Songs of the Nations

Spooky Actions | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 8, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: The Orchard
• ASIN: B0002ABUA2
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,820,301 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Dog Feast

2. Ghost Dance

3. Corn Dance

4. Behold the Dawn

5. Chippewa Lullaby

6. Sun Dance

7. Zuni Lullaby

Editorial Reviews

Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation

It wouldn't be hard for you to imagine yourself 'round a tribal campfire, listening to the stars tell ancient stories.

From the Artist

Spooky Actions is a New York based jazz and new-music ensemble whose diverse recordings include the music of 20th century composer Anton Webern, interpretations of Native American music, and most recently, early music from the 2nd century BC through the 1500’s. Their unique and compelling sound is being met with critical acclaim and widespread interest.

The band was founded in 1997 by John Gunther (sax, clarinet, & flute) and Bruce Arnold (electric processed guitar). The two musicians, both professors at New York University, jammed and felt an immediate musical affinity. When they both started bringing in classical music to improvise over, they were inspired to start making their own transcriptions of early and modern classical music and to create a series of recording projects.

"I’ve often thought of music as a vessel of the human spirit, a message in a bottle that can travel across an ocean of time, and deliver a "note" from Bach, or Charlie Parker." So writes John Gunther in his essay for their latest release "Early Music." "Perhaps embedded in the intervals and sequences of the melody and rhythm are the thoughts and emotions of the composers themselves" he continues. Thus he states the raison d’être for Spooky Actions, and its continued mining of diverse repertoire for examination and re-interpretation.

The name Spooky Actions is derived from a comment by Albert Einstein, in which he noted that certain seemingly unrelated objects could nevertheless exert a powerful influence upon each other. He called these relationships "spooky actions at a distance." Spooky Actions, the band, certainly personifies this concept, showing how vivid and accessible improvisations can be derived from music that is often thought of as "etched in stone."

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely AWFUL!!, November 21, 2010

By 

lakotakat "Kathy S." (Loves Park, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songs of the Nations (Audio CD)

Why this CD even got made is a mystery... It is a total "ripoff" of the current desire of many wannabes for "acceptable" Native American music. It's not worth the plastic it is printed on! The cover for this CD presents the idea that the music is Native American. Forget it - it doesn't even come close!! I am Lakota/No. Cheyenne/Anishinaabe and very deeply offended by this ridiculous CD!