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Chroma Colossus: 13 Visions of the City

by Charles Waters Quartet

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1.
City Limits 01:32
2.
3.
Morning 04:14
4.
Central Park 02:31
5.
Subway 01:36
6.
Rain 06:10
7.
8.
9.
10.
Rush Hour 01:29
11.
12.
Times Square 03:15
13.
JFK Chorale 01:17
14.
Auster Chord 05:43

about

Charles Waters Quartet entitled Chroma Colossus—13 Visions of the City (AMI 045) release marks an important new contribution to the modern jazz tradition. Among other reevaluations of New York that occurred in the aftermath of 9-11 and Hurricane Sandy, Chroma Colossus—13 Visions of the City presents an important imagining of our relation to the space, sound, energy and resilience of New York. Beyond Waters, the quartet consists of Andrew Barker (drums), Chris McIntyre (trombone) and George Rush (Bass/Tuba). The album’s song cycle is based on a text by Brooklyn-based author and MacArthur Fellow Colson Whitehead, who reads a passage from his book The Colossus of Brooklyn on the song “Brooklyn Bridge“.

Composer Charles Waters was born and raised in North Carolina, but first emerged as an artist in the mid-1990’s in Atlanta as part of the Gold Sparkle Band. After moving to New York City in 1998, he became active in the Downtown music scene, composing for and playing saxophone and clarinet with The Gold Sparkle Band and Acid Birds. Waters has been featured on over fifty recordings and has released full-length releases for labels such as Squealer, Blackest Rainbow, Third Eye and QBICO.

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Towards a Harmonic Cartography

This record is a circle, a cycle, a wheel, a vinyl mandala! This music is formed around the Circle of Fifths, a day in the life, a sonic Greek Tragedy, a lifetime in an instant.

"Chroma Colossus" - Big Color! My program to intuitively map the harmonic sequences of the city, the cracks and tones of the streets and tunnels and trains, a chorus of 8 million singing the song of humanity. Different areas have different vibrations, perhaps different keys to open secret doors - the Grand Mystery of the City - Ever changing, Ever mutating, constantly stimulating and inspiring! This record is my ode to the city!

A Harmonic Cartography - a blend of sound and words, light and structure, emotion and collision.

Writers like Colson Whitehead (and Auster and Letham) have charted this terrain and music has described and survived the manic energy the city possess - it will eat you alive, but it can bring you to the rooftop too!

This record was written at the piano intentionally. I wanted to feel the progressions of the harmonic landscape - cartography. So elements were reconstructed from cassette tape records (re: Prefuse 73) some transcribed snippets from lost corner store visits - a floating sound into the street - everywhere in the city is music - survival music - composing in order to survive.

Because the period where this work sprouted was dark and being a 9/11 survivor myself, it became particularly dark. I had to compose my path out, reconstruct the city I once knew while pushing forward towards understanding - it was a tough battle, but the city rewards those who dig in and love with open hearts. I was defeated, then reached a salvation through music.

I have deepest admiration for the other musicians in my quartet - Andrew Barker, Chris McIntyre, and George Rush - amazing and versatile players with super energy.

This work was originally premiered at now defunct Tonic in April 2004, a most beautiful hothouse of innovation during my early years in the city. The pieces has also been played in Chicago in June 2004 (w/ Mr. Barker adding Jeb Bishop and Kent Kessler - another amazing batch of players!) "Chroma Colossus" was played at The Stone too...

And now 2013, the city is vastly rebuilt, reworked, and resounded! But Hurricane Sandy has another definitive marker in the history of the city and my own life - I may have finished my harmonic cartography of the Big Apple. But finalizing this document, revisiting these nascent sonic ghosts feels vital and refreshing. This City of Eternal Re-Invention, this Colossus of New York, this is where I decided to make my stand and I hope you enjoy the results of my explorations.

-Charles Waters - March 2013/ NYC

credits

released September 24, 2013

Charles Waters (saxophone, clarinet)
Andrew Barker (drums)
Chris Mcintyre (trombone)
George Rush (bass)

Chroma Colossus recorded @ Original Monkeytown Loft, Leonard St, Brooklyn, NY
Supervising Engineer - Montgomery Knott

Mastered by Liberty Ellman at 4D Studios Brooklyn

Design by Meredyth Sparks

Colson Whitehead appears on "Brooklyn Bridge"

"Auster Chord" bonus track
Performed by Anti-Social Music
Chris Bacas and Andrea La Rosec (flute)
Pat Muchmore and John Wriggle (trombones)
Jacob Wick and Nate Wooley (trumpets)

Recorded at the Festival Of New Trumpet September 28, 2008 at St. Mark's Church in the Bowery.

All songs copyright control © Nu Iron Music, BMI 2013

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