Please find below live streaming of our CD, video, photos, links to bios and associated downloads for Judi Silvano and Bruce Arnold’s Projects.
Judi Silvano and Bruce Live Performance Photo (Download at bottom of Page)
Featuring:
Judi Silvano–Voice with Live Processing
Bruce Arnold–Guitar and SuperCollider
“The definitive breakdown of musical categorization was delivered in 1962 by Duke Ellington: “There are simply two kinds of music, good music and the other kind.” File this album in the Good Music section.”
–Steve Holtje, Manager, ESP-Disk
“This is some Beautiful Cosmic Music created by two of the most inventive musicians on the scene today.”
–Joe Lovano, 2016
“Brilliant. Love it; almost a Kraftwerk twist to it.”
–Rob Taylor nmblive.com, 2017
Featuring Judi Silvano on vocals & effects and Bruce Arnold on guitar & devices. There last time I reviewed a disc by Judi Silvano, was when she did a superb duo CD with the late Mal Waldron, somewhere around 2002, a long time ago. I’ve kept my eye and ear on guitarist Bruce Arnold since he collaborates with an odd selection of characters: Omar Tamez, Thomas Buckner, Roberta Piket and Ursel Schlict. So, I didn’t know what to expect when this disc appeared in our mail. It turns out this these two have created their own world, altered guitar and vocal/ sounds. I really like the opening song, a otherworldly blues with Judi’s hip-notic vocals harmonized with subtle alien effects. A sort of fairy-tale like vibe, rather like a distant relative to J.A.’s “White Rabbit’. Ms. Silvano sounds a bit like Iva Bittova on the aptly titled “Space Lullaby”, charming and child-like at times. Mr. Arnold seems to be using some spacey devices which sound more like electric bowed strings or even birdcalls. Ms. Silvano sounds like a sorceress on “My Neighborhood”, making quietly disturbing observations about her neighborhood. Silvano’s voice/singing are coming more from the Joan LaBarbara/Cathy Berberian school of experimental vocals. Effects and devices are used selectively here, never too weird or alien. Mr. Arnold does a great job of providing sumptuous sonic soundscapes without playing any predictable single note jazz solos. Mr. Arnold’s guitar sounds like an army of chanting monks as he plays those dark floating chords in the background. There definitely some strange moments where the odd alien vocals and spaced out guitar sounds seem to come from somewhere else far away. Whatever you do, you got to check out this one, “Great Plains”, there is something special going on here, completely enchanting with that great sly groove. This is followed by “Journey to Be Free”, another stunner, with a rocking’ groove but no rhythm team, just the guitar and voice. I certainly didn’t expect this disc to be the most surprising, odd gem of the month but that is what it is. Check out this duo at DMG next month.
– Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
Judi Silvano & Bruce Arnold challenging intuitive jazz guitar vocal duo Judi Silvano & Bruce Arnold – LISTEN TO THIS: There’s one cardinal rule you must not forget, whether you’re a listener, or a listener who also reviews… be SURE you don’t allow any preconceptions to get in the way of your listening progress… I’ve reviewed Judi’s excellent vocal work many times in the past (most recently in issue # 157), and Bruce’s guitar work is quite simply the stuff of legend around my review studio… (issue # 54)… if you check out the samples in those two issues, you’ll realize that what they are doing together is (significantly) different from exploratory works like the oddly titled “Cats Are Watching“… must have been some of those “psychedelic felines“, aye? The effects working together with Judi’s scat just WAKE your spirit UP… just LOVED this tune! To give you an idea of just how well they work together, here’s a clip (from a different set, not this album) that shows them creating jointly (whupps, Freudian slip, I guess, ha! ha)…
They move back to somewhat more familiar territory on “Complete Embrace“, but with neat and crispy little “bells” and superb synth sounds that compliment Judi’s silky smooth vocal very nicely… of course, the tune clocks in at a full 9:35, so that gives them more than enough room to explore each others’ creative genius… a relatively simple tune that will transport you (by the end-note) to symphonic (and hallucinatory) bliss!
The title track, “Listen To This“, is short (2:43), but there’s no doubt you’ll be flashing back to territory you thought you’d long left behind… if you’re like me, you’ll be hitting the replay button often on this one.
It is the (almost) “spoken-word” cut, “Journey To Be Free“, that (easily) gets my vote for personal favorite of the dozen sonic adventures offered up, though… hearing the transition from “out there” to “completely clear” on this tune will restore your faith in the real, and help you realize that “different” is often “better”. I give this totally-talented duo a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.99 for this superbly performed set of adventurous music.
– Rotcod Zzaj, Contemporary Fusion Reviews
The intuitive understanding between musicians is called “chemistry” and Listen To This, with Judi Silvano and Bruce Arnold has chemistry in abundance. The duets on this recording, some improvised, some composed, show a duo who are intensely tuned into every nuance as they follow the sonic twists and turns of these 12 striking songs. This is some deep listening.
While Judi Silvano may be best known for her extensive jazz catalogue, her passions extend well beyond, to embrace classical and free improv music. Her background in modern dance also adds an underlying spatial physicality. It is this spatial element that is particularly present on Listen To This, and a likely reason that working with Bruce Arnold proved to be so rewarding.
Hailing from Sioux Falls South Dakota, Bruce Arnold has been exploring the potentials of his beloved electric guitar for years, using the program SuperCollider to summon up atmospheric soundscapes. His added fascination with 12 tone and pitch class theory as applied to improvisation lends his playing a distinctive harmonic and melodic voice.
When the two artists decided to see where a duet situation would lead them, both were surprised at the ease with which they created engrossing, evocative music. “I couldn’t believe how comfortable Judi was with pedals and effects she had never used before.” says Arnold. “And what she did with them was so cool, it was great to improvise with; it felt very free to create along with her.” As for Silvano, she says “Bruce has exactly what I look for in a musician- he is literate, sensitive, and incredibly open in his approach.” To find out more about what equipment was used on this recording please see bottom of page.
Listen To This opens with “Remembrances” a bluesy rumination that is made sinister by the use of a half step combined with a major 3rd. A free improv that become a story of life’s complexity.
The other tracks on “Listen to This” are:
Track 1 “Remembrances”[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/judibruce/Remembrances.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
Track 2 “Space Lullaby”[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/judibruce/Space_Lullaby.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
Track 3 “My Neighborhood”[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/judibruce/My_Neighborhood.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
Track 4 “Cats Are Watching”[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/judibruce/Cats_Are_Watching.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
Track 5 “Complete Embrace”[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/judibruce/Complete_Embrace.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
Track 6 “Sioux Falls”[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/judibruce/Sioux_Falls.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
Track 7 “Travel Chant”[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/judibruce/Travel_Chant.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
Track 8 “In The Deep”[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/judibruce/In_The_Deep.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
Track 9 “Listen To This”[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/judibruce/Listen_To_This.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
Track 10 “Great Plains”[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/judibruce/Great_Plains.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
Track 11 “Journey To Be Free”[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/judibruce/Journey_To_Be_Free.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
Track 12 “Listen Again”[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/judibruce/Listen_Again.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
[s3bubbleVideoSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=”mp3/judibruce/MyNeighborhood.mp4″ aspect=”16:9″ autoplay=”false” download=”false”/]
Hi-Res Live Performance Photo Download
MP3 Download of “Great Plains.”
Wav Download of “Great Plains.”
This CD used extensive live audio processing of the voice and guitar. Below is a list of the equipment used:
Bruce Arnold’s Equipment:
Judi Silvano’s Equipment:
99 Word Bio
Judi Silvano may be best known for her work with some of the Jazz world’s greatest improvisors but her passions extend beyond, to embrace classical and free improv music. Her background in modern dance also adds a spatial element and this is a likely reason that working with Bruce Arnold has been so consonant.
Bruce Arnold has been creating soundscapes on the electric guitar for years, using the program SuperCollider. His explorations with 12 tone and pitch class theory as applied to improvisation in both jazz and classical settings lends his playing a distinctive harmonic and melodic voice.
153 Word Bio
Judi Silvano may be best known for her extensive work with some of the Jazz world’s greatest improvisors but her passions extend well beyond, to embrace classical and free improv music. Her background in modern dance also adds an underlying spatial physicality. This spatial element is a likely reason that working with Bruce Arnold proves to be so rewarding.
Hailing from Sioux Falls South Dakota, Bruce Arnold has been exploring the potentials of his beloved electric guitar for years, using the program SuperCollider to create atmospheric soundscapes. His fascination with 12 tone and pitch class theory as applied to improvisation in both jazz and classical settings lends his playing a distinctive harmonic and melodic voice.
Both artists had been traveling in the same circles without meeting until about three years ago. Surprised at the ease with which they created rich, evocative music they have since made a point of performing and recording together.
