Countermelody, by Evan Arntzen

Countermelody

by Evan Arntzen

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bassclarinet604 This is the soundtrack of light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel summer joy. I’ve been walking and biking around the city with this on my little speaker and people keep complementing the music. It is uplifting for these difficult times!

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Countermelody (CD)
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ARTIST: Evan Arntzen

MUSICIANS:

Evan Arntzen – reeds, voice
Jon-Erik Kellso – trumpet
Mike Davis – trumpet
Charlie Halloran – trombone
Arnt Arntzen – guitar, banjo
Dalton Ridenhour – piano
Tal Ronen – bass
Mark McLean – drums

Special Guest: Catherine Russell – voice

Release Date: April 16, 2021

Countermelody Now Ready For Pre-Order

Muskrat Ramble Single

Bu’s March Single

TRACK LISTING:

Muskrat Ramble 5:14 | 2. 18th Street Strut – 3:52 | 3. Camp Meeting Blues – 3:55 | 4. Georgia Cabin – 3:44 | 5. Put ‘Em Down Blues – 5:29 | 6. When Erastus Plays His Old Kazoo – 4:36 | 7. Smiles – 2:33 | 8. If You Were Mine – 4:04 | 9. Down by The Riverside – 5:01 | 10. Alvita – 5:23 | 11. Counter Intuitive – 6:24 | 12. Bu’s March – 5:16 | 13. Solitarity – 4:22 | 14. After You’ve Gone (cylinder) – 2:09 | 15. Muskrat Ramble (cylinder) – 2:26

Evan Arntzen, renowned multi-reedist, vocalist and bandleader, presents his third album as a bandleader, Countermelody. This uplifting new release is a celebration of the interplay, collective improvisation and soulful counterpoint that played such a big role in Black American Music emanating from New Orleans in the first half of the 20th century. During a time when convening is all but impossible, Countermelody brings the gaiety of live music to the recorded realm.

Countermelody brings early-jazz-exuberance to an eager present in a release which author and Louis Armstrong historian, Ricky Riccardi, calls “the very definition of timeless” in the album’s liner notes. Arntzen’s Dot Time Records debut features many of his own astounding arrangements of early New Orleans and Chicago jazz compositions written by such luminaries as Kid Ory, King Oliver, Sidney Bechet and Bennie Moten. The release also features wonderfully innovative compositions by Arntzen, Halloran and Kellso. Aside from thirteen hi-fidelity tracks, listeners will also be treated to tracks that were recorded to wax cylinder, a medium that actually predates when much of this music was composed.

Includes unlimited streaming of Countermelody via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. ... more

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1.	Muskrat Ramble 05:13	lyrics	buy track
Look at 'em shufflin', shufflin' down Ramblin' scramblin' and headin' for town Hustlin' bustlin' and buzzin' around Happily awaiting at the station Look at the train the number seven-oh-nine Huffin' and puffin' and arrivin' on time Who do you think's about to arrive The band they call the Sugarfoot Five They're gonna play that Muskrat Ramble too The way you never ever heard it played Get ready for the big parade All together now One and two C'mon and join the happy throng Feel the beat of that ramblin' scramblin' muskrat song C'mon and ramble along Now look at 'em shufflin' a'shufflin down Look at the band paradin' all over town Look at the happiness goin' around Everybody's up and celebratin' Look at the drummer entertaining the gang Clingin' and clangin' with a bing and a bang Changin' the town from dead to alive The band they call the Sugarfoot Five They're gonna play that Muskrat Ramble too The way you never ever heard it played Get ready for the big parade All together now One and two C'mon and join the happy throng Feel the beat of that hustlin' bustlin' muskrat song C'mon and ramble along
2.	18th Street Strut 03:52	info	buy track
3.	Camp Meeting Blues 03:54		buy track
4.	Georgia Cabin 03:44	lyrics	buy track
Let me tell you now of a land of dreams Where they weave love's magic in pale moon beams Yes I've found a place that's paradise it seems Talkin' 'bout my Georgia Cabin In the cool of evening at twilight's end There's a road that leads us around the bend I can hear it calling return again To your Georgia Cabin Pine trees whisper to the stars at night Shadows flicker in that camp fire light We must be standing at heaven's door So c'mon now my baby what're we waiting for Take me home where the river runs down to the sea To a place where we can let our hearts run free I can hear it calling you and me My little Georgia Cabin
5.	Put 'Em Down Blues 05:28		buy track
6.	When Erastus Plays His Old Kazoo 04:35		buy track
7.	Smiles 02:33		buy track
8.	If You Were Mine 04:04	lyrics	buy track
When I make a wish When I say a prayer You are always in each one Not another thing for which I care Not a thing beneath the sun My one dream come true My one wish is you If you were mine I could be a ruler of kings And if you were mine I could do such wonderful thing I'd say to a star stop where you are Light up my lover's way And every star above you would obey Say, if you were mine I would live for your love alone To kneel at your shrine I would give up all that I own Yes, even my heart Even my life I'd trade it all for you And think I was lucky too If you were mine
9.	Down by The Riverside 05:01		buy track
10.	Alvita 05:22		buy track
11.	Counter Intuitive 06:23		buy track
12.	Bu's March 05:15		buy track
13.	Solitarity 04:21		buy track
14.	After You've Gone (Wax Cylinder Sessions) 02:09	lyrics	buy track
So listen honey while I say How can you tell me that you're going away Don't say that we must part Don't break my achin' heart You know I loved you true for many a'year Loved you night and day How can you leave me, can't you see my tears So listen while I say After you've gone and left me cryin' After you've gone there's no denyin' You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had, Lord They'll come a time, now don't forget it They'll come a time, you will regret it Someday, when you are lonely Your heart will break like mine You'll want me only After you've gone After you've gone away Someday, when you grow lonely Your heart will break like mine You'll want me only After you've gone After you've gone away
15.	Muskrat Ramble (Wax Cylinder Sessions) 02:25	lyrics	buy track
Look at 'em shufflin', shufflin' down Ramblin' scramblin' and headin' for town Hustlin' bustlin' and buzzin' around Happily awaiting at the station Look at the train the number seven-oh-nine Huffin' and puffin' and arrivin' on time Who do you think's about to arrive The band they call the Sugarfoot Five They're gonna play that Muskrat Ramble too The way you never ever heard it played Get ready for the big parade All together now One and two C'mon and join the happy throng Feel the beat of that ramblin' scramblin' muskrat song C'mon and ramble along

about

visit dottimerecords.com/product/evan-arntzen-countermelody

Evan Arntzen, renowned multi-reedist, vocalist and bandleader, presents his third album as a bandleader, Countermelody. This uplifting new release is a celebration of the interplay, collective improvisation and soulful counterpoint that played such a big role in Black American Music emanating from New Orleans in the first half of the 20th century. During a time when convening is all but impossible, Countermelody brings the gaiety of live music to the recorded realm.

Countermelody brings early-jazz-exuberance to an eager present in a release which author and Louis Armstrong historian, Ricky Riccardi, calls “the very definition of timeless” in the album’s liner notes. Arntzen’s Dot Time Records debut features many of his own astounding arrangements of early New Orleans and Chicago jazz compositions written by such luminaries as Kid Ory, King Oliver, Sidney Bechet and Bennie Moten. The release also features wonderfully innovative compositions by Arntzen, Halloran and Kellso. Aside from thirteen hi-fidelity tracks, listeners will also be treated to tracks that were recorded to wax cylinder, a medium that actually predates when much of this music was composed.

credits

released April 16, 2021

"Countermelody" by Evan Arntzen

Personnel:

Evan Arntzen - clarinet, soprano sax, tenor sax, vocals (track 4)
Charlie Halloran - trombone
Jon-Erik Kellso - trumpet
Mike Davis - trumpet
Arnt Arntzen - guitar, banjo
Dalton Ridenhour - piano
Tal Ronen - bass
Mark McLean - drums
Catherine Russell – vocals (tracks 1, 8, 14, 15)

Produced by Scout Opatut, 4/4 Creative
Released by Dot Time Records
Project Manager/Spiritual Advisor: Jerry Roche
Recorded Oct. 2nd & 3rd, 2020, Big Orange Sheep Studios, Brooklyn, NY
Engineered, Mixed & Mastered by Michael Perez-Cisneros
Assistant Engineered by Kevin Thomas
Wax Cylinders Engineered by Colin Hancock, Semper Phonograph Co.
Cylinder Recordings restored & transferred by John Levin using CPS1 Cylinder Playback System with V-Trace Cartridge
Cover Photo by: B.A. Van Sise
Design by: Jaime Ford
Bu's March Design by: Dani Mari

Track listing and credits:

• Muskrat Ramble – 5:14 (Music by Edward “Kid” Ory, 1926, lyrics by Ray Gilbert, 1950)
• 18th Street Strut – 3:52 (Bennie Moten, 1926)
• Camp Meeting Blues – 3:55 (Joe “King” Oliver, 1923)
• Georgia Cabin – 3:44 (Sidney Bechet and Mary E. Karoley, 1941)
• Put ‘Em Down Blues – 5:29 (Eloise Bennett, 1927)
• When Erastus Plays His Old Kazoo – 4:36 (Sammy Fain, 1928)
• Smiles – 2:33 (Leland Stanford Roberts, 1917)
• If You Were Mine – 4:04 (Matty Malneck and Johnny Mercer, 1935)
• Down by The Riverside – 5:01 (Spiritual)
• Alvita – 5:23 (Charlie Halloran, 2020)
• Counter Intuitive – 6:24 (Jon-Erik Kellso, 2020)
• Bu’s March – 5:16 (Benny Green, 1991)
• Solitarity – 4:22 (Evan Arntzen, 2020)
• After You’ve Gone (cylinder) – 2:09 (Music by Turner Layton, lyrics by Henry Creamer, 1918)
• Muskrat Ramble (cylinder) – 2:26 (Music by Edward “Kid” Ory, 1926, lyrics by Ray Gilbert, 1950)
Total Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes

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about

Evan Arntzen New York, New York

Evan Arntzen is a clarinetist, saxophonist and vocalist originally from Vancouver, BC. He is the third generation of a musical family, and began learning New-Orleans-style clarinet from his grandfather, Lloyd Arntzen, at the age of seven.

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