Highland Revolution
Recorded at Earthstar Creation Center by: John X, Mixed by: Nico Borromeo,
Executive Producer: Michael Vest
Highland revolution is an improviational recording that took place over the course of three evenings with master woodwind musician Norik Manoukian and gregjam. Gregjam is a group of musicians exploring the possibilities of improvisational music creation. As with every gregjam recording session, Highland revolution was created without any prior knowledge of what music anyone would play. each song is a first take recording with no do overs. Not a single note or pattern was predetermined, the only objective is to listen deeply and co create with the unraveling sonic conversation. To complicate matters further, Norik plays ancestral Armenian woodwind instruments (duduk, shivi, zurna) which have rarely if ever found their way into the western rock and jazz modalities of timing and structure. Thus to have Norik (my duduk teacher of many years) join and participate in such an experimental process after not seeing each other for many years was a grand gesture of friendship, trust and courage! This album is the result of that 100% improvised musical journey we all went on together.
Musicians
Norik Manoukian: Duduk, shivi, zurna, clarinet
Michael Vest: electric guitar, guitalele
Nico Borromeo: guitar, charango
John X Volaitis: Synth bass, keyboards
Hal Cragin: Bass
Gregory Beylerian: Drums
Get The Double CD Set
The first 25 people to ask will receive the physical double cd album for free.
A kind of art-ifact. (just cover the shipping and handling)
Listen to the music
This double CD album is available on all major streaming platforms including Apple Music, Spotify and Youtube.
CD 1:
1. Armenian Cowboy
2. My Brother
3. Back To The Ruins
4. Celebration
5. Summit
6. Moon flower
7. Boy running on a hill
8. Masis
CD 2:
9. finally the revolution
10.the water goes, the sand remains
11. a mother’s grief
12. the sun won’t stay behind the clouds
13. the wanderer
14. space orchid
15. midnight caravan
16. standing on the table
17. vardani mor voghb
Behind The Scenes
A documentary film crew from ZAP Entertainment filmed one of the three evening sessions. Videos edited by Michael Vest.
The music being played in these videos was completely improvised and was recorded in a single take without any do overs. None of the musicians had a musical map of what would be played and therefore relied on listening intently and respond intuitively from the heart.
Armenian Cowboy
Finally the revolution
Masis
The sun won’t stay behind the clouds
The water goes, the sand remains
A behind the scenes moment from one of the three evening recording sessions that became Highland Revolution.