The Australian Art Orchestra - Water Pushes Sand (2017) [Official Digital Download]

Water Pushes Sand is a major new musical work that sees virtuosic Chinese and Australian musicians reinvigorate the endangered music of China's Sichuan Province to create an entirely new sound world. Traditional Sichuan melodies and rhythms are fused with modern jazz improvisation in a wild intercultural celebration.

The Australian Art Orchestra, led by artistic director Peter Knight, is renowned for creating work that merges musical styles and cultures in a thrilling way. Australian Art Orchestra Associates Erik Griswold and Vanessa Tomlinson have been travelling to Sichuan for 15 years and their collaborations with musicians from Sichuan have produced three large-scale shows – Chengdu Streetsongs, Sichuan Fantasy, and The Wide Alley – that have toured in China, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

Drawing heavily on influences from the Art Ensemble of Chicago, The Australian Art Orchestra (AAO) was founded in 1994 with a commitment to exploring the meeting points between disciplines and cultures through the wonder of improvisation. Water Pushes Sand is one of the orchestra's most striking works, integrating elements of contemporary jazz and the traditional melodies, rhythms and cacophonous operatic style of Sichaun, China. Composer Erik Griswold concludes 15 years of research with this work, tapping five of the southern Chinese city's all-star musicians to join five members of the AAO for a colourful collage of winds, piano and percussion.

Tracklist:

01 - Joy at the Sunrise
02 - Here Come the Waves
03 - Rivers of Bicycles
04 - Forgotten Streets
05 - Bandong Chant
06 - Clouds in White
07 - Mapo Tofu
08 - Remember Harry
09 - Water Pushes Sand
10 - Changing Faces
11 - Joy at the Sunrise (Reprise)

Musicians:
Erik Griswold - Composer & Piano
Peter Knight - Artistic Director Australian Art Orchestra, Trumpet & Electronics
Samuel Pankhurst - Double Bass
Vanessa Tomlinson - Percussion
Mindy Meng Wang - Guzheng (Chinese Zither)


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