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  • Who Is This America?

    RAD-158

    Artist: Antibalas

    Label: Ropeadope

  • Bewildered Herd

    RAD-159

    Artist: The Dead Kenny G's

    Label: Ropeadope

  • Kosovo

    RAD-1121

    Artist: Clay Ross

    Label: Ropeadope

    In early 2006 I participated in a six-week tour of the Balkans with my co-led Brazilian Jazz group "Agora Quartet." This was part of the "Rhythm Road," a US State Department program run by Jazz at Lincoln Center and one of my first extensive tours abroad. We traveled to multiple cities in Greece, Turkey, and Macedonia including Istanbul, Athens, and Skopje. We also spent time in the "autonomous province" of Kosovo, one of the most intensely disputed territories in the region.

    Kosovo made a huge impression on me with its passionate people and history of war. With bombed out buildings and memorials at every turn the streets carry the sting of a slow healing wound. I found people guarded, but willing to share heart wrenching stories of injustice, betrayal, murder, and recycled grudges held over generations.

    An Albanian driver confessed that he felt "Serbian people are animals, nothing more than wretched street dogs." His conviction left me convinced of the depths of his anger. This was a difficult sentiment for me to understand. It made me wonder, "How can I help this man?"

    Luckily, I met others with more humanitarian attitudes. In the conservatories, young musicians filled me with hope. In spite of their hardships they gravitated towards free thought, optimism, and art. Like flowers in a dried up desert, they were thirsty for fresh ideas, new energy, and growth. In our exchange we shared a connection, oneness, and purpose through music.

    We can help others con...

  • Big Fun 3

    RAD-113

    Artist: Big Fun 3

    Label: Ropeadope

    It was Spring in Miami (2008) and Bruce Cohen sought kindred spirits for an organ trio. The goal was to recreate the vibe of the early electric Miles sessions (Bitches Brew–On the Corner) while incorporating some of the manic beauty of Tony Williams Lifetime.

    Right around that time, Rik Myers returned to the well-thumbed pages of Craigslist looking for opportunities to play improvised music with the dark mass and angularity of mid-70s King Crimson (Starless and Bible Black – Red) and encountered Bruce’s ad looking for a guitarist and drummer to round out a Hammond organ trio.

    After getting together to jam a couple times, it was clear that there was chemistry (Rik is actually a biochemist…) and the urge to merge with an improvising drummer brought them to collaborate with and audition drummers for several months before Bruce and Rik met Brandon Cruz, freshly returned to Miami from a stint at the New England Conservatory in Boston. Brandon can (and DOES) play anything…it just turns out he loves improvised music and had previously performed in Boston in a much-missed improvising group.

  • Sixth City Waltz

    RAD-112

    Artist: Clay Ross

    Label: Ropeadope

    This year Clay Ross will be serving up a new album of unrelated tracks, one song at a time. These little audible appetizers offer up all the sonic shape-shifting that one could desire. With influences from John Lennon to John Coltrane, these tracks speak straight from the shuffle generation. We'll be making deliveries, once a month, directly to you inside the Ropeadope community. That's between us, "Entre Nous" just me and you.

    Today's package comes in a little heart shaped box. Inside you will find a mariachi band parading through a construction zone en route to join a vegetarian for dinner at a steakhouse. That's how much we love you. Now go ahead and open it, "Sixth City Waltz," by Clay Ross.

    Lyrics

    At first I was sure you weren't talking to me, but your eyes they were cold as the sea.
    I stood in your stare and I thought "what to do?" In this moment is everything true.
    You must not be shy cause you came up to me, on the street, to invite me to eat
    Down at the bar past the workers ravine, cause choices are few and far between on this scene.

    How could I say no to you? Your smile is too gentle, your eyes are too blue
    How could I say no to you? Your smile is too gentle, your eyes are too blue
    For me to ignore.

    I followed behind you and sat at the bar and your silence revealed who you are.
    I'm now in a dream like a scene from no screen that no film lovers eyes have ever seen.

    How could I say no to you? Your smile is too gentle, your eyes a...

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