Grand Bland Vapid Rapids, by The Fourth World Quartet

Grand Bland Vapid Rapids

by The Fourth World Quartet

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	1.	Batt Masterdonn (live) [L. Miller] 02:51
	2.	Bubble on a Stem (live) [B. Miller] 05:02
	3.	Detatch & Retain (live) [D. Maroney] 06:23
	4.	Estates [R. Miller] 08:28
	5.	Condensation (live) [B. Miller] 04:20
	6.	Journey to Bubbleland (live) [J. Waterstone] 04:50
	7.	Social Security [D. Maroney] 04:27
	8.	Grand Bland Vapid Rapids (live) [D. Maroney] 05:58
	9.	Waterstone's Duet [J. Waterstone] 01:57
	10.	Blip de Blop Blop de Blip de Blue (live) [D. Maroney] 04:25

about

The Fourth World Quartet formed in February 1975 at Thomas Jefferson College. Roger Miller, the original pianist, left the group in April. By the end of that month, Denman Maroney, who taught composition for the remaining member's – Benjamin and Laurence Miller and Jack Waterstone – suggested joining the band as their new pianist. The members were thrilled.

Denman was an undergraduate student from 1967-71 at Williams College. There he spent time at Bennington, where Bill Dixon and Jimmy Garrison filled his head with Coltrane, Ayler, Coleman, Taylor, etc. From 1972-74, Denman attended Cal. Arts, where Jim Tenney, Mort Subotnick, Lucky Mosco, and Ingram Marshall filled his head with Ives, Joplin, Messiaen, Ligeti, Stockhausen, Varèse, etc.

Thanks to CalArts teacher John Bergamo, Denman got a job teaching at Thomas Jefferson College. There, Denman and choreographer Beverly Brown taught a course called Sound & Movement where this new Fourth World Quartet was collaborating for the class. Both band and dance students worked together, forging ahead with free improvisation on a regular basis. The Fourth World Quartet performed at a TJC Music Performance and a house party in Ann Arbor in April, and again at Grand Valley State College Graduation Picnic in June 1975.

At the end of the school year, Denman was offered the same teaching position at Thomas Jefferson College with less pay and thus he left for NYC. Laurence, Benjamin and Jack continued composing and trying material out with other ensembles that never quite took shape until early 1976 when their efforts dissolved.

Previous aspects of the earlier version of the band (see Cuneiform's “1975”), which included psychedelic guitar, changed when the newly reformed quartet focused further on 20th Century techniques along with Denman's exploration in using advanced polyrhythms.

Here is the quartet's final document: Grand Bland Vapid Rapids.

-Ben
www.benmiller.info

credits

released September 16, 2022

Denman Maroney: piano, conductor on #1 and #8, composer
Benjamin R. Miller: alto saxophone, electric guitar on #9, composer
Laurence B. Miller: bass clarinette, composer
Jack Waterstone: alto and tenor saxophone, composer

Recorded June 4, 1975 in “The Den” at Thomas Jefferson College, Allendale, Michigan
except 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, & 10 recorded June 5, 1975 at the Grand Valley State College Graduation Picnic.
Recording engineer Rick Scott on a Braun tape recorder.
A big thanks for Dan Gunning in assisting with digitization of master tapes.
Mastered by Ian Beabout, ShedSounds Studio.

Track 1: Bond Voyage Music BMI
Track 2 and 5: Neoteric Music BMI
Track 4: Fun World Music BMI
Track 6 and 9: Jack Waterstone Music BMI
Track 3, 7, 8, 10: Mon$ey Music ASCAP

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Cuneiform Records Washington, D.C.

Cuneiform Records is a record label releasing adventurous, boundary-bursting music by artists from around the world. They have always championed an eclectic mixture of musical styles and artists and have consistently danced at the dangerous intersection where genres meet. In doing so, they have become one of the most prominent labels of New Music.

Founded in 1984.
Based in Washington D.C. ... more

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