One of the world's greatest virtuoso bass players, Mark Dresser has worked with many of the greatest names in new music, including Anthony Davis, Diamanda Galas, Bob Ostertag and Anthony Braxton. A distinctive composer, he has created soundtracks for the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Bunuel's Un Chien Andalou, has been commissioned by the WDR Radio Orchestra in Cologne and the Banlieu Bleues Festival in Paris. This CD features two of Mark's most important recent works. Banquet is a double concerto for flute, bass and string quartet, featuring the Swiss flute virtuoso Matthias Ziegler and Mr. Dresser himself. Twisting timbres, jagged melodies and driving rhythms combine in this exciting work exploring extended instrumental techniques. Loss of the Innocents, written for the unusual combination of tuba, cello and clarinet, is a piece of haunting beauty. A kaddish for the victims of the TWA Flight 800, this poignant and lyrical memorial to two members of the Wayne Shorter family is a fitting coda to this brilliant collection of Mark Dresser's chamber compositions.
