kalimba/mbira update

Hi all micro-folk,

I just wanted to share that I've been on a rampage of high-energy
inspiration these days. The kalimba and mbira tuned to Mavila[7] (diatonic
subset of 23 edo in this case) are the reason.

I'm finding that I can do fantastically satisfying things (for me anyway,
YMMV) by severely limiting my pitch set, and focusing on rhythm and groove.
In a way, I find that this help the tuning be more "digestible", too.

I already posted a video on YouTube a while back of my "Queen of Hearts"
piece, but I want to share with you a fresh recording today that I'm fairly
happy with (save a buzzing sound I haven't diagnosed, which to my chagrin
went away *AFTER* I had done this take). Oh well, mbiras are supposed to
have a dirty rattle sound underneath, anyway. This piece (link below) is the
more lyrical side of things I've been doing; in the main I've been doing
some "prog-rock a la King Crimson with Mavila" type grooves. When I get a
free moment, which is rare nowadays, I'll record an improv based on the
handful of motivic/rhythmic sketches I've jotted down over the past few
months (I'm off to teach at the moment).

What I like about this piece is the 17/8 meter not feeling, at least to me,
that it's in your face. Maybe it's the gentler nature of the piece or the
instrument. Most folks wouldn't notice it, I dare say. And I'm loving the
"resultant melody/counterpoint" aspect of the kalimba/mbira phenomenon. I
feel like there's something here akin to what Leo Kottke does in his rather
rhythmically textured guitar playing, if that makes sense.

Anyway, I hope you dig it.

http://www.akjmusic.com/audio/queen_of_hearts.mp3

--
Aaron Krister Johnson
http://www.akjmusic.com
http://www.untwelve.org