The Weekend Planet

Seven years ago Karen Tweed and Timo Alakotila convened an unusual ensemble which made a singular CD called May Monday. She is an ancestrally-Irish, English accordionist. He is a Finnish pianist. Both are composers and influential, ear-opening music educators. Midnight is a perhaps even lovelier sequel. Its core quartet (now billed as ‘May Monday’) also includes a superb Swedish guitarist and an English fiddler, of Swedish ancestry. A bassoonist is among their various guests. Just a few of many tags which fit: ‘traditional’, ‘brand new’, ‘refined’, ‘robust’, ‘profoundly lyrical’ and ‘nicely quirky’.

Discover more, here:
www.myspace.com/maymonday
www.myspace.com/timoalakotila
www.myspace.com/karentweed

Playlist

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Details of each track are presented in the following order:
BROADCAST TIME
TRACK NUMBER AND TITLE
COMPOSER
PUBLISHING AND COPYRIGHT DETAILS
RECORDING COMPANY AND CD NUMBER
( distributor/ source details, in brackets like this, in lower-case)
ARTIST AND CD TITLE
Duration of track
Description of track, in lower-case.
Where relevant, further info links to information, gigs/events/related programs

’THE WEEKEND PLANET’ SUN 8.6 08

2205
THEME:
(details below, as per the original CD.. This cut is also on these compilations Ketama - ’ Nuevos Medios Coleccion’ - Nuevos Medios NM 15 820
{ in Australia via MGM www.thegroovemerchants.com
worldwide, via: www.flamenco-world.com/noticias/nuevos.htm }
and ’ Jarabi - the best of Toumani Diabate’ (Hannibal 334352 )

CD CUT 1, ’JARABI’
TRAD, ARR TOUMANI DIABATE
HAMILCAR MUSIC LTD
HANNIBAL HNCD 1323
( in Australia, some releases through Stomp Enquiries to: ben@stomp.com.au
worldwide: www.rykodisc.com )
KETAMA, TOUMANI DIABATE, DANNY THOMPSON - ’SONGHAI’
THIRTY SECONDS (EXCERPT)
(retains a stately-Manding air, whilst also embracing flamenco elements. Toumani Diabate’s kora, Danny Thompson’s beautiful double bass and Ketama’ s flamenco guitars )

2208
CD CUT 2, ’MOONBEAM PASSAGE’
KAREN TWEED, ARR KAREN TWEED, TIMO ALAKOTILA, EMMA REID, ROGER TALLROTH. THE BASSOON IS ARR BY TIMO ALAKOTILA
MAY MONDAY PUBLISHING
MMA 6327001
( available worldwide via www.cuberoots.com
And via: Karen Tweed
Brewery House
High Street
Ketton
Lincolnshire PE9 3TA
UK
www.myspace.com/maymonday )
MAY MONDAY - ’MIDNIGHT’
6: 12
( Timo’s piano, Karen’s piano accordion with the group-proper’s other two members - Roger Tallroth and Emma Reid - on acoustic guitar and fiddle, respectively. Their bassoonist guest is Ursula Leveaux. Very beautiful, lyrical piece. It remembers a shaft of moonlight upon a calm sea at midnight - as experienced when returning by ship from a festival in Shetland. One could call this ’chamber folk’ but it is entirely free of the ’twee/stilted’ quality which so-oft afflicts so-called ’chamber-folk’. There’s nothing ’close enough for folk’ about the writing/playing/arranging )

SEGUE

2214
CD CUT 8, ’MIDNITE MOONLIGHT’
PETER ROWAN
SEA LION MUSIC (BMI)
FLYING FISH FF 70071
( this may or may not be available, still. If so:
in Australia through Shock www.shock.com.au
worldwide through Rounder: www.rounder.com )
PETER ROWAN - ’PETER ROWAN’
4: 10
(high-lonesome - Rowan’s male voice with yodelesque bits, ac bass, ac guitar and some wonderful fiddle {Richard Greene}. From 1978 - a landmark album)

SEGUE

2218
CD CUT 6, ’MIDNIGHT MACMASTER’
KAREN TWEED, ARR KAREN TWEED, TIMO ALAKOTILA
MAY MONDAY PUBLISHING
MMA 6327001
( available worldwide via www.cuberoots.com
And via: Karen Tweed
Brewery House
High Street
Ketton
Lincolnshire PE9 3TA
UK
www.myspace.com/maymonday )
MAY MONDAY - ’MIDNIGHT’
3: 31
(flowing-lyrical, inter-active duet for Karen’s accordion, Timo’s piano. A birthday present for Mary MacMaster )

2224
CD CUT 5, ’BLUE HOUR’
STEPHEN CUMMINGS/ CHRIS ABRAHAMS
TRUETONE/ CONTROL
POLYDOR 847 625 2
(through Universal)
STEPHEN CUMMINGS - ’GOOD HUMOUR’
4: 43
(AUSTRAL COMP AND PERF: yearning ballad with an arcing melody: male voice with female harmony, primarily accompanied by piano/organ {Abrahams} )

SEGUE

2229
CD CUT 1, ’HOPE/ GERRY COMMANE’S / BACK HOME AT ONSBACKEN/ BEOGA/ SAM’S TUNE’
COMPS, RESP: TIMO ALAKOTILA/ TRAD/ KAREN TWEED/ SEAN OG GRAHAM/ SARAH NORTHCOTT
ARRS, RESP: KAREN TWEED, TIMO ALAKOTILA, EMMA REID, ROGER TALLROTH/ DITTO/ DITTO, PLUS TAPANI VARIS, JOHN DIPPER, GERARD KILBRIDE, BERNARD KILBRIDE/ KAREN TWEED, TIMO ALAKOTILA, EMMA REID, ROGER TALLROTH, JOHN DIPPER/ KAREN TWEED, TIMO ALAKOTILA, EMMA REID, ROGER TALLROTH, JOHN DIPPER, GERARD KILBRIDE, BERNARD KILBRIDE, NEIL YATES
PUBS, RESP: TEOSTO/ TEOST0, PRS, STM/ MAY MONDAY PUBLISHING/ IMRO/ PRS
MMA 6327001
( available worldwide via www.cuberoots.com
And via: Karen Tweed
Brewery House
High Street
Ketton
Lincolnshire PE9 3TA
UK
www.myspace.com/maymonday )
MAY MONDAY - ’MIDNIGHT’
8: 58
( mega-medley which begins with Timo’s piano, alone. It’s a mix of new and old tunes from various places and ranges from poignant-elegant, through romping-rousing. Timo’s piano, Karen’s accordion are generally present as is Roger Tallroth’s ac guitar and Emma Reid’s fiddle. The guests are ac bassist Tapani Varis, fiddlers John Dipper, Gerard Kilbride and Bernard Kilbride and trumpeter Neil Yates {on the softer-toned flugelhorn} )

2240
CD CUT 11, ’I JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF’
BURT BACHARACH, HAL DAVID, ARR LIBBY HAMMER
RONDOR/ MCA
MWA 104
(in Australia through MGM
the band, direct, worldwide: www.hipmotoast.com )
HIP MO’ TOAST - ’UPTOWN TIGHT’
5: 46
(AUSTRAL PERF AND ARR: intimate- subdued ballad for Libby Hammer’s voice w ac bass, piano, brushes, tenor sax - {wisely} does not ape the famous Dusty Springfield version)

SEGUE

2246
CD CUT 12, ’WIVES AND LOVERS’
BURT BACHARACH, HAL DAVID
UNIVERSAL/ MCA PUBLISHING/ RONDOR MUSIC
ABCD 008
( through Vitamin: www.vitamin.net.au
And via www.oldspiceboys.com )
THE OLD SPICE BOYS - ’WELCOME TO THE SPICE AGE’
2: 26
(AUSTRAL PERF AND ARR/DERANGEMENT: the ’dirty old man’, comic version! In persona of an aging/ogling would-be-seducer; he has ’performance’ issues... I think Tim Reeves is the vocalist - he’s certainly the snare drummer, with Billy Milroy’s single-string bass and Azo Bell’s ukulele.

LIKE TO KNOW WHEN AND WHERE THE OLD SPICE BOYS PERFORM?

Go to: www.oldspiceboys.com/giglist/index.htm )

SEGUE

2248
CD CUT 7, ’WIVES AND LOVERS’
BURT BACHARACH/HAL DAVID, ARR JOE CHINDAMO
WARNER CHAPPELL
LARRIKIN/WALKABOUT LRF 499
(this CD is temporarily out of stock but moves are afoot to re-issue.
Keep an eye on Joe’s site: www.joechindamo.com )
JOE CHINDAMO - ’ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART’
8: 09
(AUSTRAL PERF AND ARR: a very alive-interactive piano trio - at
once robust-playful and lyrical. Joe’s piano with bassist Ben Robertson and drummer Tony Floyd )

2258
CD CUT 1, ’SPICE JUNK’
NOT SPEC, BUT PRESUMABLY BY AZO BELL/ BILLY MILROY AND TIM REEVES
(PRESUMABLY) APRA
ABCD 008
( through Vitamin: www.vitamin.net.au
And via www.oldspiceboys.com )
THE OLD SPICE BOYS - ’WELCOME TO THE SPICE AGE’
1: 15 (excerpt)
(AUSTRAL COMP AND PERF: perky jazz-ish shuffler for Azo Bell’s ukulele, Billy Milroy’s single-string bass and Tim Reeves’ snare drum )

----
11 PM NEWS
----

2305
CD CUT 4, ’GREAT UNCLE HENRY’
EMMA REID. ARR KAREN TWEED, TIMO ALAKOTILA, EMMA REID, ROGER TALLROTH
PRS
MMA 6327001
( available worldwide via www.cuberoots.com
And via: Karen Tweed
Brewery House
High Street
Ketton
Lincolnshire PE9 3TA
UK
www.myspace.com/maymonday )
MAY MONDAY - ’MIDNIGHT’
3: 04
( Its young fiddler wrote this for her great uncle’s one hundredth birthday, in March 2007. A sweet, genial promenade-dance {waltz-based, I think} for Emma’s fiddle, Karen’s accordion, Roger’s ac guitar and Timo’s piano )

2311
CD CUT 11, ’PADDY’ (MY DAD PADDY/ MOTORWAY MAZOURKA/ THE RED JACKET)
(RESP) EILIDH SHAW/ JOHN SWAYNE/ MARY MACMASTER
ALL PRS/MCPS
GREENTRAX CDTRAX249
( In Australia, through The Planet Company/ MGM
email: info@theplanetcompany.com
website: www.theplanetcompany.com
Worldwide via: www.greentrax.com )
THE POOZIES - ’CHANGED DAYS, SAME ROOTS’
6: 01
(MacMaster’s clarsach {wire-strung Scottish small harp] , Patsy Seddon’s electro-harp {the inventor of same - Joel Garnier - is the dedicatee of this set’s last tune] , Eilidh Shaw’s fiddle and Karen Tweed’s accordion. A beautifully arranged, flowing set)

SEGUE

2317
CD CUT 10, ’TIMO’S JIG’
ROGER TALLROTH. ARR KAREN TWEED, TIMO ALAKOTILA, EMMA REID, ROGER TALLROTH
STM
MMA 6327001
( available worldwide via www.cuberoots.com
And via: Karen Tweed
Brewery House
High Street
Ketton
Lincolnshire PE9 3TA
UK
www.myspace.com/maymonday )
MAY MONDAY - ’MIDNIGHT’
5:22
( not too worried about what exactly is a ’jig’. Cheerfully dances and goes wherever it wishes, whilst saluting its Finnish pianist. Timo’s piano, Roger’s ac guitar, Emma’s fiddle, Karen’s accordion )

SEGUE

2322
CD CUT 5, ’THE LAND’ (’WHEN THE LAND IS WHITE WITH SNOW’)
CHRIS WOOD, ARR KAREN TWEED, TIMO ALAKOTILA, MARIA KALANIEMI, ROGER TALLROTH, SHANTI PAUL JAYASINHA, TIMO MYLLYKANGAS
PRS
FYASCO RECORDS FYCD03
( www.cutting-tweed.demon.co.uk
Likely-available via www.cdroots.com )
KAREN TWEED AND TIMO ALAKOTILA - ’MAY MONDAY’
6: 06
(gracious, lyrical and beautifully arranged: Roger’s 12-string guitar, Shanti Paul’s flugelhorn, Timo M’s ac bass, Timo A’s piano, Karen and Maria Kalaniemi’s accordions - respectively, piano and five-row )

2332
CD CUT 3, ’NIITYT JA VAINIOT’ ( ’MEADOWS AND FIELDS’ )
MARIA KALANIEMI
TEOSTO
AITO RECORDS AICD086
( no Australian distributor.
Maria’s site: www.mariakalaniemi.com
two convenient sources for most things Scandinavian:
www.cuberoots.com
www.digelius.com )
MARIA KALANIEMI - ’BELLOW POETRY’
5: 01
(Beautiful, spare. Finnish accordionist Maria Kalaniemi, alone, at home, singing and playing her accordion )

SEGUE

2337
CD CUT 3, REVEROF/ LUSIGNAC
(RESP) KAREN TWEED/ CHRIS WOOD. BOTH ARR BY KAREN TWEED AND TIMO ALAKOTILA
(RESP) MAY MONDAY PUBLISHING/ PRS
MMA 6327001
( available worldwide via www.cuberoots.com
And via: Karen Tweed
Brewery House
High Street
Ketton
Lincolnshire PE9 3TA
UK
www.myspace.com/maymonday )
MAY MONDAY - ’MIDNIGHT’
4: 20
( duet: Timo’s piano and Karen’s accordion. A gentle-lyrical waltz, followed by a much more forceful one - both played really well, very ’in the moment’ )

SEGUE

2341
CD CUT 10, ’A LIFE?’
JOSHUA REDMAN
WARNER-TAMERLAINE PUB. CORP/SHEDROFF MUSIC BMI
WARNER BROS 9362474652
JOSHUA REDMAN - ’BEYOND’
6: 50
(Questioning, non standard jazz. Pregnant, quasi-ballad, framed by Aaron Goldberg’s piano - briefly alone at beginning and end. Bassist Reuben Rodgers steps forward, then the piece goes into a groove, with the piano atop the bass and Gregory Hutchinson’s drums. Midway, Redman’s tenor sax enters and solos.

AARON GOLDBERG TRIO AUSTRALIAN TOUR ALERT
( Aaron’s trio is with the very same bassist and drummer, as above )

Sydney dates:
Thursday June 12 and Friday June 13:
8.30 pm at ’The Sound Lounge’
(doors open 8.00pm)
Seymour Theatre Centre, corner City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale
Box office tel: 02 9351 7940
www.sima.org.au

Queensland dates:
14 June
The J, Noosa Junction (8 pm)

15 June
Gold Coast Arts Centre (3 pm)

17 June
Ellaways Music Auditorium Workshops, Underwood
10am12pm (Students) - 1pm5pm (Teachers)

Wed June 18: Brisbane
7.30 pm (doors open 7 pm) Judith Wright Centre
www:judithwrightcentre.com
tel bookings on 07 38729000 {Mon to Frid 12-4pm}

20 June
Mackay Arts Centre

LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT AARON GOLDBERG?

His site:
www.aarongoldberg.com

There’s bio of the full trio, here:
www.sima.org.au/2008/06/12/aaron-goldberg-trio-usa )

2350
CD CUT 12, ’LUMEN VALOSSA’
TIMO ALAKOTILA ARR BY KAREN TWEED AND TIMO ALAKOTILA
TEOSTO
MMA 6327001
( available worldwide via www.cuberoots.com
And via: Karen Tweed
Brewery House
High Street
Ketton
Lincolnshire PE9 3TA
UK
www.myspace.com/maymonday )
MAY MONDAY - ’MIDNIGHT’
4: 50
( spacious and lyrical duo - his piano, her accordion. A birthday present for Timo’s sister. It depicts ’the brightness of her being’)

2356
CD CUT 2, ’MIGRATON OF SPIRIT’
CHARLES LLOYD
FOREST FARM MUSIC (BMI)
ECM 2053 / 175 4811
( in Australia through Fuse Music
www.fusemusic.com.au
worldwide: www.ecmrecords.com )
CHARLES LLOYD - ’RABO DE NUBE’
3: 00
( ’live’ and genuinely spiritual a post-’Trane wordless jazz-prayer for Lloyd’s uncanny tenor sax, Jason Moran’s piano, Reuben Rogers ac bass and Eric Harland on drums-percussion. Has real gravitas. Superb band, recorded last year when Lloyd was 69. Issued this year to mark his 70th birthday.

ABC RADIO NATIONAL CHARLES LLOYD ALERT

We explore his superb new album next Sunday, June 15
More details here: www.abc.net.au/rn/weekendplanet/comingup )

Presenter

Doug Spencer

Producer

Doug Spencer