We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Green Garnets

by Michael Robinson

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Cover art is handmade paper from India

    Includes unlimited streaming of Green Garnets via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $25 USD or more 

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    199
    releases

    Get all 199 Michael Robinson releases available on Bandcamp and save 10%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Dark Is the Sky, Passion Eyes, Above the World, Soul To Soul, A Thousand Things, Summer Skies, Across the Sands, Summer Kisses, and 191 more. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $1,000 USD or more (10% OFF)

     

1.
Green Garnets 53:59
buy track

about

Green Garnets was engendered being a musical meditation on lost friendship and lost innocence conjured by early teenage adventures, the prevailing rasa suggesting sadness, known in Hindustani music as karuna rasa. However, adding emotional complexity, karuna is also the word Buddha used for compassion, and every listener hears music differently, including variously for one's self at different moments in time. And there is no limitation for the possible range of emotions Green Garnets may spark going beyond those touched upon here.

Beginning with a potent sequence of chords, I colored them with rich vocal textures. Fortunately, I was able to find a specific Hammond organ timbre that meshes perfectly with the vocal choir, including projecting the gloriously grand image of a church organ playing an Indian raga. The liquidity of the organ encompasses pleasingly varied tone colors over a span of registers. Both the organ and choir follow Just Intonation.

After the fact, I realized how a raga befitting my chords is none other than Kirvani, one of the most sublime ragas from India, with origins in Carnatic music, later adopted by Hindustani musicians. Joining Kirvani fleetingly is Asavari Thaat, the tonal difference being Shuddha Nishada for the former and Komal Nishada for the latter.

At the time I created my aural realization of the notated score, the mournful news that Shivkumar Sharma had left us reached me, and there was an immediate connection with Green Garnets because Kirvani was one of his favorite ragas, those recordings and videos by Sharma having touched me profoundly.

Adding to the vocal choir and organ, two twelve-matra drum ostinati alternate, the second pattern deeper sounding and more driving than the first. I found it especially dramatic to silence the drums at a particular interval, making the overall rhythmic cycle for Green Garnets no less than 132 matras, complimenting the chordal ostinato of 16 matras.

It may be that the Image of Green Garnets overshadows the Language, even if the Language provides essential detail being born from jazz, Indian classical, European classical and rock at once, this being my richly varied musical heritage.

- Michael Robinson, July 2022, Los Angeles

© 2022 Michael Robinson All Rights Reserved

azuremilesrecords.com/greengarnets.html

credits

released July 13, 2022

Composed, programmed and mixed by Michael Robinson

Recorded and mastered by Catharine Wood at Planetwood Studios

azuremilesrecords.com/greengarnets.html

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Michael Robinson image

Michael Robinson Los Angeles, California

"Very nice - swings good! It's great doing the whole thing yourself. I just go in and play, and the rest is out of my hands." (Lee Konitz)

"He has amazing success bringing to life music performed by a computer." (Dean Suzuki, SFSU)

"No telling where he's going to spin off to, but he's an original." (Village VOICE)

"Michael Robinson makes great music." (Pandit Jasraj) ... more

contact / help

Contact Michael Robinson

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Report this album or account

If you like Michael Robinson, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Saxophonist Isaiah Collier chats about his new LP and the influence of Pharoah Sanders.
listen now