Peter Fand
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Peter Fand

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Discography

LP: Exporter I'mPorter, 2008
LP: Whiskey Hill, 2003

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Down at the harbor the docks creak, and ship hands whistle a haunting melody as they unload their exotic cargo. “ExPorter I’mPorter” has arrived, seasoned with the spices of a foreign land, salty and sweet like smoked fish and island rum.

Set for release on October 14, 2008, ExPorter I’mPorter by Peter Fand invites listeners on a sonic box-car ride through an ever-changing landscape, at once both familiar and new. Accompanied by world-class musicians including drummers Claude Coleman Jr. from Ween and Abe Fogel from Rob Thomas’ band, this collection of songs showcases Fand’s unique ability to fuse diverse elements into a cohesive and compelling tapestry of sound.

Peter Fand is a multi-instrumentalist who stands at the center of a vast network of international musicians in New York. As a bassist, percussionist, kora player (21-string African harp) and singer, he has appeared on some of the city’s most prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Apollo Theater, Symphony Space, as a featured percussionist on Broadway and more.

Leader and frontman of the band Porter whose 2001 release “Whiskey Hill” garnered significant critical recognition, Peter Fand continues to forge new ground with this new solo album on Blue Monster Records. In the tradition of America’s great songsmiths, each piece tells a poetic tale, accented by sizzling rhythms of the world.

“The songs in this collection,’” says Fand, “are informed by the years I spent studying the traditional music of West Africa – often during extended stays in Guinea and Mali – along with, of course, a lifetime immersed in America’s homegrown forms.”

The result is a refreshing mix of old and new, familiar and foreign: a kaleidoscope of musical riches. Percolating rhythms from far off places give way to sultry back-porch blues. A smoky, jazzy swing harkens a 1920s speakeasy, then throbs with the pulse of African reggae. Threaded tightly together by Fand’s signature songwriting and rich vocal style, this album teems with surprises, with a new world bursting into view around every bend. The inspired integration of eclectic ingredients fixes it in the vanguard of engaging musical fusion.

Virtuosity abounds on ExPorter I’mPorter, with guest performances by several true African masters. Vocal diva Missia Saran Dioubate is featured on the plaintive “Look Away,” whose story recalls the plight of so many African expatriots residing in America who have left loved ones behind in quest for opportunity in a new world. The remarkable work of Guinean guitarist Djekoria Mory Kante sets the bar high, and contributions by balafonist Famoro Dioubate and Senegalese percussionist Oussynou M’Boup bring a singular authenticity to the effort. Additional notable performances by Israeli-born rising-star guitarist Yaron Eilam, pianist Tricia Woods, harmonica phenom River Alexander and many others help to season the broth.

Like a zesty gumbo, each spoonful reveals a hint of something new. Savor the flavor and play it loud, but don’t forget your passport. They’ll be checking your bags at the border.