Tenskawatawa
Peter and I hoped that a clarinet melody with pedal steel accompaniment would create a beleaguered mood reminiscent of Jason's young, self-accompanied sound. All of the early songs feel like old friends to us and when 'Citadel' (the working titles were simple like 'Vanquisher', and 'Hayfoot') was suggested we both knew it was a great choice. The measured harmony and jauntily-articulated melody is classic Songs:Ohia. The lyrics are devastating and evocative of the timeless, veristic Americana that Jason conjured, simple and profound. We wanted to record an instrumental because the missing voice hasn't fully sunk in. We rehearsed once in Peter's kitchen, played the arrangement at Jason's memorial and recorded this take soon after.
Eoin Russell 04/04/14
Tenskawatawa from Songs: Ohia Self-Titled (The Black Record)
Performed and recorded by Peter Hess (clarinet) and Eoin Russell (pedal steel)
Bio
Peter and Eoin appeared on the original recording of this song with Jason in 1997.
Peter— What I do. I play saxophones, clarinets, flutes and percussion. I write music. I arrange and orchestrate. I try not to put music into boxes but I play jazz and new music, experimental and improvised music, new classical music, Balkan and rock music. I perform with many different groups, and play horns and more on records and soundtracks for all sorts of people. In my studio I track winds for television, web, theater and film, including HBO’s Bored to Death, Make ‘em Laugh on PBS, MTV’s Road Rules, and a half dozen indie films. See the music and discog pages for more information about the bands I play with and the records I’ve made with them.
• soprano, alto, C melody, tenor and baritone saxophones
• Bb, A, G, Eb, bass and contra-alto clarinets
• flute, alto flute, piccolo
Peter Hess has lived in Brooklyn since 1997, and plays saxophones, clarinets, and flute. He is a member of ASM, the World/Inferno Friendship Society, and co-leads Guignol. He can be heard on over twenty recent jazz and independent rock releases, including records by Balkan Beat Box, James "Jabbo" Ware, Songs;Ohia, Big Lazy, Amy Kohn, World/Inferno, and the late Canto-pop superstar Roman Lo.
Links
http://peterhessmusic.tumblr.com/