MandoMorphosis is a creative collaboration of mandolin players who’ve joined forces to explore the boundaries of new acoustic music. Our first CD, titled '2010', is a cross-section of our collective headspace at a point in time. This is a remastered version, available only on Bandcamp.
What's this music? Conventional labels don't quite fit... A free-wheeling amalgam of deep acoustic roots, spontaneous jams, exploratory jazz and the occasional Hail Mary into the corner of the end zone. Mandocentric, yes, but you'll also notice lots of dobro, violin, and guitar.
Here's what the reviewers said:
“This is one energized CD… a winning debut… a stunning collection of tunes… no matter where you find yourself in this recording, you’ll be amazed at the subtle musicality and virtuosic performances.”
-Hermon Joyner, Mandolin Magazine
"It's a varied blend of deliberate musical calculation and free-spirit mayhem, but the one thing you can count on with this crew is energy... they inject a fresh contemporary and occasionally abstract harmonic sensibility. Be prepared for mando departure..."
-Ted Eschliman, JazzMando
"Intricate... energetic... intriguing... brilliant... I highly recommend 2010 for its varied musical styles and approaches, creativity and overall sound."
-Wildy Haskell, Wildy's World
"Inspiration, collective genius, spontaneity and perhaps a touch of bewitching magic… This is the kind of recording that seems to vaporize and enter the room through the crack of an opened door then fills the space before you while continuing to build with layer upon layer of audible color and complexity… MandoMorphosis 2010 is a musical journal filled with drama and romantic love, heartbreak, tragedy and redemption."
-Nancy Vivolo, Victory Review Magazine
"A creative force to reckon with... a joy to listen to... refreshingly new... 4.5 (of 5) stars."
-Jimmy Rae, Skope Magazine
“MandoMorphosis' [2010] is far more melodic and controlled than a seven-member mandolin ensemble has any right to be… There's a vocal quality to the lead parts, and each track on the 60-minute–plus album feels like a different scene from a suspense film.”
-Chris Kornelis, Seattle Weekly
"The 17 tracks are mostly originals, with the exception of a Chopin nocturne. These are beautifully played and arranged, as is “Matt’s Idea” (a blues tinged new grass piece) and “Ed” (a gentle chamber jazz trio). So is the recording’s one vocal, Orville Johnson’s “Nero’s Fiddle,” a powerfully mournful and politically charged number... The playing [on this CD] is unfailingly fine…"
-Henry Koretzky, Bluegrass Unlimited
"MandoMorphosis succeeds on many levels... The performance... crackles with energy and excitement. If you are becoming more and more put off by the current recording industry’s highly homogenized and pasteurized commercial products, MandoMorphosis 2010 offers a refreshing alternative. Highly recommended."
-Hermon Joyner, Audiophile Audition
"These cats rock right in the pocket. Progressive bluegrass ala Bela Fleck, with energy and good vibes that just keep coming… This is certainly a winner for adult ears on the prowl for something new and different... Hot stuff that just doesn’t wear out its welcome.”
- Chris Spector, Midwest Record
"I want to be in this band."
-Scott Tichenor, Zen Master of Mandolin Cafe
credits
released September 1, 2020
Matt Sircely - mandolin
Orville Johnson - mandolin, dobro, guitar
Michael Connolly - mandolin, violin, guitar
Scott Schaffer - mandolin, mandola, guitar
David Tiller - mandolin, guitar
Pete Frostic - mandolin, octave mandolin
Adam Larrabee - mandolin, guitar
Recorded and mastered by Garey Shelton
Produced and remastered by Scott Schaffer
Cover illustration by Leif Peng
Original CD released in 2010
Remastered version released in 2020
Thanks to: Ethan Schaffer, Andy Andrews, Joe Bowbeer, Jim Couture, John Paul Deley, Kate Hamilton, Brea Jones, Dan Lieberman, Jon Madof, Bart Miltenberger, Dan Peterson, Kevin Riordan, Susan Turner and Leigh Westerlund!
MandoMorphosis is a creative collaboration of accomplished mandolin players that joined forces to explore the boundaries of
new acoustic music. Their two music is an original amalgam of deep acoustic roots and exploratory jazz. Featuring Matt Sircely, Orville Johnson, Michael Connolly and David Tiller....more
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