This groundbreaking solo album, titled Argonautical, draws from the album’s standout world-premiere commissioned work Argonauta by Jordan Jinosko. The word "Argonauta" literally means, "sailor of the Argo," but it can refer to either nautical adventurers or a specific genus of octopuses with large eyes and webbed tentacles-animals that live unusually close to the surface of the water. Gecko by Mieke Doezema explores the child-like admiration of these animals of Hawai’i, her current locale, and inspired by the lopsided mannerisms and intricate designs. Amy Beach was one of the America’s first successful female composers of large-scale instrumental music in the early 1900s and her violin piece Romance has since become a recital favorite. Rounding out the sound world of the album is up and coming New York based composer Mason Bynes with a recently composed work Hades for the ‘Bass Players for Black Composers’ organization. Recollection by British film composer Rachel Portman was originally written for cello and piano, but Herman’s transcription of it offers a depth of feeling that only the sonority of the bass can achieve.
Jory Herman, double bass www.joryherman.com
Marina Pacowski, piano www.marinapacowski.com
0:00 Argonauta by Jordan Jinosko
4:49 Romance by Amy Beach
12:45 Hades by Mason Bynes
21:11 Rachel Portman
Gecko by Mieke Doezema (on digital streaming sites)
****Purchase the sheet music here****
www.jordanjinosko.com/store/p...
www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/pro...
www.masonbynes.org/contact
doezemm.wixsite.com/website/m...
Video by Louis Ng www.lensonproductions.com/
Recorded at California State University in Northridge (CSUN) in March 2024.
Shigemi Matsumoto Recital Hall
Funded in part by the Harmon Lewis Memorial Collaborative Keyboard Artists Award
from the International Society of Bassists as well as the Community Arts Grant from the City of Burbank.
Full Album Release
July 10, 2024
copyright Jory Herman 2024