THE GLOBAL FOLK: A Post-Modern Folk Experiment
Post-Modernism: An artistic period characterized by the abandonment of strong divisions of genre, "high" and "low" art, and the emergence of the global village. Largely influenced by the disillusionment of the current status quo in art, postmodernism's many manifestations tend to refer to a cultural, intellectual, or artistic state lacking a clear central hierarchy or organizing principle, and embodying extreme complexity, contradiction, ambiguity, diversity, and interconnectedness.
The Global Folk are singer/songwriter Angela Carole Brown, guitarist and multi-stringed instrumentalist Ken Rosser, guitarist Linda Taylor (not pictured), bassist Ross Wright, percussionist Paul Angers, and drummer Skins Coulter.
The Global Folk formed in 2002, an ambient post-Modern folk experimentation that was the brainchild of Angela Carole Brown, who had composed a contemplative canon of songs about loss and delusion and thorny paths and redemption, and who took inspiration from the folk vocabulary of different cultures, and from America's roots and blues movement.
Their debut CD, Resting on the Rock, released in the fall of 2004. It was released under Angela Carole Brown's name, but shortly thereafter the musicians on the recording became known as The Global Folk.
And in 2005 Resting on the Rock held its place at #5 on American Idol Underground for nine weeks.
The Global Folk's unique use of the poetic to craft themes of elevated thought, combined with a keen harmonic sensibility, and a culturally diverse instrumentation (the Chinese pipa, the Native American Pow Wow drum, the Nigerian djeli-n'goni, the Tibetan singing bowl, to name a few) came to stand their enigmatic songs out from the rest. Ken, Linda, Ross, Paul, and Skin's multi-cultural contributions have reshaped Angela's middle-class American songwriting experience into something quite otherly, making it more than musical. It becomes shamanic.
"The journeys through darkness are full of
heart and fearless."
Lily Knight, THE AWARENESS CENTER
"The Global Folk are exhilaratingly diverse, a music experience that defies categorization and contains mind-expanding literary lyrics, with both delicate detail and full-bodied assault." KUCI.FM
On The Global Folk
"I was fortunate to be in Hollywood last Friday night, and caught the debut of this multi-talented group. Dont let 'debut' mislead you. These are seasoned pros at the top of their game. However, it is the first time they have come together live to perform the exhilaratingly diverse RESTING ON THE ROCK album. What a treat it was!
"Fronted by singer-songwriter Angela Carole Brown, this foursome filled the intimate club with a cross-genre exploration of swirling melodies rooted in folk, soul, world, blues, jazz, soft rock and soaring psychedelic arcs reminiscent of the best of the late '60's. Yet the segues were seamless and organic.
"While not having the international assortment of instruments featured on the lushly produced CD, The Global Folk (featuring Ross Wright on 6-string fretless bass, Ken Rosser on guitars, and Jack Lees on drums and percussion) created a full, satisfying live sound that filled the room, while allowing Ms. Brown's voice to be enjoyed in all of its eloquent texture, seductive nuance, and regal power. While all of the tunes will inspire and entertain, An Old Black Man Someday and Wake Up Ophelia are knockouts. The latter transcends Janis and Big Brother in every way, with Mr. Rosser blistering riffs, like Clapton at his Creamiest.
"Angela Carole Brown deserves to be discovered by more than the cognoscenti of the LA music scene. If the fathers of formula that dominate the record industry fail to bring artists like these to your attention, then find Ms. Brown and The Global Folk yourself. You will be thrilled!"
TR Black, BLACKEYE
In 2007 The Global Folk released the yoga-mindfulness CD, Global Yoga, a program designed by Angela Carole Brown, who, in addition to being a singer/songwriter, has also been a student and practitioner of the Hatha, Kundalini, and Vinyasa practices for seventeen years, and with music collaboratively composed and performed by The Global Folk.
And in an intimate scaling down of the whole ensemble, Ken and Angela, as a duo, have just released Music for the Weeping Woman, a work that takes inspiration from Picasso's Weeping Women, a compelling series of portraits of women in various depictions of despair. Angela has composed a body of songs that reflects as much, but more. She has extended that concept to include women in celebration, yearning, self-examination, joy, and cleansing; all instigators of that poignant phenomenon, the shedding of tears. With special guest artist, the world renowned kora player Prince Diabate.