Mark Vickness, a progressive fingerstyle guitarist and composer, has released In the Rain Shadow with his musical collective MVI – or Mark Vickness Interconnected.
The music is largely inspired by Vickness’ move to the high desert of California’s Owen Valley. “Most of the titles on this recording are taken from geological or meteorological features we experience daily,” he says. “These compositions are intended to reflect a new appreciation for the opportunity to absorb the wonders of living in the rain shadow. It is humbling, awesome, peaceful, thrilling, tranquil and beautiful.”
The seven-member MVI collective includes Vickness on guitar, Mads Tolling on violin, Matt Renzi on winds, Joseph Hebert on cello, Dan Feiszli on bass, Ty Burhoe on tabla, and MB Gordy on percussion. The results on In the Rain Shadow end up touching on many genres, from jazz to rock and classical influences.
“As a composer, this is my dream ensemble. Each musician is an accomplished soloist adept at many different types of music,” Mark Vickness says. “They bring an astounding breadth and depth of musical understanding and experience. There is almost no style of music we cannot draw from.”
“We have a classical trio (violin, cello, oboe), a jazz quartet, percussion instruments from almost every continent, and virtuoso players capable of playing pretty much anything I put in front of them from funk to raga style improvisation, from interwoven counterpoint to rock power chords, from a fast Irish 12/8 romp to an ambient textural tapestry and more,” he adds. “They do it all with ease and with an infectious energy that is palpable on every track. I could not be more grateful to be able to work with these remarkable musicians.”
Accompanying the new album release is a series of HD live videos. These performances allow viewers to get the full experience and immerse themselves in one of progressive music’s most promising projects.
The different atmospheres created in each track on In the Rain Shadow conjure up images of different landscapes, from the rhythmic background of “High Desert,” with its melodic sighs of music floating across the top, to the Eastern feelings evoked in “The Gorge,” to the gentle, shifting feels created in “Alluvial Fans.”
There is a sense of movement, of nature, ever-changing and never standing still. There are little subtle inputs, like the brief riffles of the table on “Alluvial Fans.” “Roadrunner” is a clever, well-worked track with rhythmic patterns and swooping strings.
The Indian essence of “Rupak (For Ty)” contrasts with the Celtic overtones of “On the Cliffs of Mohr,” which is the stand-out track of the album. There is a lot of this contrast throughout In the Rain Shadow. This is an album of beautiful melodies and creative changes, and there is a blending of instruments and styles of different origins that come together to create a unique, immersive sonic journey.
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