journey of imagery and emotion.
Rich Mollin
excellent, beautiful production.
Theodore Finkle
This is an extraordinary work of art!!! Absolutely love the whole CD. Congratulations !!!
Marilyn Morrison Owen
Marilyn Morrison Owen here. CHS Class of ‘67 (french horn)
I totally enjoyed the creativity of your cd.
Mike Meehan
These are beautiful recordings and I love the backstories
Tim Mungenast
I’m always psyched to hear about what you’re up to! Your “Sonic Inventor” album was brilliant!
Jerry Rockwell
All of these tracks are superb!!! Great musicianship, great production, incredible percussion, and super-quality recording! I loved hearing Barb's dulcimer so beautifully intertwined. Highly recommended!!!!!!