MUSIC

HOT PICK: Lucia Comnes Combo CD Release Concert at Spirit Garden
September 25-October 1, 2008 - p 42

Saturday: Diversity is the critical ingredient in the works of classically trained violinist Lucia Comnes. Enchanted by Europe and its diverse musical sounds, the San Francisco native has traveled to and studied the music of Ireland, Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria. After experiencing success with KITKA, an internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble specializing in Balkan/Eastern European folk music, Comnes has concentrated on creating her own style of music, blending the best of everything she uncovered in the travels, all set against a backbone of...wait for it...jazz. What results is her own genre of instrumental mastery. This CD release show celebrates Comnes' debut album "On the way." (QE)

Thank you, Piñon Designs, for the beautiful flowers at the CD release concert at Cafe du Nord on September 18, 2008! www.pinondesign.com

"Solas and other musical groups have done the traditional Irish folk song "Calling Home the Calves" (Aililiu Na Gamhna), but Lucia Comnes has taken it to a higher level, using her singular voice and two instruments from the Indian subcontinent - bansuri flute and shruti box - to create a goose-bumpy tableau of nature and memory. "Calling Home the Calves" is one of numerous delights on Comnes' new album, "On the Way," which takes songs from across borders - including from Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria - and interprets them anew while retaining the original language. The result: a cascade of tunes (plus a jazzy Comnes original) that are otherworldly and embedded with soul and spirit. On many songs, violin merges with accordion, electric bass and other instruments, then is capped by Comnes' vocalizations, which cross musical chasms. Comnes lives in the Bay Area, but her home is really the world at large."
---Datebook, San Francisco Chronicle, September 14, 2008

"Lucia travels the music of the world with her expressive, intelligent, supple voice. It is heartening to hear her sing us her love of that world and all the music that holds us together."
---Rhiannon, Jazz Vocalist, Master Teacher at Berklee College of Music, MA

"On the way by Lucia Comnes is a spirited and elegant musical excursion that sparkles with international gusto. The more I listen the more I appreciate Lucia´s angelic voice, the album´s intricately woven musical passages, the sounds and rhythms from different parts of the world and the array of emotion that comes through the music. Often when I go to a concert and like what I hear, I get a CD and it is usually way over produced. This album is like taking the concert home. Lucia is definitely "on the way" to a long and fulfilling musical career with her first solo album."
---Barbara Borden, Drummer, Performer, Educator

"An impressive recording of very gifted musicians performing music that isn't heard too often in the Western world. Their musical passion, led by Comnes' intense studies in ethnomusicology and already wide-ranging globe-trotting…stands out and is easily one of the strongest features of this recording… [Comnes is] a bright new voice in the world music arena."
-- Customer review from the iTunes Music Store

"From the luring instrumental rhythm and dissonant vocal passion of "Delyo the Haiduk," to the 'river' of musical sound that is "Water" (with harmonic hints of Basia) to the infectious jubilance of "Gigile" and beyond, On the way captivates you and takes you along for the trip. I am caught by the worldly spell of this music and will continue to enjoy the experience. I have given your CD as gifts and keep thinking of more people to order the CD for."
--- Judi Desmond, Customer Review

"I enjoyed both vocal and violin performances, the choice of material with it's variable global positioning and the mix of the instruments."
--- Stephen Kent, Producer of "Music of the World", KPFA Radio, Berkeley, California

"Awesome CD!"
--- Mark Abdilla, Guitarist, Performer, Educator

"Very original and dreamy."
--- Brad Kava, Radio Soup, San Jose, California

In May/June of 2008, the Lucia Comnes Combo takes their first European tour playing concerts throughout Ireland. They will play shows primarily in Cork and Dublin, linking up with popular local groups including The Polskadots - a world music/gypsy band that Lucia co-founded in 2006 during her studies in Cork.

Ireland tour dates are between May 27 and June 15.
Touring Band Members: Sean Stillinger (bass), Aharon Wheels Bolsta (percussion) and William Bates-Minou.

In July, Lucia will continue on tour by returning to Russia and joining up with another group, Fools Gold, to perform in the Ecological and Ethnic Puppet Festival, "Tchir Tchayan - 2008" in the Republic of Khakassia, Siberia. Fools Gold includes master drummer, Barbara Borden (bbbeat.com), bassist, Susanne DiVincenzo, and singer/songwriter Bram Kincheloe (myspace.com/arose). This trip will also include filming with drum-maker and traditional musician, Sergey Charkov, and indigenous shaman, Tatiana Kobezhikova. Look out for the documentary…. "Keeper of the Beat" (http://www.kobmovie.com).

The Lucia Comnes Combo will return to the Bay Area, California, in August, 2008 and host a number of CD release concerts.

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Hot off the press just in time for my 10-week tour, "On the way" debuts as of this week!

Available for sale on CDbaby.com you can order it now! Thanks to those who have already purchased it. All purchases go towards the support of this music, this tour and future projects.

As you listen to the music, please share your comments and feel free to ask questions. You can read all the song notes, lyrics and translations on my website at the following link:
www.luciacomnes.com/ontheway.html
Or click on the CD button to lead you to the page.

Onward....
Lucia