MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH, October 2004***** Five Stars Audiophile Audition FEATURED ARTIST OF THE MONTH, NOVEMBER 2004, Inacoustic.com RATING: ***** (4 out of 5 Stars) LARRY CHERNICOFF'S OCTOBER TAKES PRIZE IN THIRD ANNUAL SURROUND MUSIC AWARDS Larry Chernicoff's multi-channel SACD, October, was named 'Best Made for Surround Title' category at the third annual Surround Music Awards (SMAs). The award was presented to Larry by rock legend Peter Frampton, in a ceremony that also honored surround sound releases by the Rolling Stones, Herbie Hancock, Beck, Peter Frampton, Elton John, and other artists. The winners were selected by a panel of 75 expert judges including representatives from Sound & Vision, Pro Sound News, Widescreen Review, Surround Professional, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, USA Today, Highfidelityreview.com, and Los Angeles-based radio station KCRW. Last year's winner in this category was Steely Dan's 'Everything Must Go.' October is a hybrid multi-channel SACD, which is playable on any standard CD player, and also on SACD-compatible stereo and 5.1 surround-sound players and home theater systems. PRESS "You sit, you listen, and eventually you think: how did he ever come up with that? October left me with a sense that I had just listened to something truly new and distinct...a glorious experience...a musical fusion of global interest. I'll dig October for the rest of my life, thanks." Jazz Improv Magazine "Larry Chernicoff, if I can say this, is a silent whirlwind. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. Solid, intelligent, and almost entirely without capacity for stagnation, the guy is a creative force. ...catch ...Larry's music, really. It's new. I'm serious...Larry's work is light, but substantial, and the music floats." The Artful Mind "... an impeccable synthesis of jazz, rock, classical, and world folk styles. Chernicoff enriches simple song structures with layers of counterpoint and intriguing instrumental colors." Downbeat "Larry Chernicoff is making quiet history with his integration of chamber music and jazz improvisation." WAMC-FM, Albany, NY Warm and serene, October [combines] the acoustic expressions of jazz and classical music... with elements of what is often referred to as "world music" sprinkled about the acoustic celebration. Diverse and keen on melody...[it] rises into an assorted, shimmering chain of ideas and sounds.... snaps and taps itself into an enjoyable swing with various movements celebrating Chernicoff's distinctive musical approach...it blossoms and sustains itself with charm and grace....a sophisticated, subtle offering... " All About Jazz "There are elements of world music, classical chamber music, and genre-bending improvisation here... he has his own individual style, and it's a thorough delight. The music alternates jazzy improv with quieter...passages, sometimes colored exotically with Tibetan chimes, gongs and bowed cymbals. This SACD just won an award for "Best Made for Surround" at the annual Surround Music Awards in Hollywood, and certainly deserves it" (Multichannel Disc Of The Month, October 2004 ***** Five Stars) Audiophile Audition "In its dynamic twists and turns, with surprises around every musical corner, Larry Chernicoff's ...10-piece group, Windhorse -- a large, all-acoustic chamber ensemble or a miniature orchestra, depending on your perspective -- serves...shimmering, colorful renditions of ... music that boasts the dynamism of jazz and the dimensionality and proportions of classical music. October" [has] a fresh, glistening organic quality. The recording has a terrific, warm live sound....the depth and vibrancy of the instruments are remarkable." Weekend "His compositions began from deceptively simple structures, then expanded into complex, spontaneous counterpoint, with a sense of controlled freedom. This is an unusual and engaging band, with energy, lyricism, and humor... very memorable." Albany Times-Union "[October] is a unique conception, which, although it has much in common with classical chamber music, has too many elements of improvisation and world rhythms and tonal colors to allow it to be classed with whatever else you might be listening to these days." Creative Music Newsletter "There are few easy niches to put this music into. Some points of reference might be the Paul Winter Consort / Oregon axis, Don Cherry, or maybe Philip Glass. There are both ancient and modern qualities to this music. Chernicoff scores highest as a composer of highly original music with an elusive 'I've heard this before' quality. This is fascinating music...." -- Victory Review, Seattle THE CD October, from vibraphonist/pianist Larry Chernicoff, combines the warm sounds of orchestral instruments with a jazz dynamic, soulful improvisations, and passages of contemplative calm. It features a large chamber group - French horn, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, saxophones, harp, vibraphone, piano, percussion and tablas. The recording has a live, acoustic, unplugged, organic sound, with real instruments, light percussion, and no electronics. The compositions are detailed and varied, revealing new things with every listening. Musicians Larry Chernicoff vibraphone, piano, percussion Karl Berger piano Carol Emanuel harp John Lindberg bass Tim Moran clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophones Charles Pillow oboe, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxoophone Tom Varner French horn Tomas Ulrich cello Janet Grice bassoon Esther Noh violin Tony Vacca percussion Benjy Wertheimer tablas Produced by Larry Chernicoff and Karl Berger