David Friesen & John Stowell - Other Mansions (1980) [vinyl>flac]

Bassist David Friesen teams up with guitarist John Stowell in one of their many successful jazz duo endeavors on this classic Inner City re-release, featuring eight original songs by Friesen.

David Friesen has been widely hailed - and rightly so - for his abilities as a bassist. His command of the instrument puts him in a class with few others (check out the harmonics he gets), but what makes Friesen’s music unique is his heart. All of his music has purpose; there are no flashy solos for solo’s sake. Friesen is at once an awesome instrumentalist, a master storyteller and perceptive ensemble player.

Other Mansions teams Friesen with guitarist John Stowell, who has played on all of Friesen’s previous albums except Color Pool (Muse 5109), which was recorded before they met. Their constantly expanding common language has matured here, not only because of the cumulative nature of experience, but also because this is their first strictly duo outing.

Friesen and Stowell have a complementary empathy which gives the music a band sound that is the envy of many a larger group. What makes this possible - and beautiful - is their mutual respect for one another and a willingness to use structures as foundations without allowing those structures to become barriers. They don’t worry about stepping on each other’s toes, because they are thoughtful about every step they take. There is an ongoing sense of give and take.

They are in a class with few others in that their music projects their personalities forcefully without their personalities forcing the music. [This music] will be inspirational to anyone with an open ear and an open heart. ~ Extracts from Liner Notes by W. Patrick Hinely, February, 1980.

Inner City Records, IC 1086, 1980

Recorded November, 1979 at Producer's Studio, Eugene, Oregon

Personnel:

David Friesen - Acoustic Bass, Bamboo Flute, Bell Tree, Tabla Bass, Piano, Percussion

John Stowell - 6 String and 12 String Guitars, Mandolin, African Thumb Piano, Marimba, Percussion

Track Listing:

A1. Trilogy (7:02)

A2. Roof Tops (4:18)

A3. Tomorrow's Dream (5:33)

A4. My Soul Shall Weep In Secret Places (2:59)

B1. Other Mansions (6:14)

B2. All That Has Breath And Life (4:15)

B3. Bretheren Ascending (4:05)

B4. Land Of The Living (5:36)

All Compositions by David Friesen

Credits:

Producer - David Friesen

Recording Engineer - Steve Diamond

Bass Pickup - Don Underwood

Album Design - Suzanne Hill

Cover Photographs, Liner Notes - W. Patrick Hineley