World Rising - Jazz • Funk • World

The first thing that impressed me was the different way he had the instruments relate. Miles Davis' In A Silent Way was a complete surprise to me. It was 1969. I was 13, living in Vermont. I had never heard anything like that. I was hooked. Putting things together in a new way was what turned me on then and what turns me on now.

So when it finally came time to do my own project, I tore down the tradition and the influences, modeled different approaches with technology to see what would work, and then generated from that space.

The result is called World Rising.

Because the world is rising.

Finally.

---

I wanted a project that had a relentless groove, that was modal in nature, and that played with a multilinear sense of time ‚ with slow parts and fast parts all at the same time. I wanted to lose the 2-4 backbeat to let the groove be strong without it.

And I didn't want it to be another "keyboard record." I've been a rhythm-section player my whole life. The job is for the musician to carry the music, not the other way around.

So I invited some of the greats to play along - Will Kennedy, Bob Sheppard, Satnam Ramgotra, Mike Harris and the lovely and talented Mindi Abair. And featured some amazing new voices on the scene. And a really dear old friend who is no longer with us.

This is my offering. I hope you like it.

• Ben Dowling - World Rising :: Album: World Rising
• Ben Dowling - Spirit Dance :: Album: World Rising
• Ben Dowling - In My Dreams :: Album: World Rising
• Ben Dowling - The Calling :: Album: World Rising
• Ben Dowling - Love Embraces All :: Album: World Rising
• Ben Dowling - Medicine Man :: Album: World Rising
• Ben Dowling - Starting Over :: Album: World Rising
• Ben Dowling - Gathering of the Tribes :: Album: World Rising
• Ben Dowling - Sarah Song :: Album: World Rising
• Ben Dowling - Emergence :: Album: World Rising

Personnel:

The Soloists:

• Mindi Abair‚ saxophone
• Jeff Beal‚ trumpet
• Michael Harris‚ trumpet
• Rod McGaha‚ trumpet
• Brian Price‚ guitar
• Bob Sheppard‚ saxophone

The Vocalists:

• Carl Anderson‚ on Starting Over
• Ben Dowling‚ on Love Embraces All, Sarah Song backgrounds on Starting Over
• Niki Haris‚ on Starting Over
• Brenda Lee Eager‚ backgrounds on Starting Over

The Rhythm Section:

• Ben Dowling ‚piano and keys
• Luis Conte ‚timbales on Starting Over
• Freddie Flewelen ‚elec bass
• Phillipo Francini, acoustic guitar
• Will Kennedy‚ drums
• David Leach‚ percussion
• Erik Meyer‚ percussion on Starting Over
• David Neal‚ guitar
• Satnam Ramgotra‚ tabla
• Aaron Stone‚ percussion on Starting Over
• Kim Stone‚ bass on Starting Over

The Horn Section:

• Michael Harris‚ trumpet
• Ryan Porter‚ trombone
• Ed Wynne‚ saxophone

Starting Over Horn Section:

• Jeff Beal‚ trumpet
• Brandon Fields‚ saxophone, flute
• Nick Lane‚ trombone

For downloadable versions, use the iTunes link below or visit the Free Downloads page under the Music For You menu!

All songs composed, arranged and produced by Ben Dowling (Visionsound Music ASCAP) except ‚ÄúStarting Over‚ composed by Brenda Lee Eager, Ben Dowling, Kit Thomas (Brenda Eager Music ASCAP, Visionsound Music ASCAP, Good Enough Music BMI) and produced by Ben Dowling and Kit Thomas.