Seminal NY 'downtown' string quartet and its influential infusion of blues, R&B and avant-garde classical traditions, covers Sly Stone and Robert Johnson, with vocalists and instrumentalists collaborators.

9 MP3 Songs
BLUES: Delta Style, CLASSICAL: Contemporary



Details:
New CD of music from a group that altered concert music by confusing it with other things, the Soldier String Quartet, formed in 1985, performed punk rock and blues as much as a wide variety of contemporary classical work. They introduced many concepts now incorporated into so-called chamber or concert music, including a body of work written for the amplified ensemble, the trap set, playing standing, and most importantly, absorbing the R&B and punk traditions. While relatively inactive at present (Dave Soldier co-runs Mulatta Records and works on many other projects on the label), the group continues to work in the rock/pop/weirdo field, with recent collaborations with Jessie Harris, Van Dyke Parks, and Guided by Voices.

Just released, Inspect for Damaged Gods features music from the 1990's, when the group toured with singers Tiye' Giraud and Jimmy Justice and served as John Cale's band. All of the players on the CD have gone fascinating musical paths, including the brilliant jazz violinist Regina Carter, the contemporary classical violinist Todd Reynolds, violinist Dave Soldier, violist Judith Insell, and cellist Dawn Buckholtz Andrews. They are joined by guest artists singer Laura Cantrell, drummer Jonathan Kane, bassist Richard Bona, violinist Rebecca Cherry, accordionist Anne DeMaranis, and percussionist Valarie Naranjo.

The pieces include originals by Dave Soldier, and his arrangements of tunes by Robert Johnson, Bo Diddley, Raymond Scott, Sly Stone, and Robert Pete Williams.