Caroline Davis & Rob Clearfield - Persona Anthems on CD

Description

The name of saxophonist Caroline Davis and pianist Rob Clearfield's new ensemble comes from the title of Ingmar Bergman's classic film, Persona. In the movie, a mentally disturbed actress is put in the care of a nurse, who begins to take on the characteristics of her charge. The underlying narrative of the film raises the questions of whether there are two separate characters or one character with two personalities. Or perhaps these two characters share one common consciousness. The personnel of Persona was rounded out with bassist Sam Weber and drummer Jay Sawyer, two Midwesterners from Michigan who Davis had met and performed with regularly in New York. The flexibility and dedication of the musicians allowed the group to pursue musical experiments, from compositional to aural with the addition of electronic instruments. Clearfield had long been comfortable with electronic keyboards and synthesizers, while Davis began to utilize electronics in her compositions and emulate the attack and decay of synthesized instruments on her saxophone. Personnel: Caroline Davis (alto saxophone), Rob Clearfield (piano, Fender Rhodes, Moog synthesizer), Sam Weber (acoustic & electric bass), Jay Sawyer (drums). The name of saxophonist Caroline Davis and pianist Rob Clearfield's new ensemble comes from the title of Ingmar Bergman's classic film, Persona. In the movie, a mentally disturbed actress is put in the care of a nurse, who begins to take on the characteristics of her charge. The underlying narrative of the film raises the questions of whether there are two separate characters or one character with two personalities. Or perhaps these two characters share one common consciousness. The personnel of Persona was rounded out with bassist Sam Weber and drummer Jay Sawyer, two Midwesterners from Michigan who Davis had met and performed with regularly in New York. The flexibility and dedication of the musicians allowed the group to pursue musical experiments, from compositional to aural with the addition of electronic instruments. Clearfield had long been comfortable with electronic keyboards and synthesizers, while Davis began to utilize electronics in her compositions and emulate the attack and decay of synthesized instruments on her saxophone. Personnel: Caroline Davis (alto saxophone), Rob Clearfield (piano, Fender Rhodes, Moog synthesizer), Sam Weber (acoustic & electric bass), Jay Sawyer (drums).