albums

Those Moments Before
Those Moments Before
Barcelona in 48 Hours
Barcelona in 48 Hours
Wong Fei-Hong Meets Little Strudel
Wong Fei-Hong Meets Little Strudel
The Joy of Being
The Joy of Being
 
Those Moments Before
strudelmedia CD011
Available at the strudelmedia store,  Amazon.com,  and iTunes.

Those Moments Before

Edward Ratliff
  • Edward Ratliff accordion, cornet, trumpet, trombone, celeste, programming
  • Michaël Attias alto and baritone saxophones
  • Beth Schenck soprano saxophone
  • Doug Wieselman E-flat clarinet
  • Nate Radley acoustic and electric guitar
  • Wes Matthews piano and Hammond B3
  • Sean Conly acoustic and electric bass
  • Take Toriyama drums

With Those Moments Before, Edward Ratliff unleashes a new set of cinematic small ensemble music inspired by Hong Kong movies, Johnny Hodges, an espresso-and-milk drink found in Barcelona, Henry Threadgill and more. On this latest disc, Ratliff’s accordion and horn-driven music creates an infectious swirl of influences, from nuevo tango and movie soundtracks to an Eastern European blow-out and a French Baroque funeral march. With its vivacious energy, infectious melodies, innovative rhythms, and intriguing diversity, Ratliff has created a very visual and cosmopolitan sound for the post-millennial city.

This new disc features some of the top players on the New York scene including Doug Wieselman (Steven Bernstein, Kamikaze Ground Crew, Antony and the Johnsons, John Lurie), Michaël Attias (Paul Motian, Anthony Braxton, Oliver Lake, Butch Morris), and Sean Conly (Ray Barretto, Regina Carter, Andrew Hill, Nicholas Payton) and mixed by the Grammy Award-winning team Good and Evil (Sex Mob’s Sexotica; The Klezmatics’ Wonder Wheel).

There’s a lot of going on here and much of it, on initial listening, is fun. Once the sounds sink in, one hears how fine the soloists are, how well the sections are constructed and just how wide Ratliff’s scope is. Whether it’s a tribute to Hong Kong action films or the sound of Johnny Hodges, “Those Moments Before” is a very satisfying and entertaining show. — Richard Kamins, All About Jazz
1.
Café Cortado
For my Barcelona crew: Pepe Ferrer, Mat Voorter and David Zambrano
2.
End of an Era
3.
Minimus
4.
Veloce
For Limor Tomer
5.
Good Question
For Henry Threadgill
6.
Well-Dressed and Elegant
7.
Leon's Last Night
For Wong Kar-wai
8.
Funeral March in the style of Jean-Baptiste de Lully
In memory of Take Toriyama
9.
March for a Lost Cause
10.
Kowloon Noir
For Johnnie To
11.
Pinhole Ghost
 
Barcelona in 48 Hours
strudelmedia CD008
Available at the strudelmedia store,  Amazon.com,  and iTunes.

Barcelona in 48 Hours

Edward Ratliff with Rhapsodalia and friends
  • Edward Ratliff cornet, trombone, accordion, celeste, Fender Rhodes
  • Michaël Attias alto and baritone saxophones
  • Sam Bardfeld violin
  • Andy Biskin bass clarinet
  • Chris Castagno programming, guitar, drums
  • Charlie Giordano accordion
  • John Hébert bass
  • Kevin Norton drums
  • Seido Salifoski dumbek
  • Doug Wieselman guitar

This globetrotting soundtrack to the film Barcelona in 48 Hours is the second CD from composer Edward Ratliff. Travel, dislocation, empty train stations and the cultural mix of Barcelona all influence the wide-ranging music on this recording. Sounds from North Africa and Latin America to Jungle and the night-time wail of a surf guitar all find their way in this musical journey. Featuring a cast of stellar New York City musicians including Kevin Norton, Doug Wieselman, Charlie Giordano, Sam Bardfeld, Seido Salifoski and Michaël Attias.

An intriguing tone poem that repays repeated listening. — The Guardian
Fetching, globe-trotting, and insatiably romantic, [this is] a record that entrances within seconds, begs you to get involved, and ages with grace. — AllAboutJazz.com
1.
Barcelona (band version)
2.
BCN
3.
Glass
4.
Barcelona (duo)
5.
Horsey
6.
Mies
7.
Barcelona (dreaming)
8.
Estació de França
9.
Night Dance
10.
Barcelona (solo)
11.
Sintuba
 
Wong Fei-Hong Meets Little Strudel
strudelmedia CD007
Available at the strudelmedia store,  Amazon.com,  and iTunes.

Wong Fei-Hong Meets Little Strudel

Edward Ratliff's Rhapsodalia
  • Edward Ratliff cornet, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, accordion
  • Michaël Attias alto and baritone saxophones
  • Sam Bardfeld violin
  • John Hébert acoustic and electric bass
  • Kevin Norton drums and vibraphone

Extravagant in its stylistic range, Wong Fei-Hong Meets Little Strudel is a groove-heavy mash-up of avant-jazz and world musics. Kung Fu soundtracks and Middle European strains collide and refract in its cinematic musical kaleidoscope. Particular features include "The Wong Fei-Hong Theme" and a tribute to Hong Kong martial arts actor Hung Yan-Yan.

This ensemble achieves a wonderfully large sound for a quintet, in the manner of the grand old Mingus groups where the whole was always greater than the sum of the parts.... A great disc. — Robert Spencer, Cadence
...composer-brassmeister-accordionist Ratliff has fashioned a little quintet that sustains its tenderness and agility while still blowing like Vesuvius. Factor in the gypsy strain that arrives via the Far East and you've got singularity, too. — Jim Macnie, Village Voice
1.
Bip Bip
2.
Nothing But Love
3.
Hotcakes
4.
Little Strudel
for Anja Hitzenberger
5.
Fish Song
6.
Miloš the Cat
7.
Who Rota This Tune?
8.
The Wong Fei-Hong Theme
a.k.a. The General's Edict
9.
When the Master's Away
for Hung Yan-yan
10.
l'Histoire des Nuits Passées
 
The Joy of Being
Knitting Factory Works KFW204

The Joy of Being

Peep
  • Michaël Attias alto and baritone saxophones
  • Robert Cimino percussion
  • Fred Lonberg-Holm cello
  • Edward Ratliff trumpet, trombone, euphonium and accordion

This quartet of cello, saxophone, drums, brass and accordion features compositions by all four members of the band. As far as I know, this recording is out of print, but it is possibly still available somewhere.

Combining elements of circus orchestra, serious improv group, and Columbus Day parade band, Peep creates skewed instrumental magic with wit and aplomb. — CMJ New Music Monthly
1.
Lalo
by Fred Lonberg-Holm
2.
Au Gratin Denver
by Michaël Attias
3.
Rolotundo Pentabélé
by Edward Ratliff
4.
Who Rota This Tune?
by Edward Ratliff
5.
Austin
by Fred Lonberg-Holm
6.
Upper Eddy
by Fred Lonberg-Holm
7.
Koros' Course
by Fred Lonberg-Holm
8.
Washington's Philosophy on Cats
by Fred Lonberg-Holm
9.
Ting Ting Jahe
by Robert Cimino
10.
The Dirge/l'Histoire...
by Edward Ratliff
© 2024 edward ratliff