Ancestors

Beautiful jazz, poetry, percussion, tap and other experimental compositions. Hartigan provides amazing percussion throughout the album, and is joined by many different artists: Baomi ‘s gorgeous soulful vocals & narrative poetry stand out. Also hear the Philippine dabakan drum, Japanese shakahuchi flute, Chinese zhugeng zither and Persian ney. A really beautiful, moving album. No FCCs. All very good.

1) * Soprano saxophone and bells – lovely, short.
2) Percussion based on traditional rhythms of West African dance drumming, shifts with vocal sounds.
3) Sax and drums – “impressions from memories, dream, shadows”
4) Piano, saxophone & poetry – a three-part suite for Hartigan’s mother.
5) * Zither, drums - interpretation of a poem by Tang Dynasty poet Li Bo.
6) * Drums and sax – upbeat “seven-pulse groove” for Hartigan’s father.
7) Piaf tune / poem by Hartigan’s grandfather/ dramatic violin
8) * A tap dance taught to hartigan by his Uncle, a world champion Irish clog dancer.
9) Vocals accompanied by brushed drums.
10) Upbeat variation on a traditional music style of the Southern Phillipines
11) Piano, violin – done very tenderly.
12) * Lovely, meditative track - Persian ney & Turkish bendir (drum).
13) * More tap! This time with banjo!! Light-hearted & playful.
14) Poem accompanied by tap (poem by Hartigan’s mother).
15) Piano, violin – another very tender tune.
16) * West African master drums, Hartigan on drumset

Disc 2
1) Jaunty, brief piano piece.
2) Drums, vocals – meandering, sparse, thoughtful.
3) Tap and sax
4) Sax, piano - harsh & frenetic
5) Debussy’s flute solo with scant drums
6) Vocals & drums, floating time feel
7) An African American jazz tap dance learned from his parents
8) Chinese zither & drumset – based on ancient Chinese song about harsh life & work of constructing the Great Wall
9) Tenor sax & tap dance
10) Opening excerpt from 2nd movement of this concerto, with piano stream
11) A conceptual improvisation - Shakuhachi Japanese flute and drums
12) African American spiritual
13) Piano tribute to his parents and past generations
14) Drum & tap dance conversation
15) Poetry – tap, drums, piano & violin accompany
16) Upbeat stage show dance tune – violin, piano
17) Voice, bells & cymbals – ethereal
18) Tap – very simple