Curious Minds is an album for curious ears. Its title is drawn from Garrett Schumann’s A Five-Note Chord, seen from the porch of a curious mind, and the album’s six works (viewed from whichever porch you like) form an unusual, eclectic chord with one another. From the immaculate soundscape of Tomás Gueglio’s Sextet II to the feverish romp of Gabriella Smith’s Huascarán, each work explores a unique dimension of Latitude 49’s sound. They share just one common root: they were all written for Latitude 49.
For so many new works, that is where the story ends: painstakingly crafted, carefully rehearsed and workshopped, and finally premiered before an audience that has hopefully had enough coffee and sleep to give the work a good listen. Latitude wants to keep that story alive, to write sequels, to leave room for others to have their say. Basically, we want to give new music a chance to grow old.
Curious Minds aims to do just that. It is in one sense an ending, the conclusion of our first chapter. But in much more important ways it is a beginning: the start of a rich lifespan for these six works, which we hope will find their way into the hands of listeners and musicians along many latitudes and longitudes. With this debut album, our story is just emerging, as is our relationship with you - you and your curious ears. We need curious ears, and we want to keep yours around! We thank you for giving this music the gift of your attention, and we thank the composers on this album - dear Gabby, Garrett, Jared, John, Tomás, and Virgil - for the honor of being vessels for your brilliance.
credits
released January 27, 2017
Producers: Chris Sies, Peter Leonard, and Latitude 49
Engineer: Peter Leonard
Additional Engineering: Victor LeJeune, Bill Maylone
Assistant Engineer: Joshua Arizmendi
Mastering: Bill Maylone
Recorded: Schumann, Dorhauer, and Gueglio Saccone recorded September 12, 2013 and February 8, 2014 in Britton Recital Hall, University of Michigan School of Music Theatre & Dance, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Miller recorded May 9, 2015 at the University of Michigan Duderstadt Audio Studio, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Moorefield and Smith recorded April 24-25, 2016 at PianoForte Studios, Chicago, Illinois.
Production Assistance: Kevin Fitzgerald
Operations Director: Bonnie Lyn Paige
Art & Design: Jason Paige
Program Notes: Jani Parsons and Jacobsen Woollen
Latitude 49 is a sextet dedicated to championing the works of living composers. The members' diverse musical backgrounds
directly influence the the diversity in artists they create work with. This eclectic, yet collaborative spirit has allowed the band to live outside of an aesthetic box....more
Verisimilitude was at the top of my "Top Ten Records of 2017".
https://www.poisonpie.com/publishing/reviews/text/musicreview_2017.html
Can't wait for the vinyl version to arrive. Hebeloma Crustuliniforme
Michael Abbey's vision of psychedelic dream-pop explores emotional vulnerability through rich, surreal textures and sweet melodies. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 1, 2022
"Electronic chamber music" from this lauded ensemble, with the musicians "sampling" the notation for a stunning, innovative sound. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 8, 2017
I don't need every Kronos performance to be one that shakes me to my essence, but I do always want them to be interesting. Kronos has been my gateway to discovering a lot of composers I never knew of before, so this one is worth checking out. Richard Weems