Like many artists who pan in the sluices of new music, I some years ago started a small, independent recording label. Geode wasn’t, however, much of a label. As a result of chronic underfunding, we released just five CDs and had little distribution outside of the United States. In 2004 we finally came to our senses and gave up. The fine label 482 Music can supply the Scott Fields titles and Matt Turner’s Infiltrator. And in 2008 Clean Feed Records reissued dénouement and will soon reissue Fugu.
Running with Scissors
[ The Scott Fields Quintet ][ Geo 93001 ][ Geoff Brady ... percussion, Scott Fields ... acoustic guitar, Derek James ... trombone, John Padden ... double bass, Robert Stright ... vibraphone ] If you were to ask me which of my CDs you should acquire, this would be last on my list. It does, however, have its moments. The performances are good, but the compositions are overly influenced by a combination of my insistence on making the project a methodical exploration of the history of Western tonal systems and my failure to have yet cleansed myself of post-modernism. If you have all of my other recordings and are afflicted with a compulsive-obsessive disorder, this could be the CD for you.
Fugu
[ Scott Fields Ensemble ][ Geo 9501 ][ Geoff Brady ... percussion, Scott Fields ... nylon-string guitar, John Padden ... contrabass, Robert Stright ... vibraphone, Matt Turner ... violoncello ] The first and last compositions on Fuguwere written for choreographer and dancer Li Chiao-Ping, although they have not yet been performed as dances. All but one of the pieces use varying compound time signatures and all are based on Stephen Dembski’s post-serial tonal organization system. In fact, this is the most cohesive representation of that system as an “inside the changes” alternative to traditional jazz improvisation. Although many of my other compositions rely on Dembski’s system, in these other cases the pitch sets are used just as sets rather than as interwoven chords and scales.
Infiltrator
[ Matt Turner][ Geo 95002 ][ Matt Turner ... violoncello and piano ] Matt Turner is one of my favorite musicians, as evidenced by his appearances on so many of my own projects. This collection of improvisations for unaccompanied cello and piano is always striking, sometimes stark, sometimes lush, and sometimes grating. I recommend it highly.
Blurred and Somewhat Indistinct
[ Matt Moran’s Larobok ][ Geo 96001 ][ Jeff Hudgins ... alto and soprano saxophones, Jamie Moore ... drums, Matt Moran ... vibraphone ] Matt Moran is a percussionist in New York City who graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music and has worked in a number of interesting groups, including William Parker’s big band. Matt claims that this CD is an immature work that he regretted releasing just months after it hit the stores. In spite of that, I think it’s pretty good with its focused ensemble work and intense solos.
dénouement
[ Scott Fields Ensemble ][ Geo 99001 ][ Hamid Drake ... percussion, Scott Fields ... electric guitar, Jeff Parker ... electric guitar, Jason Roebke ... contrabass, Hans Sturm ... contrabass, Michael Zerang ... percussion ][ 1999 ] The music on this double trio project sounds to me as though it were composed by the bastard child of King Sunny Adé and Ornette Coleman. For most of the compositions, the trios are working in different but interlocking pitch sets and compound time signatures. These structures result in pip-popping little kicks and difficult-to-pin-down harmonies.