Tahsili Consort I
The Adventure Begins 1997
The members of Tahsili Consort had known each other a long time but did not play together until the summer of 1997, the beginning of a four year, five CD adventure into the realm of free improvisation.
Tahsili Consort was the de facto house band at The Living Room (at that time, Eugene, Oregon’s premiere venue for free improvisation). They started out cautiously, gaining confidence with each passing month and with each recording. These recordings of their first performances show the group playing it relatively safe and not taking many musical chances, compared to their later CDs.
Amontillado Suiite was inspired by Poe's The Cask of Amontillado and was recorded for later use as incidental music to a reading of a recently discovered longer version of that familiar story. Mostly it's just Butch and L.C. playing on this piece, but I did manage to sneak in a few notes here and there.
Aarianos Tahsilianos was inspired by the then recent birth of my son Aaron. Listen closely and you might hear a lullaby or a nursery rhyme or two. Everyone played on this piece.
Amontillado Suite is the perfect accompaniment to one of my short stories. All it lacks is a glass of sherry. --- E. A. Poe
The Tahsili Consort recordings are delightful in their innovation . . . true jazz experimentations. [Many tracks use] only two or three instruments that . . . respond to the other instruments in an extemporaneous fashion . . . the keyboard will start and, on the spot, the cello, or the bass, or the drums will quickly think of something to play that is in the same key, same jazz style, and same rhythmic pattern. On others . . . the instrumentation will be different and, perhaps, a different instrument will start and set the patterns for response. In all, the tunes are easy-listening jazz . . . set a relaxed and mellow mood. --- Dave Stauffer, Founding member of the classic 60’s rock group The Corvettes,
composer / librettist of the epic rock opera cycle Sow Y’ Oats!
and fraternity brother to Tahsili Consort member Bruce Heldt.
From its ominously ringing opening bass note through its seven relentless minutes, Ring, Ring, Round would have made the perfect counterpoint to my Flight of the Valkyries. --- R. Wagner
I may not know what to call the music played by Tahsili Consort – free jazz, classical improvisation, new age, old age, amateurish doodling – but I do know that I like it. --- Walt "Diz" Knee
Joining Tahsili Consort on their first musical adventure are:
Chet Bluder Trumpet
Beth Curdel Flute