{"product_id":"moondog","title":"MOONDOG","description":"Often known as the Viking of 6th Avenue, the blind New York City street performer and Norse-inspired sartorialist Moondog (born Louis Thomas Hardin) was in fact a groundbreaking composer, jazz musician, and musical avant-gardist. Among Moondog's many admirers were Charlie Parker, Philip Glass, Leonard Bernstein, and New York Philharmonic maestro Artur Rodzinski. His unique artistry was a combination of the then blossoming minimalist compositional style, bop, and free jazz aesthetics, as well Moondog's own divined musical philosophies, which would generate creation of, among others things, the percussion instrument the trimba. Moondog moved to Germany in 1974, where he lived and worked until his death in 1999. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e This disc combines what were originally two separate albums recorded in the late '60s and early '70s. With the larger budget he had to make these recordings, Moondog (born Louis Harden) was able utilize a substantially larger orchestra than he had previously. The pool of musicians were largely classically-based players, but also included such jazz regulars as Hubert Laws (on piccolo) and bass players George Duvivier and Ron Carter.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e The music ranges from the rhythmically charged \"Stamping Ground\" to the ethereal \"Symphonique #3.\" A number of these pieces are the result of Moondog's ongoing fascination with the overlapping form of the round (which he began composing in the early '50s). While orchestral in scope, there is a folk-like bearing to his overall vision. This is warmly engaging music and a perfect entry point into the musical world of this unique composer.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Personnel:\u003cbr\u003e  Moondog (keyboards); Eugene Becker, Raoul Poliakin (tenor, viola); Aaron Rosand, Paul Gershman (violin); David Schwartz, Emanuel Vardi (viola); Joe Tekula, Charles McCracken , George Ricci (cello); Harold Bennett, Andrew Lolya (flute); Hubert Laws, Harold Jones (piccolo); George Silfies, Jimmy Abato, Phil Bodner (clarinet); Ernie Bright (bass clarinet); Henry Schuman (English horn); Wally Kane (bassoon, baritone saxophone); Joynce Kelly, Don Macourt, George Berg, Jack Knitzer (bassoon); Joe Wilder (trumpet, flugelhorn); Teddy Weiss, Alan Dean, Melvin Broiles (trumpet); Danny Repole (bass trumpet); Richard Berg, Brooks Tillotson, James Buffington, Ray Alonge (French horn); Charles Small, Tony Studd, Buddy Morrow (tenor trombone); Paul Faulise (bass trombone); Phil Giardina, John Swallow, Bill Stanley, Don Butterfield, Bill Elton (tuba); Irving Horowitz (horns); Jack Jennings, Elayne Jones, Dave Carey, Bobby Rosengarden (percussion).\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Complete Track List:\u003cbr\u003e  1. Theme \u003cbr\u003e  2. Stamping Ground, in D minor \u003cbr\u003e  3. Symphonique No.3 (\"Ode to Venus\") \u003cbr\u003e  4. Symphonique No.6 (\"Good for Goodie\") \u003cbr\u003e  5. Cuplet, poem \u003cbr\u003e  6. Minisym No.1 \u003cbr\u003e  7. Lament 1 (\"Bird's Lament\") \u003cbr\u003e  8. Witch of Endor \u003cbr\u003e  9. Symphonique No.1 (\"Portrait of a Monarch\") \u003cbr\u003e  10. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 1. Bells are Ringing \u003cbr\u003e  11. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 2. Voices of Spring \u003cbr\u003e  12. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 3. What's the Most Exciting Thing \u003cbr\u003e  13. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 4. All is Loneliness \u003cbr\u003e  14. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 5. My Tiny Butterfly \u003cbr\u003e  15. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 6. Why Spend a Dark Night with Me \u003cbr\u003e  16. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 7. Coffee Beans \u003cbr\u003e  17. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 8. Down is Up \u003cbr\u003e  18. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 9. Be a Hobo \u003cbr\u003e  19. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 10. Remember \u003cbr\u003e  20. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 11. I Love You \u003cbr\u003e  21. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 12. Nero's Expedition \u003cbr\u003e  22. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 13. No, the Wheel Was Never Invented \u003cbr\u003e  23. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 14. With My Wealth \u003cbr\u003e  24. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 15. This Student of Life \u003cbr\u003e  25. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 16. Some Trust All \u003cbr\u003e  26. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 17. Wine, Woman and Song \u003cbr\u003e  27. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 18. Sadness \u003cbr\u003e  28. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 19. Maybe \u003cbr\u003e  29. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 20. Each Today is Yesterday's Tomorrow \u003cbr\u003e  30. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 21. Imagine \u003cbr\u003e  31. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 22. You the Vandal \u003cbr\u003e  32. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 23. Trees Against the Sky \u003cbr\u003e  33. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 24. Behold \u003cbr\u003e  34. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 25. Sparrow \u003cbr\u003e  35. Madrigals, Rounds, Canons: 26. Pastoral\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Sony Masterworks","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":49606360301848,"sku":"074644499421","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/hbdirect.com\/products\/moondog","provider":"HBDirect","version":"1.0","type":"link"}