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| Title: | Largo |
| Artist: | Largo |
| Copyright: | |
| CDDB Category and ID: | Misc DF10541047FDB |
| Additional info: | MUSICIANS
Rob Hyman, Bandmaster
Featuring:
Eric Bazilian
Rick Chertoff
The Chieftains
Mark Egan
David Forman (Little Isidore)
Levon Helm
Giovanni Hidalgo
Garth and Maud Hudson
Carole King
Andy Kravitz
Cyndi Lauper
Taj Mahal
Willie Nile
Joan Osborne
Steve Rust
Fran Smith, Jr.
Johnny Stompinato, Jr.
David Uosikkinen
William Wittman
LARGO is a new and ambitious musical
project conceived and produced by long-time
friends Rick Chertoff and Rob Hyman. Chertoff,
Grammy-nominated producer (Cyndi Lauper,
Joan Osborne) and Hyman, co-founder of
Philadelphia rock band The Hooters, and
Grammy nominated song-writer (Cyndi
Lauper's "Time After Time") discovered a
mutual love and interest in Czech composer
Anton’n Dvorák's Symphony "From The New
World." Its well-known "Largo" theme inspired
and fueled their resulting musical journey, an
exploration of Dvorák's own journey from the
Old World to the New.
Chertoff had always been interested in Dvorák's
work, especially the composer's influential and
historical trip to New York in 1892 to teach
music theory and composition. A lasting
contribution of that trip was his Symphony No.
9 - "From The New World," which was heavily
influenced by the composer's love and interest
in American folk music. Up to this point, no
established composer had used these folk
idioms as the basis of a serious classical piece.
Dvorák's 'melting pot' mentality opened the
door for the new and exciting musical forces of
the 20th century. Ragtime, jazz, blues, and rock
and roll were just around the corner.
Meanwhile, keyboardist/vocalist Hyman found
his own way into project LARGO, by
unearthing a well-worn vinyl version of the
Symphony at a local thrift shop. Conducted by
Leonard Bernstein, this version became the
first, and favorite, of many that Chertoff and
Hyman listened to. And something began to
happen. Bernstein's liner notes told simply of
the composer Dvorák, an immigrant who, like
so many others, ventured to America to find
something new. And for Hyman and Chertoff,
they were now embarking on their own musical
exploration.
At the core of the project was a group of
writers, including Hyman, Chertoff, Eric
Bazilian (the other co-founder of The Hooters,
and Grammy-nominated song-writer of Joan
Osborne's "One Of Us"), and David Forman, a
New York singer-songwriter, (a.k.a Little
Isidore, an alter-ego currently exploring the
roots of early rock and roll. With Dvorák's
"Largo" theme as a model and inspiration, a
cycle of songs began to emerge in the winter of
1996. Characters and themes were suggested by
Dvorák's own journey; songs of love, songs of
freedom, racial notions, immigrant memories,
and turn-of-the-century technology all played a
role. Chertoff and Hyman began to compile a
wish-list of singers and musicians to participate
in the unpredictable venture. Suddenly the
logistics of recording these diverse performers
became a labor of love...and scheduling.
With the emphasis on live performance, primary
recording began in Philadelphia, with Hyman as
'Bandmaster' and Chertoff behind the console
(and on cameo horn and percussion
performances). A series of road trips followed.
The Chieftains donated a rare day off in
Nashville, after a performance at the legendary
Ryman Auditorium, home of the Grand Ol'
Opry. In a restored church, the Chieftains
recorded their own moving version of the Largo
theme, arranged by leader Paddy Moloney, and
recorded by William Wittman, now on board as
chief engineer and mixer for the project. The
Chieftains also contributed their own Celtic
melodies to "An Uncommon Love," co-written
by Carole King, Rich Wayland, and Hyman,
with vocals by Joan Osborne and King herself.
Another journey took Chertoff and Hyman to
Woodstock, to collaborate with Levon Helm
and Garth Hudson of the legendary Band.
Perhaps no other group has captured the spirit
of American music so well. As the Hale-Bopp
comet streaked across the northern New York
sky, Helm added his distinctive voice to the
Biblical-themed "Gimme A Stone," co-sung
with David Forman. Garth sequestered himself
for weeks, working on his own vision of the
"Largo" theme, playing a host of horns,
keyboards, and accordions, with ghostly vocals
by his wife Maud. With Duke Ellington's
"Creole Love Call" as a foundation, "Garth
Largo" twists and turns Dvorák's melody into an
unusual, surreal creation. Back in Philadelphia,
Hyman used an antique Hammond Chord Organ
to create one more setting for the timeless
"Largo" theme.
Folk and blues master Taj Mahal begins the
story with the engaging "Freedom Ride," an
exciting invitation for the listener to climb
aboard this musical train. "Goin' away, it might
be long, know they'll miss me when I'm gone..."
Taj later appears as "Banjoman," a mysterious
character from the Deep South.
Other characters present other stories. Liza is
European, yearning for the sexual liberation of
the "White Man's Melody" (a very pregnant
Cyndi Lauper contributed a most unique and
emotional vocal to the blues jam that became
this track.) In "Largo's Dream," David Forman
sings of Ramona, Liza's American counterpart,
dark-skinned, sensual, singing Marvin Gaye
songs. The two girls catch the eye of "Cyrus in
the Moonlight," a mystical presence seduced by
both of them, and unable to choose between
them. Hyman added the lead vocals and native
chants to this moody piece. White and Black
musical forces collide as the journey
continues...
Dvorák was delighted by the New World he
encountered--the open plains, the Wild West,
the big steam locomotives. "Disorient Express,"
sung by Forman and Hyman, takes a wild ride
past the Chinese immigrants, into the arms of an
alluring girl, with a "fire-breathing dragon" on
her dress. Eric Bazilian's bluesy guitars and
drummer David Uosikkinen's reggae-tinged
rhythms propel the track to its curious outro.
"Hand in Mine" features Joan Osborne on this
plaintive yet hopeful hymn--"Put your hand in
mine...we may be walking for a long, long
time." And, eventually, the trip takes us to
modern day New York City, far removed from
the place that Dvorák encountered in the late
19th century. This New York is a marketplace,
a swarm of taxi-cab drivers of every
nationality, looking for salvation in the New
World as well. "Medallion" is one man's story,
emotionally sung by singer-songwriter Willie
Nile.
And finally, we end "Before the Mountains,"
with Sitting Bull and Custer discussing love and
eternity--"How strange it is being bound
together, how just a moment's time became
forever." And Little Isidore and the Inquisitors
sing, "I will see you, yes I will see you there,
before the mountains..."
LARGO features a host of other musicians as
well, including renowned percussionist
Giovanni Hidalgo; William Wittman (Too
Much Joy) on bass, guitar, and backing vocals;
drummers David Uosikkinen (The Hooters) and
Andy Kravitz (Fugees, Cypress Hill); bassists
Mark Egan (Pat Metheny, Miles Davis, Joan
Osborne's "Relish") and Fran Smith, Jr. (The
Hooters); and Eric Bazilian on a wide-ranging
assortment of instruments including guitars,
bass, mandolin, hurdy-gurdy, Jew's harp, and
nyckelharpa (key harp).
Released on Blue Gorilla / Mercury Records.
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| Time: | 69:42 |
| Tracks: |
1. | Chieftains Largo (2:02)
Written by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by The Chieftains | |
2. | Freedom Ride (4:58)
Performed by Taj Mahal, Rob Hyman, David Forman,
Eric Bazilian, David Uosikkinen | |
3. | Cyrus In The Moonlight (4:48)
Performed by Rob Hyman, Cyndi Lauper, Eric Bazilian,
Mark Egan, Andy Kravitz | |
4. | Gimme A Stone (4:46)
Performed by David Forman, Levon Helm, Rob Hyman,
Eric Bazilian, Andy Kravitz,
with the Dixie Whistlers | |
5. | Hand In Mine (4:48)
Performed by Rob Hyman, Joan Osborne, Eric Bazilian,
Fran Smith, Jr., David Uosikkinen | |
6. | Vishnu Largo (1:37)
Written by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Rob Hyman | |
7. | Disorient Express (5:21)
Performed by David Forman, Rob Hyman, Eric Bazilian,
William Wittman, Fran Smith, Jr., David Uosikkinen | |
8. | White Man's Melody (7:20)
Performed by Cyndi Lauper, Rob Hyman, Eric Bazilian,
David Forman, Rick Chertoff, Mark Egan,
Andy Kravitz | |
9. | Needed Time (1:28)
Written by J. Taub, Lightnin' Hopkins
Performed by Taj Mahal | |
10. | Banjoman (3:41)
Performed by Taj Mahal, David Forman, Rob Hyman,
Eric Bazilian, Mark Egan, Andy Kravitz | |
11. | Largo's Dream (6:28)
Performed by David Forman, Rob Hyman, Eric Bazilian,
Giovanni Hidalgo | |
12. | Garth Largo (3:14)
Written by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Garth Hudson, Maud Hudson, Steve Rust | |
13. | Medallion (7:31)
Performed by Willie Nile, William Wittman, Eric Bazilian,
David Forman, Rob Hyman, Rick Chertoff,
David Uosikkinen | |
14. | An Uncommon Love (5:03)
Written by King, Wayland, Hyman
Performed by Joan Osborne, Carole King, Rob Hyman,
William Wittman, with the Chieftains | |
15. | Chieftains Largo - Reprise (2:18)
Written by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by The Chieftains | |
16. | Before The Mountains (4:11)
Performed by Little Isidore, Johnny Stompinato, Jr.,
Rob Hyman, Rick Chertoff, Mark Egan,
Andy Kravitz | |
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