We are delighted to hear some new music from John LaRoy and Colleen Woyach! John has been one of favorite composers for a few years with his Saraz Handpans and Colleen is a great woodwind player! You can find a couple of his videos in our featured videos, one also with Colleen. They have a sweet relaxing synergy between them that travels between campfire jam sessions and jazzy sweetness.
In their newest collaboration, Wanderlust, we find 5 tracks that are “a collection of compositions taking the listener across the globe through various landscapes and climates.”
The go on to say:
“Wanderlust” is a collection of compositions taking the listener across the globe through various landscapes and climates.
The album, composed by John LaRoy and Colleen Woyach, begins near the border of Argentina and Brazil at Iguazu Falls, the largest waterfall system in the world. The flowing melodies and vast ranges of “Iguazu” depict the vibrant current of water along the river, down the tumultuous falls, and return to a gentle flow. Next is the perilous expedition across Rub’ al Khali, the largest contiguous desert in the world, located in the Arabian Peninsula. “Rub’ al Khali” creates imagery of travel across the vast desert landscape through slow, repetitive beats and contrasts in tempos and styles. Following the desert journey, “Naica” portrays the tremendous selenite crystals found in the Naica Mine of Mexico through use of deep, jagged rhythms in the baritone saxophone contrasted by smooth, sparkling sounds in the voice of the handpan. Named after a village hidden by the mountains of southern Norway, “Rjukan” is characterized by deep, lethargic tones created by both the baritone saxophone and handpan, emulating the lonely, dark village. Sunlight reaches Rjukan only six months of the year. The resonant high notes in the baritone saxophone depict a ray of sunshine reaching the village for one sweet moment. Wanderlust ends in celebration at Santiago de Compostela, the destination of the religious pilgrimage through Spain across the Camino. Within “Compostela,” the duo transforms its sound into multiple voices, as if a choir, creating a call and response melody paired with jubilant tones celebrating the completion of a great journey.
Wanderlust was composed and performed with only a handpan, an alto saxophone, and baritone saxophone.
