The words are those of poet, philosopher, author, lecturer, and conductor Kenneth G. Mills. The music is that of his remarkable new vocal complex, The Star-Scape Singers. "Jazz Oratorio" was the description that a prominent film sound engineer in Toronto made of their music, which has been further complimented by the fact that many radio station programmers in Canada and the United States have enthusiastically received Star-Scape's earlier recordings for airing on both their classical and jazz programs. What is it that makes this music so rich in variety, so unbound by category? It is the words of the poet-conductor. Each of his poems evokes a distinctive mood to which the music has been faithfully sculpted (by Mr. Mills in conjunction with Christopher Dedrick and James Roedl). The words lead the mind of the listener to ideas that are spiritually meaningful; the music leads his ear to sound-scapes of surprise and impact. Indeed, the refreshingly broad range of idea content among the poems (humor to wonder to love to expansion of consciousness) is matched by the same in musical idiom: from the moving, chant-like a cappella style of "Love Is the Shepherd of My Life" to the frolicsome "Whale of a Song" to the contemporary zing of "On This Rock!"
All the singers and musicians of Star-Scape are students of Kenneth Mills' "Unfoldment" -- a unique philosophy that he has developed that offers a very special, practical, and effective path to Self-realization. It is to the increasing demands of "Unfoldment" that Mr. Mills' prior career in music as a concert pianist and teacher finally yielded. Now his musical activities, as you will hear, continue, but with a more universal and humanitarian overtone.
Each composition on this album is preceded by the poet's reading of the lyrics. It is of great interest to realize that all the poems to which music on this album has been set (as well as those of other Star-Scape recordings) were originally given spontaneously by Mr. Mills. What this means is this: he spoke them extemporaneously, rather than wrote them, while lecturing to his students. It is thus easy to see how well the word "Unfoldment" describes the unique nature of Mr. Mills' poetizing!
For those interested in exceptionally fine vocal music and how Kenneth Mills is taking admirable strides in "revolutionizing the state of the art" (the words of a Toronto recording engineer), the album certainly stands alone. The music of The Star-Scape Singers encompasses not only every musical taste, but also expands it; the music broadens one's awareness of what the human voice can do. One's appreciation of music is decidedly taken for a wholesome whirl as familiar ground opens to new tonal spaces -- a leading of the ear to captivatingly new and imaginative sound territory!
Let your ear be led beyond its normal sphere of perception as you listen to Kenneth G. Mills conduction The Star-Scape Singers as they "Sing Those Wonderful Words." The coincidence is what only you can testify to!
The Star-Scape Singers: Christopher Dedrick, Ellen Dedrick, Stefanie Dedrick, Dianne Forsyth, Bob Mann, Robert Bullock, Terry Stevens, Linda Roedl, Jaan Koel
Piano: Linda Roedl, James Roedl
Guitar: Bob Mann
Flute: Jaan Koel
Bass: James Roedl
Percussion: Bruce Philp, Terry Stevens
Drums: Terry Stevens
Lyrics: Kenneth G. Mills
Music: Kenneth G. Mills, Christopher Dedrick
except "The Flame On the Hearth," music by Kenneth G. Mills, James Roedl
Produced by Kenneth G. Mills
Engineers: Chad Irschick, Philip Rang, Michael Giles
Cover: "The Reception," "Power," "The Chalice," number fifteen in a series of eighteen wall hangings entitled "Sunrise Titles and Twills," hangings by H. Theodore Hallman, featuring titles by Kenneth G. Mills
Album jacket design: Bev Tudhope, Ian Jaffray
Photos: Ian Tudhope