Darcy James Argue's Secret Society 2013 Brooklyn Babylon Traclist: 01 Prologue 05:01 02 The Neighborhood 06:13 03 Interlude #1: Infuse 01:06 04 An Invitation 02:38 05 Interlude #2: Enjoin 01:15 6 The Tallest Tower In The World 03:44 07 Interlude #3: Enthrall 01:15 08 Construction + Destruction 05:02 09 Interlude #4: Bewail 01:12 10 Builders 04:33 11 Interlude #5: Unmoored 01:34 12 Missing Parts 05:24 13 Interlude #6: Arise 00:58 14 Grand Opening 04:37 15 Interlude #7: Aloft 00:40 16 Coney Island 03:18 17 Epilogue 04:32 Personnel: Erica von Kleist: piccolo, flute, alto flute, soprano sax, alto sax, electronics; Rob Wilkerson: flute, clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax; Sam Sadigursky: clarinet, tenor sax; John Ellis: clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor sax; Josh Sinton: clarinet, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, baritone saxophone; Seneca Black: trumpet, fluegelhorn; Tom Goehring: trumpet, fluegelhorn; Matt Holman: trumpet, fluegelhorn; Nadje Noordhuis: trumpet, fluegelhorn; Ingrid Jensen: trumpet, fluegelhorn, electronics; Mike Fahie: euphonium, trombone; Ryan Keberle: trombone; James Hirschfeld: trombone, tuba; Jennifer Wharton: bass trombone, tuba; Sebastian Noelle: acoustic & electric guitar; Gordon Webster: acoustic & electric piano, melodica: Matt Clohesy: contrabass & electric bass; Jon Wikan: drum set, tapan, surdo, cajon, shaker, tambourine, misc. percussion; Darcy James Argue: composer, conductor.
Brooklyn-based composer-bandleader Darcy James Argue and his innovative 18-piece bigband Secret Society will release their highly anticipated sophomore album, Brooklyn Babylon, April 30th on New Amsterdam Records. The follow-up to their critically acclaimed and Grammy-nominated debut, Infernal Machines (2009), Brooklyn Babylon shows Argue “expanding his sonic palette as never before” (Tad Hendrickson, Wall Street Journal). Weaving together progressive jazz, early-American popular styles, Balkan folk musics, and the sounds of Brooklyn's diverse contemporary music scene — from the dance-punk of LCD Soundsystem and experimental indie rock of Dirty Projectors to Missy Mazzoli's blend of post-rock and quirky minimalism — Argue creates a vividly evocative musical narrative that is at once timeless and unlike anything heard before. Argue's Secret Society is one of the most admired ensembles in contemporary jazz, having toured in Europe, Brazil, and North America and been twice featured at the Newport Jazz Festival. Its members include in-demand instrumentalists such as John Ellis, Ingrid Jensen, Ryan Keberle, and Sam Sadigursky. Brooklyn Babylon was conceived in collaboration with Croatian-born visual artist Danijel Zezelj, whose narrative inspired Argue's mash-up of musical styles. Zezelj's artwork places the action in a larger-than-life, mythic Brooklyn, where past, present, and future coexist. Plans are afoot to construct an immense tower — the tallest in the world — right in the heart of the city. Lev Bezdomni, a master carpenter, finds himself torn between his personal ambition and his allegiance to the community when he is commissioned to build the carousel that will crown it. Brooklyn Babylon was recorded June 19-21, 2012 at NYC's legendary Avatar Studios. The recording was mixed and co-produced by Brian Montgomery (John Hollenbeck, Esperanza Spalding, Elvis Costello, Donald Fagen, Paul McCartney). released 30 April 2013