★OODiscs
A Decade
1994 release ** "Zeitgeist is an oddly comprised quartet with two percussionists, a keyboardist, and a woodwind player. Here, they perform four pieces by Frederic Rzewski written between 1984 and 1993, works rather different in character than the neo-romantic piano pieces for which he's better known. "Wails" derives influence from Greek theater, particularly Aeschylus, employing steel drums, sopranino saxophone, and bass clarinet in a very dance-like piece full of reedy twirls and light rhythms.…
De Profundis / Piano Piece No IV / Piano Sonata / Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues
1995 release ** "This reading by Anthony de Mare of pianist Frederic Rzewski's compositions is a revelatory reading, in that those works that were written for piano and voice have never been heard outside of the composer's own interpretations. There's the amplified heavy breathing at the beginning of "De Profundis" that gives way to an angular series of scalar arpeggios and staccato phrasing before a long written oratory inspired by Oscar Wilde. At over 26 minutes, and composed for de Mare, Rzew…
Edible Black Ink
1996 release ** "Joyous melodies, pop music textures, rhythm complexity of a Frank Zappa-sort, re-working of material quoted from Baroque-period composers, and a generous sense of humor all work together to make an interesting and entertaining collection of new works from this Los Angeles-based composer. Performed by the California Ear Unit, selections include: "The Vulture's Garden" (1990), "Edible Black Ink" (1989), "Murphy Nights" (1989), "Count Your Change" (1989), "Clean Your Gun" (1991), "…