The Squid's Ear Magazine

Barnyard Drama

Memories and a List of Things to Do

Barnyard Drama: Memories and a List of Things to Do (Barnyard)

Drummer and electronic artist Jean Martin joins forces with amazing vocalist Christine Duncan for an album of rhythmic soundscapes and free vocal improvisation.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Jean Martin-drums, turntables, loops, voice, trumpet

Christine Duncan-voice


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UPC: 777320114129

Label: Barnyard
Catalog ID: BR 0301
Squidco Product Code: 14837

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2003
Country: Canada
Packaging: Jewel Tray

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"A classically trained singer with a five-octave range and a long track record in contemporary vocal music (including wicked extended techniques), despite her young age, is singing jazz standards accompanied by a free improv drummer who also spins records and digital loops. That's Barnyard Drama's debut album stripped to its bare essentials.

Christine Duncan goes back and forth between the most seductive torch song singer ("A Cold Dawn," Cole Porter's "Miss Otis Regrets") to abstract vocalizations and throat singing evoking the circus freak stylings of Phil Minton and Jaap Blonk. Jean Martin is solely responsible for dressing up the songs and making sure that Duncan's improvised flights are suitably framed. He spends little time sitting behind the drum kit, preferring instead to weave simple soundscapes put together from old vinyl, looped field recordings, and hand percussion. The result is impressive and daring in its alignment of chaotic, free-form passages ("Sister Mary" and the first half of "Invited Ghosts, Just in for the Evening," before it morphs into a troubled rendition of Mongo Santamaria's "Afro Blue") and crowd-pleasing standards given a modern film noir reading.

On first listen, the ear is drawn to Duncan's voice: seductive and pleasant with a touch of lightness that makes her sound debonair or charmingly childish. Further listens reveal the troubled backgrounds, the studio trickery (Duncan's voice answering itself in "Sister Mary," the mesmerizing vocal effects in "Matilda and Geraldine"), and the unusual - and artistically sound - crossover appeal of the music. Highly recommended."-Francois Couture, All Music


Artist Biographies

"Musician, producer, Jean Martin was nominated for best drummer for the 2004 National Jazz Awards and is the recipient of the 2004 Freddy Stone Award. This award from the Minden foundation is for outstanding leadership, integrity and excellence in the area of contemporary music and Jazz

His group Barnyard Drama is an improvising duo featuring vocalist Christine Duncan. They toured Canadian festivals, summer 2004, promoting a CD intitled Memories and a list of things to do. The new cd I'm a Navvy was launched at the prestigious FIMAV and features guitarists Justin Haynes and Bernard Falaise.

Other recent releases are with trio Idiolalla with singers DB Boyko and Christine Duncan and the Vancouver based group Laconnor, this electronic, musique actuel group features Francois Houle on clarinet and lap top, Jesse Zubot on violin and lap top and Jean on drums and electronics. Laconnor toured Canadian Jazz festival 2006.

Jean has appeared and collaborated with: Eugene Chadbourne, Joe Fonda, Jesse Zubot, Juno nominated DD Jackson, David Murray, Don Byron, Dominic Duval, Mark Dresser, Wilbert de Joode, John Oswald, Francois Houle, Jean Derome, Frank Gratowski, Chelsea Bridge, Kevin Turcotte, Peggy Lee, Tony Wilson, Brad Turner, Lori Freedman, Tom Walsh, Pierre Tanguay, Marilyn Lerner, The National Arts Centre Orchestra, legendary Canadian blues man Dutch Mason, Andy Stochansky, Zubot & Dawson, Bob Fenton, Roddy Ellias, Tim Postgate's Jazzstory, Christine Duncan, Hugh Fraser, George Kohler, Bob Murphy, David Mott, The Bitches Brew Band, Rob Frayne, The Jivewires, Micheal Occhipinti, Rich Underhill, Justin Haynes, Hugh Marsh, The Henry's and many others.

He has appeared on a one hour TFO and BRAVO TV jazz special entitled, "DUOS" performing improvisations with Award winning trumpeter Kevin Turcotte. Jean participated in a new project put together by Ajay Heble and the Guelph Jazz festival. A Jazz Opera with the music of DD Jackson, featuring Peggy Lee, Brad Turner, John Geggie and Dean Boman among others. This piece was performed for the 10th annual Jazz festival in Guelph and in Vancouver in September 2003.

With the Jean Martin Trio: he has recorded 2 CD's and has toured Canada on three occasions, performing at most Jazz festivals in this country. The latest recording a completely improvised work was released with a tour in November 2003. The trio features guitarist Justin Haynes and national jazz awards winner, trumpeter Kevin Turcotte.

With Chelsea Bridge: He has released 5 CD's on Unity Page Records, has done 4 Canadian tours from '92 to '97, was featured at the Blue Note in NYC , the Molda International Jazz Festival in Norway and the Washington DC Jazz Fest (Canadian Jazz Ambassador Series).

With Juno winner DD Jackson: He has released 2 CD's on Justin Time Records, has toured France (including: Maubeuge & Rouen International Jazz Festivals, Feb. '97), 2 Canadian tours in '94 & '95 and was featured at various venues in Northern USA (Montana, Seattle, Buffalo and various clubs in NYC) including a CD release gig at the Fez Jazz Club in NYC, with legendary saxophonist David Murray."

-Barnyard Records (http://www.barnyardrecords.com/bio%20jean%20martin.html)
3/13/2024

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

"Christine Duncan began learning her craft in church. A minister's daughter, she performed with her musical family "The Duncans" in gospel shows on stages across North America from the age of five. When she was 15 she recorded her first album of her own original gospel tunes in Nashville.

Inevitably her roots led her from gospel and inspirational music to soul, singer songwriter folk music, R&B/blues, jazz and more recently, new music and improvised music. Since 1994, she has released 5 albums under her own name, and has been involved in many other recording projects, including 2 albums with the Hugh Fraser VEJI big band.

A musical chameleon with a near five octave range, Duncan uses her voice as an instrument, exploring its full tonal, timbral and textural range. She has recorded and/or collaborated with Bob Murphy, Hugh Fraser, Miles Black, Veda Hille, Paul Plimley, Danielle Palardy Roger, Jean Martin and performed with such names as Kenny Wheeler, Rufus Reid, Dave Young, P.J. Perry, Ray Charles, Linton Garner, Paul Horn, Jeff Healey, Andre Crouch, Sabeer Mateen, John Oswald, Paul Dutton, Nobuo Kabota and many others.

Recently she performed in 120 Songs for the Marquis de Sade, winner of the Alcan Performing Arts Award: Music/Opera 2002; a new opera premiere, written by Peter Hannan and Peter Hinton, which was presented in Vancouver BC, by Modern Baroque Opera and Vancouver New Music, in March, 2002.

Along with Christine's rapidly growing audience has come recognition in the form of a nomination for the Alcan and Pacific Music Industry Assn. 1997 West Coast Female Vocalist of the Year. She was also the subject of a CTV/BC Film funded documentary-portrait entitled Coming Home: Christine Duncan at Christ Church Cathedral, currently showing on BRAVO."

-Barnyard Records (http://www.barnyardrecords.com/bio%20christine.html)
3/13/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. Invited Ghosts, just in for the evening & afro blue 12:13

2. I Can't Hear You 5:45

3. Matilda and Geraldine 3:37

4. A Cold Dawn 4:59

5. Dear one, the World if waiting for the Sunrise 3:27

6. Little Drama, minor madness & barnyard 7:58

7. Miss Otis Regrets 5:15

8. Sister Mary 4:44

9. Gordon 3:49

10. Dodo 5:38

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Electro-Acoustic
Electro-Acoustic Improv
Unusual Vocal Forms
Toronto Area Improvisation
Free Improvisation
Turntablists
Duo Recordings
Canadian Composition & Improvisation

Search for other titles on the label:
Barnyard.


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