Presented by BEN PEROWSKY
Featuring Guest Appearances by JOAN WASSER (Joan As Policewoman), BEBEL GILBERTO, MIHO HATORI (Cibo Matto), ELYSIAN FIELDS & STEVEN BERNSTEIN
Toiling away in his free time like a mad sonic scientist, drummer/composer Ben Perowsky has brought to life the Moodswing Orchestra, a creation much prettier than Frankenstein’s monster but no less hand-stitched in the laboratory. Featuring a host of NYC’s finest songsters and improvisers, Moodswing carves a bipolar path between hypnotic grooves and body-shaking trances. When offering inspiration to the diverse cast, Perowsky gave his collaborators one guiding edict: “Less Herbie, more Eno” and never had to offer any further direction. Perowsky is no stranger to aural collage. It’s been two decades since he co-founded the groundbreaking jazz/rock/hip-hop group Lost Tribe, and in the interim he’s bounced effortlessly between genres – as a first-call drummer for jazz artists like John Zorn, John Scofield, Dave Douglas and Uri Caine or as a contributor to rock acts like Elysian Fields, Joan as Policewoman and 101 Crustaceans or clocking session and road time with Rickie Lee Jones, Walter Becker, John Cale, Hercules & Love Affair, Rufus Wainwright, Belle And Sebastian, etc.
Press:
“The resultant sonic bath of swirling moody ambience and sensuous vocalismo sounds superbly seductive…A total sonic environment that can serve as the soundtrack to any movie you care to create for it.”
- Fort Worth Weekly
“A force that can’t be denied”
- Under the Radar
“A seductive sonic alloy…Soothing jams with striking originality and exceptional musicianship”
- Alarm Magazine
"Angular trip-hop improvisations lay the framework for hesitating and haunted female vocals."
- Village Voice
“ESSENTIAL…sounds more like Massive Attack than anything resembling jazz…Moodswing manages to mesmerize and thrill at the same time”
– Boston Globe
credits
released September 29, 2009
Ben Perowsky. drums.bells.sincussion.voice
Glenn Patscha. electric/acoustic piano.comb.voice tk. 4
Markus Miller. turntables.electronics.dial tones
Oren Bloedow. bass.voice tk. 4
Steven Bernstein. trumpet
Doug Wieselman. woodwinds
Marcus Rojas. tuba.voice.air
Pamelia Kurstin. theremin
Joan Wasser. voice tk. 1
Jennifer Charles. voice tk. 3, 8
Miho Hatori. voice tk. 6
Elyas Khan. voice tk. 5
Bebel Gilberto. voice tk. 4
Produced, Arranged & Edited by Ben Perowsky
Recorded at Unique Studios NYC by Pat Dillett
Additional Recording by Ben Perowsky on location
Mixed by Pat Dillett at Campo Studios
Mastered by UE at Sterling Sound
guest audio tools - Mr. Dorgon, Ted Reichman, Arcady Freeman, Samuel Baron (Karl Korte), William Parker
Photos/Design by Ben Perowsky
1. Sweet Adelaide 5:34 (B. Perowsky, G. Patscha, M. Miller, J. Wasser)
2. 1972 4:29 (B. Perowsky, G. Patscha, M. Miller, O. Bloedow)
3. Dolly 5:55 (B. Perowsky, G. Patscha, M. Miller, O. Bloedow, J. Charles)
4. Kings Fall 7:06 (B. Perowsky, G. Patscha, M. Miller, O. Bloedow, B. Gilberto)
5. Till U Die 3:01 (B. Perowsky, G. Patscha, M. Miller, O. Bloedow, E. Khan)
6. Land of Snow 4:28 (B. Perowsky, G. Patscha, M. Miller, O. Bloedow, M. Hatori)
7. High Waters 4:08 (B. Perowsky, G. Patscha, M. Miller, O. Bloedow)
8. Birds on Fire 5:39 (B. Perowsky, G. Patscha, M. Miller, J. Charles)
9. Acheron Way 3:21 (B. Perowsky, G. Patscha, M. Miller, O. Bloedow)
Drummer Ben Perowsky’s notable career has placed him among a small vanguard of players able to move between jazz, experimental music and cutting edge pop and rock. His extensive list of credits and collaborators can be seen on his website: perowsky.com
supported by 6 fans who also own “Moodswing Orchestra”
This quintet has acquired legendary status as a working unit...all the musicians are exemplary at their craft and DD is one of my 'Big5'...he is an exquisite composer of both depth and breadth of vision...you can instantly recognise Dave's DNA in a tune...what's more, you feel there is also so much more to come!;his powers of expression are so special.
These compositions are from the heart and I can only suggest that you take them to yours...
John Cratchley
supported by 6 fans who also own “Moodswing Orchestra”
Yes,yes,yes! I've been waiting for Dave to do this again...two brilliant runs by DDQ and Keystone were documented on Greenleaf back in the day; they were groundbreaking...recorded and released within 24 hours for each set...they were stellar performances and I play them again and again.
With absolutely no chance of ever being there, this is the closest i'll ever be to 'being there'...so excited I may need to lay down in a darkened room for a while! John Cratchley