Vampire Suit is excited to announce the imminent release of A New Song, a follow up to Gaze at Your Omphalos, its debut release from 2004. In support of the new release, Vampire Suit will perform at the Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia St., NYC on September 25th at 8:30 pm.
A New Song continues the concept that is at the heart of Vampire Suit's music - to forge musical materials from around the world into a new, unique whole--a new tradition for a generation that draws upon so many traditions--and to create music that taps into our collective unconscious, while being unmistakably new. The texture of the music defies definition, owing as much to Balkan and Middle Eastern rhythms, as it does to forms and harmonies of contemporary chamber music, with extended emotional improvising rooted in jazz and blues. The fire and spirit of folk dance music underlies everything, while the contemporary touches make the music a joy to the mind as it is to the body.
A New Song finds Vampire Suit a much more mature band than in its previous release. In an effort to further meld musical elements in a cohesive fashion, Vilnai's compositions are tighter, using less material to draw on more influences, and developing it to the max to create a powerful, individual piece. 'Marketplace', for instance, sounds like a typical North African Debka at a casual listen. But more attention reveals that the tunes subtle harmonic shifts, chromatic harmonic lines and tight-knit form are all evidence of a post Stravinsky and Bartok world. 'New Dance' kicks off in a typical Romanian 9/8 rhythm and melody, but the material is quickly developed and expanded into rhythmic and textural interplay, where related themes are bounced back and forth between instruments. 'Jasmine' is more obviously modern, incorporating bi-tonality, 20th century pitch sets and an extended form, while still being informed by the drive of Middle Eastern melody and rhythm, and boasts an interlude in the spirit of (and using materials from) Bartok's violin duets.
But of course, the compositions would be nothing without the musicians performing it. Over the years since '...Omphalos' the musicians of Vampire Suit have established themselves in the jazz and world music scene in New York. Between the five of them, they have played with every important jazz-world music ensemble, including Paradox Trio, Midrash Mish Mosh, Nation Beat, Kaiku, Romashka, Ansmabl Mastika, Anistar, Ljova's Vjola Contraband and many more. They have collaborated with musicians from around the globe and running the gamut of musical styles. And they have shared the stage and studio with jazz, pop and experimental music groups. Each one brings the wealth of musical experience into play on the record, catching on to the various suggestions made by the melodies and structure, and bringing in a world of personal experience in Balkan, Middle Eastern, Brazilian, American and almost any other style and tradition of music.
It has taken Vampire Suit over three years to record an album of new material. The time was necessary to develop in every aspect, from composition to performance to improvising. Now that it has arrived 'A New Song' stand as an powerful and original testament of the global reach of musical language and of the strings that connect us all. While it is immersed in the music of past cultures, Vampire Suit's music is a also product of its time, a time that can incorporate all these traditions into music that truly is 'A New Song'.
“The music has enduring beauty that touches on the heart of the Middle East's musical culture while exhibiting western flair. Open improvisations and the spirit of the belly dance coexist, encouraging the traditional undulated hip movements as a supplement to the solid instrumentation..." --Frank Rubolino Cadence Magazine
“If Bram Stoker's imaginary Transylvania had a jazz scene, the music might sound something like this." -Jazz Review
A New Song continues the concept that is at the heart of Vampire Suit's music - to forge musical materials from around the world into a new, unique whole--a new tradition for a generation that draws upon so many traditions--and to create music that taps into our collective unconscious, while being unmistakably new. The texture of the music defies definition, owing as much to Balkan and Middle Eastern rhythms, as it does to forms and harmonies of contemporary chamber music, with extended emotional improvising rooted in jazz and blues. The fire and spirit of folk dance music underlies everything, while the contemporary touches make the music a joy to the mind as it is to the body.
A New Song finds Vampire Suit a much more mature band than in its previous release. In an effort to further meld musical elements in a cohesive fashion, Vilnai's compositions are tighter, using less material to draw on more influences, and developing it to the max to create a powerful, individual piece. 'Marketplace', for instance, sounds like a typical North African Debka at a casual listen. But more attention reveals that the tunes subtle harmonic shifts, chromatic harmonic lines and tight-knit form are all evidence of a post Stravinsky and Bartok world. 'New Dance' kicks off in a typical Romanian 9/8 rhythm and melody, but the material is quickly developed and expanded into rhythmic and textural interplay, where related themes are bounced back and forth between instruments. 'Jasmine' is more obviously modern, incorporating bi-tonality, 20th century pitch sets and an extended form, while still being informed by the drive of Middle Eastern melody and rhythm, and boasts an interlude in the spirit of (and using materials from) Bartok's violin duets.
But of course, the compositions would be nothing without the musicians performing it. Over the years since '...Omphalos' the musicians of Vampire Suit have established themselves in the jazz and world music scene in New York. Between the five of them, they have played with every important jazz-world music ensemble, including Paradox Trio, Midrash Mish Mosh, Nation Beat, Kaiku, Romashka, Ansmabl Mastika, Anistar, Ljova's Vjola Contraband and many more. They have collaborated with musicians from around the globe and running the gamut of musical styles. And they have shared the stage and studio with jazz, pop and experimental music groups. Each one brings the wealth of musical experience into play on the record, catching on to the various suggestions made by the melodies and structure, and bringing in a world of personal experience in Balkan, Middle Eastern, Brazilian, American and almost any other style and tradition of music.
It has taken Vampire Suit over three years to record an album of new material. The time was necessary to develop in every aspect, from composition to performance to improvising. Now that it has arrived 'A New Song' stand as an powerful and original testament of the global reach of musical language and of the strings that connect us all. While it is immersed in the music of past cultures, Vampire Suit's music is a also product of its time, a time that can incorporate all these traditions into music that truly is 'A New Song'.
“The music has enduring beauty that touches on the heart of the Middle East's musical culture while exhibiting western flair. Open improvisations and the spirit of the belly dance coexist, encouraging the traditional undulated hip movements as a supplement to the solid instrumentation..." --Frank Rubolino Cadence Magazine
“If Bram Stoker's imaginary Transylvania had a jazz scene, the music might sound something like this." -Jazz Review
For more information contact All About Jazz.
