About the Prophetz

The Prophetz of Time and Space combines former Zytron bassist Steve Vasconcellos with some of the finest musicians of our time: Ndugu Chancler is a world-renown percussionist who has performed with virtually all the top names in jazz and pop, violinist Jerry Goodman’s credentials are equally impressive, as are all the players. Together, these musicians are in the full embrace of their art: the music takes over and plays the performer, who plays the listener…

About the Music

Tangishaka

Tangishaka is a Burundi word meaning “God gives what he wishes.” The song is in 7/4, with the solos in a double-time montuno format.

Transplacement of the Underbearing

Transplacement of the Underbearing is a complex song with unusual time signatures – 22/8, divided 6/6/6/4, a 5/4 bridge section and transitioning between them is a pattern in 8½/4.

Reminiscence

A gentle but powerful cruiser in 15/4 (like a typical pattern of four bars of 4/4, but with the last beat missing. The melody is very Hindustani in nature, complex and rapid but consistent.

Finnegan’s Dream-Prophetz

Finnegans Sleep-original

“Finnegans Sleep” is a wordplay on Joyce’s “Finnegans Wake.” Vasco screwed up the title (twice!) renaming it Finnegan’s Dream and also omitted the back-line ostinado, which I consider an important part of the composition. So I have included my version of the piece for comparison (this is just a reference track, not a final recording.) The Vasco track is brilliantly performed, my issue is the omission of the ostinato…

Personnel:

• Steve Vasconcellos: Bass
• Jerry Goodman: Violin
• Brandon Fields: Sax
• Otmaro Ruiz: Piano (Tom McMoran on Tangishaka)
• Tadashi Namba: Keyboards
• Ndugu Chancler: Drums (Enzo Tedesco on Tangishaka)
• Munyungo Jackson: Percussion