Regina Carter, a world-renowned violinist, decided to record an album that featured mainly African folk songs. This presented her with a huge challenge: How do you take traditional music and give it a modern feel, while still keeping its history intact? And, of course, not lose its beauty? Reverse Thread, her newest album, will be released on E1 Entertainment May 18th. It brilliantly meets the challenge. Regina added an accordion to her rhythm section, as well as a kora (West African harp that was traditionally used by village storytellers) and a kora. Yacouba Sissoko, a Kora virtuoso, was brought aboard to help revive the spirit of sharing stories from generation to generations. This result is unlike anything else and is a beautiful complement to Regina’s enchanting violin. Reverse Thread would not have been possible without the help of the MacArthur Foundation. The prestigious MacArthur Foundation “awards unrestricted fellowships for talented individuals.” Carter was a MacArthur Fellow, also known as the “genius Grant” and had the means to pursue her dreams. Regina sought out the World Music Institute in New York City for inspiration and found an inspiring resource, including field recordings. Regina considered not only the music but also the sounds and nuances of daily life, both from sociological and anthropological perspectives. These were the foundations of the new arrangements. Regina stated that there is an incredible amount of music from all over the globe, and much of it is not easily accessible. “Reverse Thread allowed me to discover and celebrate a small portion of the music that moved me. “Hiwumbe Awumba,” and “Mwana Talitambula,” are both based on field recordings of Ugandan Jews. These are people who live in eastern Uganda, but are not Jewish genetically or historically. The album’s first track, “Hiwumbe Abumba”, is inspired by a field recording that a group of people sang, “God creates, then He destroys”. The title may be dark, but Regina was inspired by the positive quality and spirit of Regina’s recording. Regina’s final arrangement is a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit. Chris Lightcap, Regina’s bass player, used a field recording of a woman singing “Mwana Talitambula”, as a starting point. He then split the melody between the bass and violin to create a hypnotically emotive effect. Reverse Thread embraces music from the African Diaspora. Un Aguinaldo is a great example of how to combine rhythmic elements from African music with harmonies that originate in India and Puerto Rico. Regina is a multifaceted musician who has developed through her albums, constant touring, and many collaborations. She has toured the globe numerous times, and was the first African American jazz artist to play Niccolo Paganini’s famous Guarneri “Cannon” violin. She has also performed with many symphony orchestras, as well as with artists such as Aretha Franklin and Billy Joel. Regina makes a huge leap forward with Reverse Thread by making a meaningful musical contribution of her own accord. From www.reginacarter.com
