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Asheville-based world fusion trio Free Planet Radio celebrates the release of their debut CD New Bedouin Dance. Combining musical ideas and instruments from around the globe, Free Planet Radio consists of Chris Rosser on Indian dotar, Turkish cumbus, guitars, piano, and melodica; River Guerguerian on Middle Eastern frame drums and doumbek, cajon, drumset, and other world percussion instruments; and Eliot Wadopian on electric and string basses. The trio began performing three years ago with the shared vision of exploring the infinite and seamless relationships between the musical cultures of the planet. Not only have they firmly established themselves on the stages and studios of Asheville's rich local music scene, but individually they have performed around the world with such groups as Paul Winter Consort, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, BBC Concert Orchestra, Sophie B. Hawkins, David Wilcox, Judy Collins and Glen Velez; have opened for John Mayer, Shawn Mullins, Nickel Creek, John Gorka and Tom Rush; and have appeared on over 200 recordings. Free Planet Radio New Bedouin Dance 1) Garden of the Beloved (Rosser, BMI) - a devotional piece bringing to mind the mystical writings of Rumi, Hafez and Baha'u'llah Chris: acoustic guitar, dotar, Rhodes, harmonium River: tabla, talking drum, cymbals, zils Eliot: string bass 2) Seventh Crossing (Rosser, BMI) - a 7/4 groove with a feeling of travel, be it physical or metaphysical Chris: cumbus oud, acoustic & electric guitars, melodica, harmonium River: drum kit, doumbek, coccoon rattles, gong Eliot: string bass 3) Bodhisattva (Rosser, BMI) - a simple pentatonic tune Chris: dotar, cumbus oud River: riq Eliot: string bass 4) New Bedouin Dance (Rosser, BMI) - Inspired by the music of groups like Oregon, early Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett. The trio arrangement introduces a Morroccan gypsy/Afro-Cuban flavor. Chris: acoustic guitar, Rhodes, melodica, harmonium, handclaps River: congas, doumbek, gourd, shaker, triangle, clave, handclaps Eliot: string bass, handclaps 5) Lalit's Friend (Rosser, BMI) - reminiscent of the haunting Indian classical morning raga, Lalit Chris: dotar, cumbus oud, electric sitar, electric guitar, harmonium, melodica River: frame drums, talking drum, gongs, bells, cymbal Eliot: string bass, fretless bass guitar 6) Radio Asheville (Rosser/Guerguerian/Wadopian, BMI) - from a one take spontaneous improvisation at the end of a long day in the studio Chris: Wurlitzer electric piano, cumbus oud, dotar, melodica River: drum kit, gongs, bells Eliot: electric bass guitar 7) Alap for Parshuram (Wadopian, BMI) This composition combines the techniques learned on bass and the sarangi (bowed Indian string instrument) from my great friend and teacher Parshuram Bandari. The last half of this composition is a liturgical piece from the Gregorian Chant 'For The Beauty of the Earth'. Eliot: string bass 8) Holly's Groove (Guerguerian, BMI) - The main rhythmic cycle is in 18/8 (3+5+3+7), is based in 2's and 3's, and has a Central Asian/Middle Eastern/Indian influence. The rhythmic structure is:18/8, 5/8, 18/8, 7/8, 7/4, 18/8, 12/8, 18/8. River: cajon, voice, riq, coccoon rattles, doumbek 9) Logic and Logos (Rosser/Guerguerian/Wadopian, BMI) - a collage of two sonic experiments Chris: electric guitar, dotar River: gongs, bells, frame drum Eliot: string bass --------.
