3 Haikus, by Joseph Benzola

3 Haikus

by Joseph Benzola

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1.	Opening Affirmation- For Joseph Jarman 02:50		buy track
2.	Ho Chi Minh- His Dreams & Visions by the Perfume River 13:47	info	buy track
3.	Folk Song #1 03:32	info	buy track
4.	The Spirit World 03:50	info	buy track
5.	Portraits of the Dead- Cecil Taylor 06:40	info	buy track
6.	Dance #1 03:38	info	buy track
7.	Samsara 11:08	lyrics	buy track
Solo piano.
8.	Dance #2 05:12	info	buy track
9.	Soma 08:19	info
10.	Three Haikus 04:09	info	buy track

about

For those unfamiliar with Joseph Benzola’s work-which has been abundant but very hard to find, one of the many contradictions about the man-it is usually after things that can’t be contained by words. There is atmosphere, yes, and abstractions and attention to details, sure. But this is all to serve something other, something mystical, the music that is behind a curtain of music.
Take “Ho Chi Minh-His Dreams & Visions By The Perfume River”, perhaps the most challenging piece here, which incorporates traditional percussion, prepared piano, electronics and the sampled voice of Ho Chi Minh himself. The title suggests it could be a piece of program music telling a linear story but instead it evokes the dreams and visions of the title-sometimes tumultuous, sometimes calm-to provide a soundscape as mysterious as its namesake (a man of mystery with countless pseudonyms as well as a seasoned politician). The piece is like a dream about a dream about a dream.
But through it all there is an organic, lived in feel to all of this music. Unlike so much pantonal music that falls under the category of “creative” or “avant garde” not a note or brush stroke seems gratuitous or misplaced. And what’s most striking is the sense of interplay between instruments here, especially when you realize this is the work of one man, working alone, overdubbing himself.
These are discouraging times for musicians and composers. With music of all eras and types available at the push of a button the competition to be heard, especially when dealing with music that doesn’t fit into any one, neat commercially viable category. The economic isolation of the creative musician alone can cause many to walk away. That music this rich and deep has been created in such a void is remarkable. But not as remarkable as the music itself which is quite possibly the best thing Benzola has ever done.
It is music of the spirit for dispiriting times.

Bill Amutis- WUSB Radio. Host of Jazz on the Air & No Apologies

credits

released February 17, 2019

All music and instruments: Joseph Benzola
Line notes written by Bill Amutis, WUSB SUNY Stony Brook
Cover Art: Walden 1987-1988 by Russell Floersch.

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about

Joseph Benzola New York, New York

Acoustic and Electro-Acoustic Composer and Creative Improviser. Played in the small and big bands of Makanda Ken McIntyre in the mid 1980's. Have released many solo albums since the early 1990's on my Amanita Music label. Currently involved in further development of my solo improvised language. ... more