Conference mr1pst::music

628.0. "Alternate Quartet - Rainforest Rhumboogie" by RICKS::CALCAGNI (I Got You Babe (Slight Return)) Wed Apr 20 1994 17:58

I've created this note for posts on Alternate Quartet's newly released CD
"Rainforest Rhumboogie".  The original note is in GUITAR notesfile #2915.*
with lots of information on the CD, how it was produced, comments from noters,
etc.  I invite anyone who's interested to check out the posts in there.
(Do the KP7 thing to add GUITAR to your notebook).

Please feel free to give us your reviews, comments, questions, etc.  All input
(good and bad) is welcome.  The CD is currently available at Tower Records in
Boston, Cambridge and Burlington, all Newbury Comics locations, the Minor Chord
in Acton, Solstice Sun in Maynard, and Cambridge Music's downtown Boston store.
We're usually in the jazz section, sometimes local music if they have one. 
You can also get copies directly from Paul or myself, and of course at AQ gigs.
Most stores are selling for $12, but we offer a special discount to noters at
$10 (plus shipping if necessary, which works out about the same in the long
run). 

AQ is composed of current and former DECcies.  

	Paul Cummings - guitars
	Jim Scarsdale - saxes, clarinet, flute
	Rick Calcagni - bass
	Ed Conley - drums

Our CD "Rainforest Rhumboogie" is original, all instrumental jazz/fusion.
There are four tunes and the total CD play time is about 45 minutes.
Here's a very brief rundown:

"Do Fries Go With That Shake?" - 
  Probably our most agressive piece; I think of it as a dance tune.
  I love Paul's solo on this take (hey, of course I'm biased :-)
  One of my favorite guitar solos, period.

"Waltzing With The Aliens" -
  The title pretty much sums it up; if invaders from another planet arrive
  we'll just play em this track and have a party.  The tune grew out of a
  rhythm groove that Ed and I had been working on; Paul and Jim later
  developed the guitar/sax harmony in the head (for some reason, it always
  makes me think of Alfred Hitchcock!?).

"Pyramids (4 Miles)" -
  Perhaps our most commercial tune, and the one that always reminds people of
  Weather Report.  Paul and Jim's interplay during the climax of the tune is
  very nice, very telepathic; that stuff was totally improvised.  One of the
  best takes of this we've ever done.

"Rainforest Rhumboogie" -
  Like taking a walk through the rain forest.  People consistently tell us
  this is their favorite on the CD, even despite the 24 minute length!  It
  started originally from the main bass riff and has evolved continuously from
  there, mostly in live performance; a good example of how we write and refine
  a tune as a group in real time.

General notes:
  All performances on the CD were done live, with only a couple of overdubs
  in "Rainforest" and some jungle sound and rain samples.  These tunes, while
  structured, have a lot of freedom built in to them for variation and
  improvisation.  The idea is to maximize the opportunity for inventing on
  the spot and telepathy between the players; our whole concept is based on
  this.

Thanks for listening

/rick

Quick reminder: Alternate Quartet is playing a benefit for the Walk For Hunger
this Sunday, May 1.  We'll be at one of the entertainment stops outdoors along
the route, at Magazine Park in Cambridge (right on the Charles River, Memorial
Drive side, near the Hyatt I think).  We'll be playing from 1:30 to 3:30.

Hopefully the weather will be nice; stop by if you get a chance, check out
the band, say hi, and support the Walkers if you can too.

/rick

    "Rainforest Rhumboogie" is reviewed in the September issue of Metronome
    (available free at finer music stores in the NE area)  Check it out
    
    /rick

    
    	Geez, look who's in the Dec. 12th issue of Digital Today?
    
    	Yep, that's Rick, his Mom & Dad and little sister behind
    	him near the outhouse...  ;^)
    
    	Seriously, nice article on the band!!  Congrats!!
    
    	Tom