George, We've sent out advanced copies of the Cd to the press. Here is a galley of the blurbs we've received. Please circle those you'd like to include in the final package. - Chris
"George Cartwright brought his band of musical misfits to The Eye Drum last February for an evening of Dixie-fried Downtown jazz-funk that was both challenging, compelling, and abnormal. At times their inspiration seemed to come from Booker T & The MGs, at others it seem to come from nearby Oakland Cemetery, like the soundtrack for a vampire movie in which the vampire never shows up. A musical journey mingling hijinks and dread."- Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
" A playback of the diaspora that brought musical life to this planet: all the music ever made-Phoenician sailors' chants and Basque weddings and radio broadcast of Edgar Varese and regional fife-&-drum competitions-drifting back through space toward some musical Big Bang..." - Jazz Times
"It sounds like a hummingbird caught in the drapes."- Newsweek
"A submarine journey undertaken by The Meters, led by Captain Eno."- Spin
"A loom on which mice are playing..." Down Beat
"Listening to this CD is like trying to read ten pages of punctuation in size-8 font."- Senior Musician
"Chris Parker rules!"- Car Stereo
"Bruce Golden is a barrel rider of the first order."- Modern Drummer
"We don't generally review this type of thing. CDs, I mean. We cover shipping news on the Great Lakes. But we love it!"- Seaway Review
"Earth music heard on another planer, audible through space if soundwaves go on forever like light waves, and if not, well, it's none of their business up there anyway, what goes on down here. "- Nebraska Music Educator
"Bassman Adam Linz simultaneously anchors and impels the action, like a man walking a hot air balloon."- Playboy
"...Cartwright sounds like he's stirring about the galley of a boat at night, belowdeck, opening a beer, fixing himself an omelet, and doesn't know he's being overheard. All in all, an offering of great loneliness. Even despair." -Jazz Improv
"As often before, Davey Williams is the pitchfork in this musical inferno." Billboard
"The most extreme George Cartwright release to date!"- Kerrang
"The sounds of a party on a cruise ship which has left you on the pier." Australian UFO Bulletin
"It's like some ghostly bee... the size of the Goodyear Blimp...and very far away."- Goldmine
- Mike DeCapite
released August 4, 2023
George Cartwright -saxophones
Bruce Golden - drums and such
Davey Williams- guitar
Adam Linz - bass
Chris Parker - keyboards
The Ghostly Bee was initially issued on the Innova Record Label of the American Composers Forum in St Paul, MN (
composersforum.org).
Below is the original naming convention that is not reproducible on Bandcamp. There are two "suites" with three sections each. As this was all improvised, the "suites" was applied after the fact.
1. Your Test Tube Baby's Gonna Be Fine/ The Hard Wood - 29:32
a) Scum Tectonics 06:27
b) Sunflower River Early 10:19
c) Big Penny 12:34
2. Even Better Than a Mockingbird - 48:05
a) Horrible Snow 23:12
b) Hurtin' Flea 16:51
c) Air and Money 03:48
If you would like to watch the concert you can at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-1fERiuOOQ
Recorded at the Eye Drum, Atlanta, GA
by Kevin Haller
Cover inspiration by Anne Elias
Words by Michael DeCapite
Cover Design by Wes Winship
Produced by George Cartwright
Executive Producer Chris Strouth for Innova
Executive Producer Chad Fowler for Mahakala
Mastered by Stephen Kren
A Review
www.freejazzblog.org/2024/03/george-cartwright-three-recent.html
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
By Gary Chapin
This one is from a bit further back, but since we’re talking about Cartwright, I couldn’t help but bring it up. Another reissue of an Innova disc from 2005 — this reissue series is a real service to our community. We’ve got a quintet with Cartwright, Golden, and Linz, joined by Chris Parker on keyboards, and Dave Williams on guitar.
And if you stood up and cheered when you read Davey Williams name, there, I wouldn’t blame you. I was not not surprised that Williams (long time Curlew doyen) infused this disc with his wonderfulness, but I was pleasantly revelated. Like Cartwright and Tom Cora, Williams sound is so unique, rich, and vulgar—it’s a gift.
Maybe it’s another one of those age things. I listen to musicians I love and think, “Has he ALWAYS been this amazing?” Maybe it’s just gratitude.
Ghostly Bee comprises two three part suites, that each have their own syntax and storylines, but those familiar with Cartwright’s work will recognize the sweet spot he’s in.
