David Bixler | Blended Lineage

From David Bixler: Blended Lineage follows the release of my first recording in several years, In the Face of Chaos, as a part of what I have embraced as my artistic reemergence. A traumatic brain injury suffered by my youngest son necessitated a shift in my priorities for much of the last decade-a period in which we as a family devoted much of our energy to the circumstances of our son. As he stabilized, I had a realization that this was the new normal, and it was time to re-enter the realm of creative music, but with a perspective and energy gracefully changed and informed by my family’s circumstances.

Blended Lineage is a four-movement work composed for nine musicians; the product of a commission with the directive of writing music based on the concept of modern-day tribes. As I thought about the word tribe, it occurred to me that while helpful in identifying a group, the word tribe can also be divisive and one-dimensional, and therefore I went about framing this concept in the positive. An examination of my world identified four ‘tribes’ of which I am a member: the human race, a Wisconsinite, a musician, and those who attempt to pursue a path of creativity and generosity as an alternative to the dehumanizing transactional strivings that permeate much of our present culture. The music I composed serves as a reflection of each of the four groups. The first piece, Origins is written for the beauty and diversity that exists through all of humanity. Motherland is an homage to my native Wisconsin. Trenches is dedicated to the musicians in NYC who choose to lean into the music daily as well as their economic reality resulting from that choice. My Soul Swoons Softly, the final piece, takes its title from James Joyce’s, The Dead, and is a reflection on the spiritual reality that exists beyond what can be seen and touched and gives hope in this world. 

For this recording I selected eight musicians that delivered on every aspect of their musicianship that was required for the realization of this music. I am grateful for the musicians that brought more to the music then I originally conceived. Trumpeter Mike Rodriguez, pianist Jon Cowherd, bassist Luke Sellick, percussionist Fabio Rojas, and a string quartet comprised of violinists Judith Ingolfsson, Heather Martin Bixler, violist Josh Kail, and cellist Rubin Kodheli who come together to form an incredible ensemble that deftly navigates the complexities and moods of the music.

The suite beings with Origins a composition invites the listener on a long journey that begins with the string quartet sculpting the ether as the main theme is introduced by the alto over a shifting sonic landscape. The sustained theme continues over the rhythm section as a 6/8 feel is introduced. Pianist Cowherd interjects thoughts between the melodic statements which foreshadow his probing piano solo. While the piano solo continues, the strings are reintroduced and the journey to the conclusion of the piece is underway as several different ideas are introduced that compete for the listener’s attention. On Motherland the strings are given a rest while the jazz quintet presents the listener with a musical evocation of the open landscape of my youth. The piece serves as a vehicle for an alto and trumpet duet which is followed by another offering from Cowherd. The third movement, Trenches begins with a funky ostinato that is a constant throughout the entire piece even as it shifts moods and meters. It features an incredible trumpet solo over the ostinato by Mike Rodriguez that is followed by an abrupt tempo change as a dialogue between the horns and strings ensues. Alto and piano solos are followed by a drum solo from Fabio Rojas. It concludes with a return of the ostinato with punctuations from the strings. The recording counter-intuitively climaxes with the reflective My Soul Swoons Slowly. The piece and the alto solo are my attempt at conveying the beauty and grace found in the words Joyce uses so powerfully to frame ideas and represent emotions in his story.

Blended Lineage is the first of two recordings for this ensemble. Another recording, The Hughes Project, which features the Bixtet performing musical ruminations on the poetry of Langston Hughes is near completion. These new recordings along with LINER NOTES with David Bixler, a new podcast available on iTunes and Google Play, collectively represent the declaration of a repurposed take on my life as a musician.