Peter Phippen
CD Review
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Summerland Ensemble releases instrumental album
Peter Phippen & the Summerland Ensemble have released the instrumental album "Summerland." Band members are, from left, Phippen, Tiit Raid, Enrique Rueda and Ivar Lunde Jr.
Photo: Shane Opatz
Thursday, July 29, 2010
by Troy Espe, Leader-Telegram staff
Although six musicians collaborated on the album "Summerland," the disc is as sparse as it is diverse.
"Sometimes it's what you don't play that makes you a great musician," Eau Claire ambient flutist Peter Phippen said. "We all tend to step aside and let the music happen."
Peter Phippen and the Summerland Ensemble released "Summerland" last month. The CD offers 11 tracks of soothing instrumental music.
Phippen recruited retired UW-Eau Claire professors Ivar Lunde Jr. and Tiit Raid for the album.
"It's wonderful," said Lunde, who played oboe da caccia and produced the album. "I'm very pleased."
Phippen brought in Colombian harpist Enrique Rueda of Madison. Menomonie drummer Jason Introwitz provided the conga beat on the song "Vail."
Phippen played Transverse bamboo, Shakuhachi, Anasazi and Native American flutes on the album.
"Even though my name is first, everybody had input," Phippen, 54, said. "Everyone is equal."
"Summerland" largely was recorded in one day at Lunde's Skyline Studios in Eau Claire. Most of the tracks were improvised. Musicians played in separate rooms during the live recordings.
"No one could see each other," Phippen said. "It's better. You can't see. You just feel it."
Phippen sent tracks to Polish singer Sylwia Bialas, whom he discovered on MySpace. Bialas provided vocals on the songs "Vail" and "Solstice."
"Summerland" has been featured on paranormal radio shows and on www.nativeradio.com. The Summerland Ensemble performed last month at the International Native American Flute Association Convention at UW-Eau Claire.
"Summerland" is Phippen's 10th album. His disc "Night Song" was nominated for a Native American Music Award in 2003. In December, he released "Woodnotes Wyld: Historic Flute Sounds from the Dr. Richard W. Payne Collection" as a fundraiser for the International Native American Flute Association.
Originally from New York, Phippen has been playing world flutes since 1987. His extensive collection includes a 2,000-year-old instrument.
Phippen is featured in the new book "The Spiritual Significance of Music" by Justin St. Vincent. Phippen's interview appears alongside thoughts by members of Guns N' Roses, Jefferson Starship and Devo.
Espe can be reached at 715-833-9206, 800-236-7077 or troy.espe@ecpc.com.
Summerland Ensemble:
Peter Phippen: Transverse bamboo, Shakuhachi, Anasazi and Native American flutes
Enrique Rueda: Colombian Andean bandola, renaissance harp, Puerto Rican cuatro and sail harp
Tiit Raid: Gongs, wind chimes and roto toms
Ivar Lunde Jr.: Oboe da caccia and percussion loops
Sylwia Bialas: Vocals
Jason Introwitz: Conga drum
To purchase Summerland, please visit: Amazon.com or www.promotionmusicrecords.com/Phippen.html