Life of

Description

Guitarist and unique record producer, Steve Tibbetts has been associated with the ECM label since 1981, his work reflecting the winding path of an artist who has never done anything but follow his own way. The BBC described his music as "composite, atmospheric, singular, brilliant." "Life Of...", his ninth album for the label, appears in some ways as a sequel to his ECM record 'Natural Causes' released in 2010, which Jazz Times described as "a music to get lost in." As in his previous album, Tibbetts in "Life Of" showcases the richness of his 12-string Martin acoustic guitar, as well as his piano reminiscent of a gamelan immersed in a sound environment composed of skillfully deployed samples of Balinese gongs. He is accompanied on this record by the sensitive percussion of his long-time musical partner Marc Anderson and the almost subliminal cello drones of Michelle Kinney. Tibbetts, although rooted in the American Midwest, has made multiple trips to Southeast Asia, notably to Bali and Nepal. It is not only the sounds but the spirit of these places that today constitute a part of his musical DNA, just like the inspiration from artists such as guitarist Bill Connors or the great master of the sarangi Sultan Khan. "Life Of" has a contemplative dimension, as if the world is reflected in this music through the water of a swimming pool. This feeling is further enhanced by the fact that Tibbetts has given most of the pieces on the album the names of friends and family members, living or deceased.