Wednesday


My name is Harlan Mark Vale. I am a musician. I live and breathe music. Without music, there is no life. I am also spirit. The journey that got me to this realization is also the journey that created the album, Bright Angel. The music I have created here is a free-flowing river of the Divine expressing itself through me. My formal music training began at The Evergreen State College in Washington State in the 70’s, where I studied electronic music and audio engineering. Later, I performed with Trillium, The New Art Orchestra, and others creating free improvisational jazz and experimental genres playing piano, synthesizer and percussion. After years of playing and recording electronic music covering many genres, I have finally returned to my beginnings; the piano. This is where my hearts speaks to me most clearly. The album title, “Bright Angel” came about after spending time at the Grand Canyon. There is a feature in the canyon called Bright Angel Point as well as a trailhead by the name of Bright Angel Trail. These features are moving and inspiring by their very nature. While at the canyon, I discovered a baby grand piano on the mezzanine above the lobby at the El Tovar Hotel, situated on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It was here that I gave birth to the music portrayed on the Bright Angel CD. These pieces are my attempt to capture the majesty and serenity I feel being and performing at the Grand Canyon.
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GEORGE SHEARING born 13 August 1919 in Battersea, England. Pianist, combo leader - now Sir George Shearing OBE who, during the 1950s, had one of the most popular jazz combos on the planet and sold millions of records for MGM and Capitol in his heyday. He has written over 300 compositions and has had multiple albums on the Billboard magazine charts throughout the '50s, '60s, '80s and '90s. Was a member of Ambrose big band in the late 30s and worked with jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli in London in early 40s. Shearing came to the USA in 1947 where he replaced Erroll Garner in Oscar Pettiord's group. He formed his first quartet in 1949. Recorded for Savoy, MGM, Capitol, Sheba (His own named after his seeing-eye dog), Concord and Telarc. He composed the jazz-pop standard Lullaby of Birdland...
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Monday


'Lou Teicher died Sunday, 3 August 2008, at his summer home in North Carolina of a heart attack. His partner, Arthur Ferrante, is devastated by this news'. Manager Scott Smith also adds 'The vast library of Ferrante & Teicher recordings (over 1,200 songs) is testament to the rich musical legacy Lou leaves behind. Adored by millions of fans worldwide... Piano's Gold Dust Twins will live on forever'. Their 1950s prepared piano pop (released on a half-dozen LPs before the duo achieved commercial success) was groundbreaking.

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