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    "A Global Voyage In Music" featuring 11 World Fusion & Jazz inspired songs by Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann with 35 musicians from around the world. CD comes with a beautiful full color 16 page booklet of photos and narrative liner notes for each song.

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about

Beyond Borders – The Story

Randy Armstrong has been creating a fusion of jazz, western classical and folk music with musical traditions and instruments from around the world for four decades. He co-founded the pioneering Do’a World Music Ensemble, which welcomed classical and jazz bassist Volker Nahrmann from Hamburg, Germany on its fifth album, World Dance. This launched an enduring musical collaboration for Volker and Randy and the subsequent release of their Hand In Hand CD on the Global Pacific label as Unu Mondo in 1994. Inspired by their love of music and cultures, they tour and travel extensively, drawing inspiration from the world’s diversity. Their compositions are a global voyage, from the streets of Havana and Rio de Janeiro, the evocative traditions of India and the Middle East, to the romantic café and cinema music of France and Italy, the haunting sounds of the Native American pow wow, and the worldbeat rhythms of West Africa and the Caribbean, all blended with contemporary jazz, western classical, and folk music influences. Several songs on Beyond Borders are tributes: to jazz legend, Dizzy Gillespie, sitarist, Pandit Ravi Shankar, and Beatle, George Harrison. The songs also feature many former members of Do’a and Unu Mondo, joined by outstanding world-class musicians from many countries. Five years in the making, Beyond Borders is a “Magnum Opus” for Armstrong and Nahrmann, a collection of songs composed over a 40-year span of creative output, dedicated to the belief that music has the power to uplift the human spirit and be a catalyst for change in the world.

BEYOND BORDERS - Testimonials & Reviews:

Review & Interview by Robert Steven Silverstein www.mwe3.com/reviews/RandyArmstrong2015/

"From the first notes rising on a guitar's steel string to the last note fading from a trumpet's muted bell, Beyond Borders soars. Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann have crafted a vibrant and fascinating tapestry of music, masterfully woven from a truly kaleidoscopic palate of vocal and instrumental tonal hues." Eric Sinclair – sixstrstories.com

“Right off the bat Beyond Borders won me over! The first two songs, reminiscent of the great 1970s band Return To Forever, brought a quick smile to my face. I kept that smile as tracks 3 thru 11 took me on a very entertaining adventure of musical styles from many cultures. Throughout, the performances are first rate. In particular, the rhythm section is amazing on all the songs. I am partial to guitar playing and Randy Armstrong plays beautifully and strong in a very wide range of styles. There really is something for everyone to enjoy on Beyond Borders, “A Global Voyage in Music”. Gary Traversy - garysguitars.biz

“Much like the terrain covered in the origin of inspirations, these songs traverse a multitude of moods, replete with buoyant melodies, insistent rhythms, and an ecstatic energy that aims to keep us dancing long after the album ends.” Nat Baldwin – bassist/singer, Dirty Projectors

“Beyond Borders reflects the musical breadth and spiritual depth of a global treasure. Randy Armstrong, a musical polymath, has pursued issues of peace and reconciliation through his music for his entire career. With his collaborator, Volker Nahrmann, they traverse the known world in search of instruments and musical idioms that speak to the depth of the human experience, bringing together instruments and traditions that rarely make sense in the same work. Through the vision of these men, the world grows closer together, more united. This music energizes and comforts. Listening to it, I sense an expansion of my consciousness and hear an invitation to peace. Everyone should listen to this music!” Reverend Robert Thompson – Minister, Phillips Church

“Randy Armstrong's talent both redefines and reaffirms my notions of beauty and creativity. I've directed theatrical productions at Phillips Exeter Academy for over twenty years and working with Randy has inspired me to do my best work. His music accesses deeper realms, yet seems to know no limits. Our collaborations have always inspired me to think and feel more inventively. He is a true artist who has access to the rhythms and tones of our humanity. My own artistic development and my growth as a human being has been transformed; that is his gift to us. Beyond Borders is aptly named, because Randy Armstrong and Volker Nahrmann’s music is a language of transcendence; it reminds us that we are all connected to one another.” Rob Richards – Actor/Director/Teaching Artist, Phillips Exeter Academy Theater Department, Chair


"Randy Armstrong and Volker Nahrmann have not only gone Beyond Borders, but they have masterfully blurred cultural boundaries to fuse together sounds and styles from around the world. Truly a wonderful musical experience." Beverly Perriccio – Music Educator & Trumpet Player

“Every song on Beyond Borders makes me want to visit the place and culture that inspired the music. Fantastic World Tour!” Linda Safford – Yoga Teacher

“Beyond Borders - Wow! What an amazing work. Well done.”
Ralph Napolitano – houseoftone.com

"While it could be said that Beyond Borders celebrates and showcases many diverse musical tastings--and what delightful tastes indeed--what I most enjoyed is that 'taste' has been given 'trajectory' to marry exploration and thrill, reflection and play, stunning sounds and palettes with thoughtful expression and splendid flare. This gift of a recording, largely in moderate canvases, finds a way to reveal music-making that only could be realized through a wealth of decades worth of sharings, livings, breathings, adventurings...to become global then as much through temporal immersion and long accretion as by invigorating cultural love, passion, and interest for the Other and others 'through' the Other and others. To listen and thereby travel as such: that is, to invite taste, our tastes and tastings, to dance these worlds." Dr. Jon Sakata - Concert Pianist & Transdisciplinary Artisan

“Beyond Borders creates a soundscape born from the heart, inspired by the world and expressed in a rich sonic tapestry.” Joe Murphy – Classical Vocalist



“Beyond Borders is an impressive collection of different worlds of music united by Randy Armstrong and Volker Nahrmann’s spectacular playing and composing. In fact, I especially liked the Ravi Shankar/George Harrison tribute, Shanti Om and the lovely and elegant, Lover Letters telling the story of Abelard and Heloise. Susie Burke, Singer/Songwriter - burkesurette.com

"Exotic and exciting in its best sense, Beyond Borders takes the listener on a colorful musical ride filled with creative ideas and sound effects coming from original composition of the finest. An impressive work that makes the term ‘world music’ speak for itself." Petra Pacaric, Vocal Artist

"Beyond Borders is a magical journey through many different musical genres - even within the same song. The unexpected juxtapositions of style and the extraordinary musicianship make this an album to be treasured and listened to over and over, truly a triumph for Randy Armstrong and Volker Nahrmann.” Genevieve Aichele, Artistic Director - New Hampshire Theatre Project

"I highly recommend this beautifully and imaginatively crafted eclectic cross-over recording of jazz inspired world fusion. Beyond Borders is superlative! Executed at the highest level, Randy Armstrong and Volker Nahrman have assembled some of the best players on the planet and produced an album of original music setting a standard for world class musicality, inspiration…and fun!” David Wold - Artistic Director, Abendmusik Fine Arts Concert Series

“One of the most enjoyable albums I have had the pleasure to listen to this year.” Steve Sheppard – ONE WORLD MUSIC

credits

released April 15, 2015

Recorded at Beauty Hill Recording Studio, Barrington, New Hampshire 03825 USA
Engineered by Nick Phaneuf, Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann
Produced by Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann
Mastered by Lane Gibson Recording & Mastering, Williston, Vermont 05495 USA
Photography by Sofia Piel, Susan Downing, Volker Nahrmann, Indira Leal
Cover photo by duncan1890 licensed from Getty Images
Booklet Copy Editing by Phyllis Edgerly Ring

All songs composed & published by Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann ©2015 Crimson Ark Music / Nahrmann Music, BMI • ©ⓟ2015 UMP Records, a division of Unu Mondo Productions P.O. Box 128 Dover, New Hampshire 03821 USA
Unauthorized duplication is prohibited. All rights reserved. For Information: www.randyarmstrong.com/beyondborders

1. Ciao Bella (5:04)
2. Fear Not Fear (4:43)
3. Unidad Anthem (1:02)
4. Unidad – Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie (4:56)
5. Wherever You Are (Rupak / Dawr Hindi – 7 Beat Cycle) (4:51)
6. Shanti Om – Dedicated To Ravi Shankar & George Harrison (6:37)
7. White Cloud Black Thunder (7:15)
8. There’s Always Hope (5:19)
9. Love Letters – The Story of Abelard and Heloise (5:20)
10. Fun In The Sun (7:22)
11. Unidad Epilogue (:58)


THE MUSICIANS

Randy Armstrong – composer, guitars, synth-guitar, cavaquinho, Cuban tres, Lakota courting flute, sitar, tabla, tanpura/tamboura, manjira/zils, gungroo bells, swarmandal zither, berimbau, ganza, guiro, Cameroonian & Thai shakers, maracas, mambo bell, tambourine, percussion, alumnum pot lid, Hawaiian slide guitar, Konnakol vocals, keyborads, treble & alto kalimba, djembe, dunun, gankoqui & agogo bells, grello/firikyiwa castanets, Brazilian caxixi, sweeping broom, vocals

Volker Nahrmann – composer, upright bass, electric & fretless bass, Ampeg baby bass, dilruba, melodica, piano, keyboards, sound effects, horn arrangements, vocals

Olga Roman – vocals
Marcus Santos – cuica, pandeiro, tambourim, atabaque
Henrique De Almeida – drums
Ken Gable – alto saxophone
Andres Espinoza – congas, bongo, timbales, guiro, cowbell
Jose Duque – drums
Yaure Muniz – trumpet, flugelhorn
Charlie Jennison – soprano & tenor saxophone
Walt Bostian – trombone, bass trombone
Hallie Fuller – vocals
Shamou – darbuka
Marty Quinn – tabla, vocals
Raghav Bhat – Carnatic violin
Vidyha Bhat – vocals
Black Thunder Singers – vocals, ceremonial drum
Eugene Friesen – cello, vocals
Bertram Lehmann – drums
Theo Martey – vocals, djembe
Saeed Abbas – dondo talking drum
Evelyn Martey – vocals
Julie Haggerty Southworth – vocals
Cynthia Chatis - vocals

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Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann New Hampshire

For in depth Biography for Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann visit:
www.randyarmstrong.com/beyondborders/index.html

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