The Squid's Ear Magazine

Cundy, Chris

Of All The Common Flowers

Cundy, Chris: Of All The Common Flowers (Ear To The Ground)

Renowned for his work with Another Timbre and Confront, British bass clarinetist Chris Cundy presents his third solo album, blending contemporary classical elements, improvised sketches, and rhythmic motifs in fourteen captivating vignettes inspired by wildflowers, their fragile habitats, and peripheral landscapes, showcasing a masterful and virtuosic approach.
 

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Chris Cundy-bass clarinet


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UPC: 733968899859

Label: Ear To The Ground
Catalog ID: ETG212
Squidco Product Code: 35491

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2024
Country: UK
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold 3 Panels
Recorded at Red Carpet Studios, in Gloucestershire, UK, on April 19th and 20th, 2019 and prepared for release at Pink & Black in June 2024.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Following 2016's The Disruptive Forest (Confront) and 2020's Mountains (Aural Terrains), Of All The Common Flowers represents Chris Cundy's third album of solo unaccompanied bass clarinet music. Sitting somewhere between a modern folk vernacular and contemporary classical, the album is made up of over a dozen rhythmic motifs and improvisational sketches which offer meditations on wild flowers, their critical habitats and peripheral landscapes. Hearing the instrument on its own like this gives away an inner sonority, reaching into deep tonalities and moments of free playing.

Chris Cundy is based in south west England and in recent years has also spent much of his time on the east coast of Canada. For over two decades he has specialised in bass clarinet and rarified woodwinds, touring internationally as a solo artist as well as accompanying acts such as Little Annie, Timber Timbre, Guillemots and Cold Specks. He also directs Mutata Radio Orchestra which is made up of some of Europe's leading free improvisation and contemporary classical players and has written site-specific works which have recently been performed at The Roman Baths in Bath and for a number of other regional museums and heritage sites."-Ear To The Ground


Artist Biographies

"Playing bass clarinet, various saxophones, and other unusual woodwind instruments Chris splits his time between the UK where he lives and Canada. He has toured internationally with Cold Specks, Timber Timbre, Guillemots, and Fyfe Dangerfield and regularly accompanies songwriters such as Little Annie, Baby Dee, Devon Sproule, and Edd Donovan. His practice extends from popular music to theatre, experimental and improvised performances and he has appeared on over sixty commercial recordings. Recently Chris has started to release a series of albums under his own name.

Chris grew up in Medway, Kent and was drawn into the local music scene at a young age where he become friends with Billy Childish - artist, musician, and founder of Hangman Records & Books. During visits to Childish's kitchen Chris was exposed to the exploits of homemade music-making. This formative period instilled a DIY approach and by the time Chris was 14 he had already started out as a street busker. After hearing the Eric Dolphy Memorial Album he took up bass clarinet. He is self-taught.

He went on to study painting at Cheltenham art college. During this period he began to establish experimental projects including Grace & Delete - a duo with fellow painter and electronics musician James Dunn. He also started to explore self-developed playing techniques such as multi-phonics, circular breathing, micro tonality and generally speaking a more tactile approach to the instrument. This led him to working with composers including Thanos Chrysakis, and Pete M Wyer. At Cheltenham he also met songwriter Fyfe Dangerfield who he has continued to collaborate with on a number of occasions since - most notoriously as an additional saxophonist for the Mercury Prize nominated indie-pop group Guillemots.

Other projects include several albums with electronica group Longstone and performing music for Nofit State Circus. One off sessions have seen Chris performing with Moby, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Vieux Farka Touré, Fatoumata Diawara, Alexander Hawkins, and Lisa Hannigan. He has also written theatre music and recently worked with composer Jon Nicholls on an original soundtrack for Florian Zellar's The Mother starring Gina McKee."

-Chris Cundy Website (http://www.chriscundy.com/about.html)
12/11/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Violet Meadow 03:58

2. Song of Yarrow 03:13

3. Nettles 03:56

4. Bringing in Hawthorns 03:49

5. The Lilac Springs 01:26

6. Wild Strawberries 01:36

7. Christian's Thing 04:22

8. Tansy 00:38

9. White Lake 05:08

10. Hemlocks 03:31

11. A Border Dance 01:49

12. Wall of Flowers 02:56

13. Where the Wild Cuckooflower Grows 02:49

14. Song of Sloe 02:30

Related Categories of Interest:


Compositional Forms
Improvised Music
London & UK Improv & Related Scenes
Recordings by or featuring Reed & Wind Players
Solo Artist Recordings
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
New in Compositional Music
Recent Releases and Best Sellers

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Ear To The Ground.


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