Turn On The Sunlight - Warm Waves (Plant Bass)

WHAT THE COVER LOOKS LIKE:

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WHAT WE SAY:

Not sure how I missed this a few weeks ago as it's an LA dream team of some of my favourite musicians (Carlos Niño, Jesse Peterson, Mia Doi Todd, Sam Gendel, Laraaji & more) but this is a wonderful improvised blend of New Age vibes, plugged in spiritual jazz & ambient leanings for Plant Bass Records that floats around your brain like the smell of wild flowers on a summer picnic until the last dusky tracks remind you that the city beckons once more.

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WHAT YOUR EARS SAY:

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WHAT THE RELEASE NOTES SAY:

Turn On The Sunlight was born out of the collaborations of Carlos Niño and Jesse Peterson, who lived on opposite coasts at the time - therefore, many of their first musical journeys also involved actual travel.  

After contributing a remix to Build An Ark’s “Dawn Remixes” and several songs to the album “High With A Little Help From” by Carlos Niño & Friends (both Kindred Spirits, 2009), Jesse and Carlos decided to work as a duo on what became Turn On The Sunlight’s self-titled debut (Disques Corde, 2010).  This was followed by a remix project featuring contributions from Nobukazu Takemura, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson & Daedelus (Disques Corde, 2012).  A second album, “New Day” (Rings), was released in 2013, with additional members Hiro Makino, Gabe Noel, Dexter Story, Andres Renteria and Mia Doi Todd, who sang ‘In The Dawn’ as a tribute to the recently-departed Rei Harakami (who had shared bills with the band on a tour of Japan in 2010).  

As Turn On The Sunlight, Jesse and Carlos also worked together on songs which were included on three other Carlos Niño & Friends releases, “Aquariusssssss” (Corde, 2012, “Aurorasmushroomtenderness” (CNF, 2014) and “Flutes, Echoes, It’s All Happening” (Leaving, 2016).  One of these songs, “Forward To The Sun” featured Jesse and Kamasi Washington playing a song written by Carlos.  Other appearances include a song on Dexter Story’s “Seasons” (Kindred Spirits, 2012), Nabowa Meets Carlos Niño & Friends (AWDR/LR2, 2014), “Happy Earth Day 2015” with Mia Doi Todd (Dear Ear) and Laraaji’s “Sun Transformations” remix project (All Saints, 2018)

“Warm Waves” grew out of improvisations by a group consisting of musicians who have contributed to previous TOTS releases and live performances, with the new additions of Laraaji, Sam Gendel, Luis Pérez Ixoneztli and Mitchell Brown.  Carlos then prepared two remixes, both featuring Jamael Dean (whose new release on Stones Throw is currently making waves of its own).  The album features vocals and the voice-like sounds of Sam’s electronically-processed saxophone, but is intentionally devoid of words, save for the phrase “Peace All Over” spoken by Laraaji in one of Carlos’ remixes.  "Peace All Over" is, hopefully, the feeling that the music will convey to its listeners.  
Credits
Tracks 1-5 produced by Jesse Peterson 
Tracks 6 & 7 produced by Carlos Niño

Mia Doi Todd - voice, piano
Sam Gendel - saxophone, electronics
Luis Pérez Ixoneztli - bird sounds, ceramic aerophones, percussion, water drums
Jesse Peterson - bass, guitar, organ, bird sounds, wooden whistles, ukulele, piano
Andres Renteria - percussion, marimba
Mitchell Brown - synthesizers, magnetic tape, percussion
Gabe Noel - bass
Laraaji - voice + zither
Arji - bells + shells

Mastering by Miles Senzaki at Grandma's Dojo Studio
Photo by Akiko Bharoocha