Soar Away Home by Guy Mendilow

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— Philadelphia Folk Song Society

ABOUT GUY MENDILOW...

Guy Mendilow is a rarity, even in the diverse world of international music. His music not only offers audiences a taste of the beauty of the places he’s called home — from Israel and South Africa to Mexico, Brazil and the United States — but, perhaps more importantly, his mission as a performer and educator is to share some of the common human ground between these cultures and to build cross-cultural appreciation and respect.

Mendilow’s timely message seems to be coming through loud and clear. He was voted Boston’s Best World Music Act in a poll of the Boston Phoenix’s 670,000 readers and performs at some of the nation’s best established festivals like the Philadelphia Folk Festival. His bridge-building work also allows him to work closely with cutting-edge organizations like Seeds of Peace which focuses on peacemaking between Palestinian and Israeli youth leaders, and to present at conferences across the country.

ABOUT SOAR AWAY HOME...

Guy Mendilow draws on his rich musical background in his 2001 debut album Soar Away Home. Awash with powerful vocals, rich harmonies and captivating rhythms, Soar Away Home journeys from South African melodies to sitar patterns, middle eastern rhythms, folk ballads and the blues. Featuring the Guy Mendilow Band, an eight-person ensemble of four voices, 'cello, violin, guitar, bass and percussion, the album opens with Mendilow's exuberant arrangement of Ladysmith Black Mambazo's "Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain" (track 1), reminiscent of Paul Simon, and ranges from the dark, searing harmonies of "Soar Away Home" (track 2) to the tender folk ballad of lost love "Carry On" (track 3), an arrangement of the traditional "St. James Infirmary Blues" with deep, gravelly bass and wailing New Orleans trumpet and the wistful instrumental "Porch Song" (track 12) featuring warm contrabass and jazz piano.

Especially noteworthy is Mendilow's masterful overtone singing on "Experiment in tintal for overtone singing, 'cello & violin" (track 8).

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WHAT THE CRITICS SAY...

“Mendilow is no dilettante - he learned the music of these countries by living and working there - so when he sings about a massacre by paramilitaries in Chiapas, he knows what he's talking about. Given the lack of content in so much pop music today, it’s encouraging to hear someone continuing in the time-honored troubadour tradition — traveling the world, bringing the news.”

— Boston Phoenix, Best Music Reader’s Poll

(Voted Boston’s Best World Music Act in 2005)

“Guy Mendilow is quickly developing a reputation as a masterful, deeply passionate and sincere performer.”

— Global Rhythm Magazine

(Winner, World Music Song Contest, Global Rhythm Magazine July 2005)

“This is, to folk, what Bela Fleck is to Foggy Mountain Breakdown. This is unusual and exciting…the structure and creativity of this ensemble was evident.”

— Philadelphia Folk Song Society

“The glory of what [Mendilow] does is finding a common ground among different cultures. And that’s what makes his music so exciting.” — Jewish Advocate

“Mendilow mixes global reach [with] artistic depth…[he] isn’t simply dropping in a style here or there for effect. He has managed to subtly infuse his originals about relationships and travel with warm folkish influences from around the globe. It never feels like a reach.” — Boston Herald

“Gorgeous, enchanting sound and technically rich music wrapped up in a fun, playful atmosphere.

Guy Mendilow and Mendilusian Wine in concert is a night of pure musical magic.”

— Bay Windows

“Mendilow’s overtone [singing] was hauntingly beautiful and left the audience spellbound…

this was an outstanding performance.” — Northeast Performer

“…an emerging master of overtone singing … as compelling as [he] is diverse…

the audience he is reaching is hearing him loud and clear.”— Metrowest Daily News

“…Vibrant musical storytelling awash with warm harmonies, captivating rhythms and rollicking,

fast-paced vocal improvisations.” — Cambridge Chronicle

“Mendilow's globe-trotting career began at age 10 when he joined the American Boychoir. At 15, he set off on a solo career that has taken him to five countries. He speaks and sings in English, Hebrew, Spanish, and Portuguese. As a composer and arranger, he draws on Israeli, Hindustani, South African, jazz, blues, and folk influences.” — Boston Globe

“One of Boston's most original world-music acts.”— Boston Herald

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