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Jeff Greinke / Anisa Romero — Hana
(First World Music FWD 99.02, 1999, CD)

Radio Chongching — Radio Chongching
(First World Music FWD 99.04, 1999, CD)

by Jeff Melton, Published 2000-10-01

Hana Cover artRadio Chongching Cover art

Jeff Greinke is a synthesist and composer who's been branching out into many different endeavors on his own Seattle label, Firstworld. Among his continued solo album work, there are his seminal undertakings with crunch band Land as well as two other new works. Hana is a joint project between Anisa Romero (lead vocalist for Seattle band Sky Cries Mary). The album has a passive, texturally precious and sometimes Arabic tone, but also contains a world music approach (not unlike what City of Tribes artist Stellamara uses to their advantage). A few of the more active tracks include “Smoke,” which recalls some new age incantations. “Above the Head” implies an almost spacious, monastic impression while “Voodoo Lily” is a bit more busy percussion-wise. At its worst, the album can drift maybe a bit too long to hold direct interest, and work best as backdrop for a great hall or museum.

Contrasting that with another disc on Greinke's new label, Radio Chongching is an altogether different and more active beast. Relying heavily on base interplay between drummer Greg Gilmore and Stick player George Soler to build up a funky Eastern motif, they bridge some of the territory charted by Bruford Levin Upper Extremities, as well as David Torn, but there is a definite groove to their approach. Trey Gunn's solo band also operates in this sound space as well seen in tracks such “The Drill.” The showcase piece is the eight-minute track “The Crawler.” where the Miles Davis link is more directly relevant. Trumpet player Lesli Dalaba doesn't rely on just blasts to interject her melodic counterpoint. She relies on soft swirls parallel to Jon Hassell's style. Overall, Greinke has done an excellent job to help see these unique projects through to release.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 20, 1999 releases

Related artist(s): Lesli Dalaba, Jeff Greinke, Radio Chongqing

More info
http://radiochongching.bandcamp.com/album/radio-chongching

 

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