January 28, 2015
Faculty Team Up for Fresh New Album
Recent GRAMMY winning artist and head of ±ΖΑ¨±ΖΑ¨βs guitar department Jason Vieaux has teamed up with internationally acclaimed soloist and ±ΖΑ¨±ΖΑ¨ harp department head Yolanda Kondonassis for a new album entitled , which released this week on Azica Records. The CD is a true ±ΖΑ¨±ΖΑ¨ production. It was produced by Alan Bise, director of recording arts and services and the recording engineer was Bruce Egre, head of the audio recording degree program. The album features new works for the harp and guitar including βKnock on Wood,β composed by head of ±ΖΑ¨±ΖΑ¨βs composition department Keith Fitch.
Vieaux and Kondonassis are veterans of the recording world, both having recorded more than a dozen albums. However, Together marks the first album featuring only the duo on harp and guitar. Although the guitar and harp are seemingly similar in tone and texture, the album offers a fresh look at the instruments, featuring special effects such as knocking, harmonics, whistles and more, many of which play a center role in Fitchβs appropriately named piece, βKnock on Wood.β The tracks also play with blending and contrast and at times itβs difficult to discern who is playing, while other moments reveal sounds that couldnβt be more different.
βIβve always been obsessed with trying to make my sound as warm as possible,β says Kondonassis. βItβs so refreshing for me to play off Jasonβs warmth sometimes and be the spice, the acidic texture in the mix for a change.β
Together is available for download on Azica Records through iTunes and on CD at amazon.com. To hear more about the album from the artists themselves, check out their .