Confluence from Confluence by Nancy Rumbel, David Michael, & Benjy Wertheimer

(David): This title piece started as a free-form improvisation between me and Benjy on Celtic harp and tablas. I have long loved rhythms in 9/8 time (counted: 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3, 1-2). So this seemed like a natural. I’m also enamored with the mixolydian mode (a major scale with a minor 7th) so this and a number of the other pieces on the album employ it. I find it the most magical of all the modes, perhaps because the overtone series on every string implies it (high harmonics include a major 3rd and minor 7th ) Much Celtic music, not to mention blues uses that mode.

We decided on the note C as the tonic for the piece because some of Benjy’s tablas really sing in C, C-mixolydian is how I tune my harp when I’m not engaging any sharping levers and because we had Richard Russell’s sarode (a 25-string fretless lute) in mind and it really hits the sweet spot on his instrument. Sean Frenette then added a bass line which added a bit of new harmonic direction and dimension to build on. Michael Mandrell’s guitar brought depth, rhythmic support and a kind of crystalline presence.

Most of the melodic content was then thoughtfully added over that. The sarode is the bold, plucked melodic instrument, Benjy’s esraj is the sweet, exotic bowed instrument and Nancy Rumbel brought it all home with her soaring oboe lines.

Grammy-Award winner and woodwindist, Nancy Rumbel, has teamed up with Celtic harpist, David Michael, and tabla/multi-instrumentalist Benjy Wertheimer to create a whole new sound. An abundance of riches are added by a talented cast of their friends: Michael Mandrell (guitar), Richard Russell (sarode), Sean Frenette (bass), Mark Eubanks ( bassoon), and Steve Gorn (bansuri flutist.)