So There

Steve Swallow (Performer), Morten Hannisdal (Performer), Steve Swallow (Composer), Cikada String Quartet (Performer), Steve Kuhn (Performer), Marek Konstantynowicz (Performer), Henrik Hannisdal (Performer), Odd Hannisdal (Performer), Robert Creeley (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Steve Swallow, Morten Hannisdal, Cikada String Quartet, Steve Kuhn, Marek Konstantynowicz, et al.
• Composer: Steve Swallow
• Audio CD (November 7, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ecm Records
• ASIN: B000J104M4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #160,670 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From the Artist
"The music derives from the structure of the

poems. I tried to get inside Robert's breathing as

he spoke the lines. Paradoxically, I think this has

resulted in my most heartfelt and personal music."

Steve Swallow

Product Description
So There is Steve Swallow's music for string quartet, piano and electric bass - inspired by

and featuring the poetry of Robert Creeley (1926 - 2005), one of the most important American

poets of the 20th century.

The album is a unique and hugely enjoyable synthesis of words and music, and includes

Creeley's last recordings before his untimely death.

Swallow recorded Creeley reading his poems in upstate New York, wrote new music around

the poet's speech rhythms, then flew to Oslo to complete the project with Steve Kuhn and the

Cikada String Quartet.

Delivering one of the great performances of his life, pianist Steve Kuhn shows the broad

range of his technique, from intensely melodic invention to free swirling sound masses,

inspired by Swallow's string quartet writing and the laconic readings of Creeley.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is what it's all about, March 22, 2007

By	Pollo Poulet (New York United States) - See all my reviews

If I were to say only one thing here- it would be my recommendation that you get a copy of this magnificent CD for your own. You'll thank yourself for it! This is deep and beautiful and touching. I haven't enjoyed or been moved by music and words this way in a very long time. Steve Swallow is a genius. Steve Kuhn has never sounded better, the strings are perfect and Robert Creeley truly had his finger on it. This is the human condition played to perfection. I'm buying it many times over to give to friends.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a treasure on several fronts, February 7, 2007

By	o dubhthaigh (north rustico, pei, canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Most notably, it presents Robert Creeley reading some of his memorable verse with sympathetic and imaginative accomapniement from Steve Swallow and his colleagues. This sin't Alan Ginsburg riffing with beatnick music, but two artists that are trying to get under the surface of each other's talents and shake the kaleidoscope up a bit. Largely, it all works. You will never listen to this at a party - it's something for your own soul, late at night when you are alone.
In that regard it puts me in mind of two other very moving collaborations: the CD by Liam O Flynn and Seamus Heaney from the mid-90's that evokes not just rural Northern Ireland, but that very essential Celtic Twilight that seems to enchant the soul; and the collaboartion among Bryan Murphy and Padraig Mc Giolla, with musician Breege Costello, called Ceolta na Sidhe - a Gaelic effort between Murphy and and Mc Giolla with incredibly haunting effects generated by Ms Costello.
In any case, that poetry and improvisational music should combine in a double helix is no surprise. That it continues to do so so effectively is a wonderful treat for the human soul in this troubled times.