Almost a decade ago, my friend and colleague Gil Selinger and I went to a barn in Connecticut. That barn had been converted into a professional-quality recording studio by a friend of his. Gil and I had been jamming regularly, developing an idiosyncratic musical language which combined free improvisation with a classical tinge. We had digested CDs of Beethoven and scores of Shostakovich, discussing, playing, and refining our approach. While both of us had experience in a jazz style, we hungered to bring our full musical backgrounds to our improvisations. Even more ambitiously, we aimed to re-ignite a waning tradition of improvising which had once burned brightly in the classical tradition.
So, when we stepped into that studio in 2011, we came prepared–prepared to be surprised. We had played together for so long, we felt a deep communication and a trust in each other. This inspired us to courageously jump into the unknown and improvise an entire album of classical instrumentals.
The result? White Barn Duets.
I’m excited to share this album with you, in both digital and physical formats. (FYI If you’re a subscriber on Bandcamp, you may get an additional notification about the CD version.) And today is another Bandcamp Friday (when they waive their fees and 100% of today’s proceeds go to the artists). While I’m looking forward to splitting any profits with Gil, I’m even more thrilled to give you all first notice on this re-release.
You can choose from three levels of support:
- Stream/download the music for free (if you put in $0, just enter your email so we can stay connected)
- Download the digital album and pay-what-you want
- Order a limited edition CD + digital download for $12 (includes free shipping)
Click below:
Thank you for your support, and happy February!
Evan