Vipers at the Onyx Digital Booklet by Louis Levitt

StuffSmith

CurtisStewart AdamKlemens

VipersattheOnyx Dave Soldier

Filmharmonic Orchestra, Prague

Vipers At the Onyx

Prague Filmharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Adam Klemens

Featuring Violinist Curtis Stewart and Horn Player Jan Vobořil Music Composed by Dave Soldier

I first heard Stuff Smith when I was thirteen and was inspired to learn the violin by his records, including his duos with Stéphane Grappelli. Imagine my excitement when I heard that Stuff Smith had home recorded about six minutes of themes on violin intended for a future concerto on a lo-fi tape sometime in the first half of the 1960s in Los Angeles. Stuff gave the tape to his friend Mary Lee Hester for safekeeping before leaving for Europe at the beginning of 1965, never to return to the USA. Around 1990 Mary Lee sent the tape to the Stuff Smith scholar, Anthony Barnett, on learning of Anthony’s work documenting Smith’s life. It was issued in 2009 on limited edition centenary CDR AB Fable XABCD1X023.

Anthony sent the recording to me, and with the endorsement of Stuff’s family, I transcribed the themes and expanded them to 18 minutes and added new themes, harmonies, orchestration, and sections that I imagine Stuff would have liked: after loving his music for so long, I would like to think I have some insight. I call it Stuff Smith’s

Unfinished Concerto: Music Starts When Words Leave Off, a phrase Stuff used that was included in a gathering of autobiographical fragments in Pure at Heart 2, edited by Anthony. A string chamber version was premiered by Miranda Cuckson, and this expanded orchestra version by Curtis Stewart, who makes it both Stuff’s piece and his own. heard Stuff Smith was and was learn records, including his duos with Stéphane Grappelli. Imagine my excitement when I heard that Stuff Smith had home recorded about themes violin intended lo-fi tape half 1960s Los Angeles. Stuff gave the tape to his friend Mary Lee Hester for safekeeping before leaving for Europe at USA. Around Mary Lee tape Stuff Smith scholar, Anthony Barnett, learning Anthony’s Smith’s life. It was centenary Fable XABCD1X023. Anthony me, and Stuff’s family, transcribed and expanded and added themes, harmonies, orchestration, and sections that I imagine Stuff would have liked: after loving long, have insight. call Stuff Smith’s Unfinished Concerto: Music Starts When Words Leave Off a phrase Stuff that was gathering autobiographical fragments Pure at Heart 2, Anthony. A string chamber version was premiered by Miranda Cuckson, and this expanded orchestra Curtis Stewart, makes Stuff’s and own.

Jaleo is dedicated to Eddie Palmieri and McCoy Tyner. Originally for piano, it was recorded by Steven Beck, and I sent a copy to Eddie. Here it is expanded for symphony orchestra. Special thanks to conductor Adam Klemens: I scored the rhythms as conceived by flamenco and salsa musicians (in 12), and he showed me that for his orchestra it is sometimes more natural to be phrased in different meters (often 7 plus 5), which kind of makes sense from the Spanish Caribbean vs. Eastern European traditions.

SamulNori is dedicated master percussionist Kim Duk-Soo, developed SamulNori style rural Korean farmer’s music. It was and Kristjan Järvi and Absolute Ensemble Korean tour. Now expanded orchestra, portrays thunder, clouds, rain, and Korean coast. The suggestion of a human presence is an English horn solo portraying a lone shepherd.

SamulNori is dedicated to master percussionist Kim Duk-Soo, who developed the SamulNori style from rural Korean farmer’s music. It was commissioned and performed by Kristjan Järvi and the Absolute Ensemble for a Korean tour. Now expanded for full orchestra, the music portrays thunder, clouds, rain, and lightning during a night storm on the Korean coast. The only suggestion of a human presence is an English horn solo portraying a lone shepherd. Jaleo dedicated Eddie Palmieri and McCoy Tyner. Originally piano, was Steven Beck, and a copy Eddie. Here expanded orchestra. Special thanks Adam Klemens: as conceived by flamenco and salsa musicians (in 12), and he showed me that for his orchestra it is sometimes more natural to phrased (often makes Spanish Caribbean vs. Eastern European traditions.

The six shorter pieces are from Aventuras. a collection, originally written for saxophone and piano duo and recorded by Todd Rewoldt and Jai Jeffreyes.

The are Aventuras collection, originally saxophone and piano and Todd Rewoldt and Jai Jeffreyes.

New York Bars at Dawn uses quarter tones and tricky rhythms to portray an early morning ramble. See the wonderful photography book by Daniel Root.

New York Bars at Dawn uses quarter tones and tricky rhythms to portray an early ramble. See photography Daniel Root.

Rahsaan is for Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and uses quarter tones too! Inspired by his ability to perform on three wind instruments simultaneously and his love for Duke Ellington.

Rahsaan is for Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and uses quarter tones too! Inspired ability perform instruments simultaneously and Duke Ellington.

Lorette Velvette is for my Memphis singer friend of that name.

El Amanecer based on a nueva cancion song Bernardo Palombo and Fernando Otero, calls heard version in Paris.

Kumiho a nine-tailed Korean men deaths. It has Korean Gamin Jai Jeffryes piano. Here the principal horn player for the Czech Philharmonic, Jan Vobořil, plays concerto-like solos.

El Amanecer is based on the melody of a nueva cancion song by Bernardo Palombo and Fernando Otero, with bird calls I heard while writing this version in Paris. Kumiho is a nine-tailed Korean fox demon who lures men to their deaths. It has been recorded by the Korean piri virtuoso Gamin with Jai Jeffryes on piano. Here the principal horn player for the Czech Philharmonic, Jan Vobořil, plays the concerto-like solos.

Albayzin is the Gypsy and ancient Jewish and Muslim quarter across the Darro River from the Alhambra in Granada, a neighborhood where medieval wells still bring water and some people live in caves carved into the hillside.

Albayzin is the Gypsy and ancient Jewish and Muslim quarter across the Darro River from the Alhambra in Granada, a neighborhood where medieval wells still bring water and people live caves carved the hillside.

I am grateful to Pedro Cortes, Gene Pritsker, Curtis Stewart, Miranda Cuckson, the Filmharmonic’s music director Peter Pycha, Paul Schrage who conducted SamulNori, and to Anthony Barnett for support and inspiration, with a special thanks to John Smith for his enthusiasm for my attempt to honor his grandfather Hezekiah’s legacy. - Dave Soldier

I am grateful to Pedro Cortes, Gene Pritsker, Curtis Stewart, Miranda Cuckson, the Filmharmonic’s music director Peter Pycha, Paul Schrage who conducted SamulNori, and to Anthony Barnett for and inspiration, with a special thanks to John Smith for his enthusiasm for my attempt to honor his grandfather Hezekiah’s legacy. Dave Soldier

MUSIC COMPOSED BY DAVE SOLDIER

TR. 2-6, 8, 9 PUBLISHED BY RIGGLIUS MUSIC ASCAP

“STUFF SMITH’S UNFINISHED CONCERTO: MUSIC STARTS WHERE WORDS LEAVE OFF”

IS COMPOSED BY HEZEKIAH “STUFF” SMITH AND DAVE SOLDIER

“EL AMANECER” IS COMPOSED BY BERNARDO PALOMBO, FERNANDO OTERO, AND DAVE SOLDIER, AND PUBLISHED BY WARNER-TAMERLANE BMI AND AMERICANTO ASCAP.

CONDUCTOR ON SAMULNORI: PAUL SCHRAGE

SOUND ENGINEER: JAN HOLZNER

PRO TOOLS OPERATOR: JAKBU SMOLÁK

STUDIO TECHNICIAN: MICHAEL HRADISKÝ

LIBRARIAN: TOMÁŠ KIRSCHNER

ORCHESTRA CONTRACTOR AND RECORDING MANAGER: PETR PÝCHA

RECORDED AND MIXED AT SMECKY MUSIC STUDIO, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC