...there are rewards to be reaped in this album.
Seattle-based producer/engineer/composer/musician PJ Newman explores the dizzying soundscapes he has been creating since 1982. Joined by saxophonists Jessica Lurie & Sue Oldfield (Living Daylights, The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet), bluegrass maverick Danny Barnes (Bad Livers), drummer Ben Smith (Heart) and Irish Fiddle superstar Martin Hayes, his self-described style of "Blind Overdubbing" and "I Ching Mixing" set the stage for lush, dynamic and surprising musical adventures reminiscent of Fred Frith, Marc Ribot & John Zorn.
Track Listing:
1 Fanfare for Both Paws 1:39
2 To Zooey, for All of the Things I Never Had the Chance to Say to You, Love Jazz 10:26
3 Son of Chinese Water Torture 8:20
4 I Did Not Dream of Playing Golf 1:43
5 Roosevelt Hotel / F**k the Blues 18:32
6 Sizzling Tiger Music 10:19
7 Fanfare for Both Paws (reprise) 5:15
8 You're Surrounded (super Secret Hidden Track!)
Performers:
PJ Newman - guitars/keyboards/percussion
Jessica Lurie - saxophones
Sue Orfield - tenor saxophone
Ben Smith - drums
Martin Hayes - violin
Danny Barnes - banjo
Garey Shelton - bass
J Todd Dunnigan - keyboards/percussion
John Morton - guitars
David Marriott - trombone
Thomas Marriott - trumpet
Christian Koppenhafer - vocal stylings
Sam Maynard - synthesizers
Kelly Davis - synthesizer & percussion
Production Info:
Produced & Directed by PJ Newman Associates
with Producer: Garey Shelton
Engineered & Mixed by PJ
at The Klingon Science Reading Room, Seattle, WA
Mastered by Garey Shelton at his studio, Seattle, WA
"Roosevelt Hotel/F**k the Blues" was recorded live
@ The Tractor Tavern, 31 July, 1996
by John Saba On The Dog Girl Remote
Photography: Rick Carroll & PJ
Cover Layout: John Bishop
Reviews of The Hand Of Dog
All Music Guide (Adam Greenburg)
On The Hand of Dog, Seattle-based artist PJ Newman puts himself to work creating a series of innovative sets. At times reminiscent of Zappa, and at times simply playing with the sounds of his samples, Newman puts together a nice collection of works. His guitar is the centerpiece of the majority of the pieces, often in interplay with a pair of saxes ...
KZSU (Craig Matsumoto)
Jazzy sax solos over odd synth soundscapes. Newman starts with sampled sounds and synth washes, overlaying a concretely jazzy soloist -- often Jessica Lurie, a saxophonist with an adventurous but accessible style (check out her pop/fusion band, Living Daylights). A mix of thoughtfulness and fun jamming.
This doesn't apply to Track 5 (see below). ...