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Of It But Not Is It

by Ava Mendoza, Dave Sewelson

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1.
Mangrove Sea 03:48
2.
Turnip Wine 04:01
3.
4.
5.
Dava's Dune 04:23
6.
7.
Bill 06:00
BILL I put a sign up the wall You were the only one to call You encouraged me to play The music every kind of way It was fifty years ago You encouraged me to blow It’s been that long that you’re gone And all we got is a song Is a song, Is a song, Is a song Yeah, I put that sign on that wall If you were the only one to call And if you hadn’t called I don’t know what would have happened It’s hard to say But this wouldn’t be happening This sure wouldn’t be happening
8.
Scaribari 02:48
9.

about

**For physical copies, head here: sewelson.bandcamp.com/album/of-it-but-not-is-it

Dave Sewelson: "So when Ava and I started this project I thought it would be one of those freejazz records where you go in the studio for an afternoon and blow and get about an hour of music and make it into a record. On the way to this session I got William Parker to kick in some tunes. Didn’t realize that Ava would come up with beautiful arrangements for them and that I would end up singing them. We ended up with quite a collection of material that day including completely improvised pieces and grooves and songs.

We decided to come back to the studio to make this thing hang together as one cohesive whole. The way the material goes from completely out to soulful grooves to art songs makes a record that I could not have imagined."

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PRESS

"a viscerally compelling wild thing of an album that pivots between a forceful punkish jazz energy and the blistering rawness a blues shouter comes fully equipped with... (Sewelson's) bari playing is as chunky as the much missed Hamiet Bluiett on such epics as slamming but very different... Libation for the Baritone Saxophone Nation." -Marlbank

"Woozy yet formidably headstrong, the baritone saxophonist Dave Sewelson and guitarist Ava Mendoza interrupt the torrents and currents of free jazz with a cask of turnip wine whose lyrics stem from the sage mind of William Parker.
(On 'Where Are You') ringing, shapeshifting guitar summons spectres in the rearview while the unremitting whinnying of Sewelson’s horn serves as an elegy to absence." - Culturedarm

“Mendoza has a dreamy, laid back sound here with Sewelson simmering on sax. “Turnip Wine” is an old school blues romp with some righteous singing by Sewelson... expressing what many of are feeling about the current fate of of Mother Earth. “Don’t Buy The Lie” is a feisty improv duo and both the guitar and bari sax are... spinning out frenetic licks which make a strong connected force. “Do Nothing Man” is a hilarious song about a man who does nothing with his life... Dava’s Dune” is somber, laid back duo with a dreamy vibe... “Is It But Not Of It”... is a darker, haunting work... The last piece, “Where Are You?” is a somber almost lullaby, simmering slowly throughout. This disc is not what anyone would would expect from this duo yet there is something charming about it." - Bruce Gallanter, DMG

credits

released March 15, 2024

Track Credits

1. Mangrove Sea - Ava Mendoza
2. Turnip Wine – lyrics by William Parker, arranged by Ava Mendoza
3. Don’t Buy the Lie – Mendoza/Sewelson
4. Do Nothing Man - lyrics by William Parker, arranged by Ava Mendoza
5. Dava’s Tune - Mendoza/Sewelson
6. Is It But Not Of It – Mendoza/Sewelson
7. Bill (for Bill Horvitz) - Dave Sewelson
8. Scaribari – Dave Sewelson
9. Where Are You – Dave Sewelson

releases March 15, 2024

Ava Mendoza - electric guitar and voice
Dave Sewelson - bari sax and voice

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Jim Clouse, Park West Studios, Brooklyn, NY, October 2021 and September 2022

Cover design - Chad Anderson

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Ava Mendoza New York

AVA MENDOZA is a Brooklyn-based guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. Her guitar work has received acclaim for its technique and viscerality. She is best known as leader of experimental rock band Unnatural Ways, and as a solo performer on guitar/voice. Performing/recording credits include work with Carla Bozulich, Fred Frith, Malcolm Mooney, Mike Watt, Nels Cline, John Zorn, and Negativland. ... more

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