"The Bachian Swing Consort" - CD

A physical copy of the Bachian Swing Consort's Self-titled debut album; including one compact disc and digipack printed using non-toxic, eco-friendly ink on sturdy 16 pt recycled board stock designed by Kevin Metzger with original artwork by Amanda Koontz. The CD also comes with an original playbill from the recording concerts (while supplies last), as well as a download including the entire film as an mp4 file in both 1080p and 4k, all 8 tracks in WAV and MP3, 2 additional bonus tracks, and a liner notes pdf.

Recorded live over two nights in January 2024 with support from the City of Austin’s Live Music Fund, The Bachian Swing Consort treats J.S. Bach as living material; pairing historically informed touch with modern improvisation, groove, and timbral play. New arrangements sit alongside free group improvisations, revealing how counterpoint, call-and-response, and harmonic invention thrive across centuries. Featuring a trio of Rashaan Allwood (organ & synth), R. Aaron Walters (drums), and director Kevin Metzger (electric guitar), alongside vocalists Page Stephen and Rebekah Smeltzer-Staley, the album moves from the soulful and sacred to the bold and experimental; tracing a line where Baroque structure grooves and swings without breaking.

CD Tracklist:

1. Allwood's Blues (Free Improvisation)
2. Erbarme Dich, Mein Gott (BWV 244) [ft. Page Stephens]
3. Walters' Triptych (Free Improvisation)
4. Quia Respexit (BWV 243) [ft. Rebekah Smeltzer-Staley]
5. Et In Unum Dominum (BWV 232) [ft. Page Stephens & Rebekah Smeltzer-Staley]
6. Metzger's Groove (Free Improvisation)
7. Corrente Shuffle (BWV 525)
8. Ethereal Circuitry (Chat GPT Improvisation)

Bonus Tracks:

Rashaan's Prance (Free Improvisation)
Bossa Fughetta (BWV 526)

Credits:

Rashaan Allwood - Hammond B3 Organ & Moog Synthesizer
Kevin Metzger - Electric guitar
Page Stephens - Mezzo soprano
Rebekah Smelzer-Staley - Soprano
R. Aaron Walters - Drum set & Percussion

Chelsea Berchon - Director
Richard Carpenter- Director of Photography & Camera operator
Reese Reissig - Camera operator
Jesse Witt - Camera operator

Produced by R. Aaron Walters
Engineered by R. Aaron Walters
Engineering assisted by Robert Gonzales & Jeff Buchle
Mixed by R. Aaron Walters
Mastered by Parachute Mastering

Recorded and filmed January 19-20, 2024
At Triumphant Love Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas, USA

Photography by Chelsea Berchon
Video edited by Kevin Metzger
Production managed by R. Aaron Walters & Kevin Metzger
Project managed by R. Aaron Walters & Kevin Metzger
Original Artwork by Amanda Koontz
Graphic design by Kevin Metzger

Made Possible due to a generous grant from the City of Austin Cultural Division