Ortiz, Aruan - Pastor's Paradox CD
SKU
CF 648
Aruán Ortiz piano, voice and composition
Don Byron Bb clarinet, Eb clarinet, Bass clarinet and voice
Pheeroan akLaff drums and voice
Lester St. Louis cello (1, 2, 4, 5, 6)
Yves Dhar cello (3, 7)
Mtume Gant spoken word (track 1 ,4, 6)
“Aruán Ortiz weaves multiple strands of tradition through his music, with an endgame of deep mystification...he has been a creative force at least since the release of his debut album.”
Nate Chinen, New York Times
“In Ortiz’s music, one can hear how the pianist makes connections, looking, thinking and seeing, as well as playing.”
John Ephland, DownBeat
“Cuban-born pianist and composer Aruán Ortiz is constantly evolving, experimenting and injecting new elements into his craft...Ortiz is an exceptional composer with aspecial talent for surrounding himself with gifted and empathetic colleagues.”
Karl Ackermann, All About Jazz
"60 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his signature “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial. The content, structure and power of King’s words serve as a fundamental inspiration for Pastor’s Paradox, the stirring new album by Cuban-born, Brooklyn- based pianist, composer and conceptualist Aruán Ortiz. Due October 20, 2023 on Clean Feed Records, the album features a stellar lineup of players including clarinetist Don Byron, cellists Lester St. Louis and Yves Dhar,drummer Pheeroan akLaff, and spoken word artist Mtume Gant.
Pastor’s Paradox shares many of King’s themes, including racial equality, but also reflects Ortiz’s singular artistry. To write his enthralling suite, Ortiz studied King’s Biblical and world history references, the speech’s construction, and the pacing and vocal dynamics that give King’s words such power and momentum. “’I Have a Dream’ is one of the masterpieces in the history of speeches,” says Ortiz. “I studied that speech from different angles, particularly his use of analogies and how he integrated different aspects of literature into his message. It’s amazing when you analyze its structure.” In addition to studying the structure, analogies and literary references of the “I Have a Dream” speech, Ortiz delved into King’s 1968 speech “The Drum Major Instinct,” delivered five years after the March on Washington and two months before King’s assassination, as his pursuit of racial socio-economic justice became more radical and he spoke out against the Vietnam War."
- LabelClean Feed
- UPC5609063006483