prof. dr. uthit naksawat: phleng prakop kan fon ram

artist: ศ.จ. ดร. อุทิศ นาคสวัสดิ์ (prof. dr. uthit naksawat)
album: เพลงประกอบการฟ้อนรำ (phleng prakop kan fon ram)
tracklist:
01. ปี่กลองแทงวิสัย (pi klong thaeng wisai)
02. รำสะระหม่าแขก (ram sarama khaek)
03. ปี่ชวากลองแขก-กระบี่-กระบองและฟันดาบ (pi chawa klong khaek ; krabi ; krabong lae fan dap)
04. ระบำจีน (rabam chin)
05. รำพม่ามอญ (ram phama mon)
06. รำโดม (ญวนรำกระถาง) (ram dom (yuan ram krathang))
07. รำบำญวน (ram bam yuan)
08. ญวนทีโห่ (yuan thi ho)

this week, some excellent thai classical music from prof. dr. uthit naksawat! a pioneer of thai musicology, dr. uthit was also a prominent radio and television host and agricultural economist. a student of both phraya phumisewin (chit chittasewi) and luang pradit phairo (son sinlapabanleng), he mastered a range of instruments and performance styles. this cassette was released on his private label (hong at siang naksawat, "naksawat studio"), and most likely dates from the 1970s, as in the early '80s, dr. uthit began to suffer severe health problems, passing away in 1982 at the age of 59. these recordings features pieces that would traditionally accompany dance performances, with a variety of different ensemble types and foreign accents.. enjoy! 

khet-aran loetphiphat: nam ta saeng tai concerto

artist: เขตต์อรัญ เลิศพิพัฒน์ (khet-aran loetphiphat)
album: น้ำตาแสงไต้คอนแชร์โต้ สำหรับคลาสสิคกีตาร์ (nam ta saeng tai concerto, for classical guitar)
tracklist:
01. เพลงรักคิมหันต์ (เพลงจีน) (phleng rak khim han (phleng chin))
02. รักริษยา (rak ritsaya)
03. น้ำตาแสงไต้คอนแชร์โต้ (หน้ากระท่อม ; ความลังเล ; น้ำเชี่ยว ; การประหาร) (nam ta saeng tai concerto (na krathom ; khwam lang le ; nam chiao ; kan prahan))
04. ทะเลไม่เคยหลับ (thale mai khoei lap)
05. พี่รักเธอไม่คลาย (phi rak thoe mai khlai)
06. หงษ์เหิร (hong hoen)
07. พรุ่งนี้ (phrung ni)
08. ชั่วนิจนิรันดร (chua nit niran)

this week, moody classical guitar from maestro khet-aran loetphiphat! a bangkok native of royal descent, khet-aran was closely associated with neo-classical luminaries danu hantrakun and bruce gaston, with whom he founded the st. cecilia academy of music, but also with grammy head-honcho (and fellow thammasat alum) rewat phutthinan, for whom he penned a number of hit tunes to be performed by the label's star singers. on this cassette (to my my knowledge, his only solo release), he lends his guitar to the sort of thai/western-classical fusion you may expect from the list of collaborators: as the liner notes explain, he is joined by an ensemble of piccolo flute, thai flute, oboe, french horn, trumpet, bells, xylophone, harpsichord, timpani and string orchestra, all realized via korg and roland synthesizers by anuwat suepsuwan (and on the title tack, bruce gaston). enjoy!

takako nishizaki & bruce gaston: daowadueng = indra's paradise

artist(s): takako nishizaki & bruce gaston
album: ดาวดึงส์ (daowadueng) = indra's paradise
tracklist:
01. เทพทอง (thep thong) = golden angel
02. ลาวเสี่ยงเทียน (lao siang thian) = oracle of light
03. ดาวดึงส์ (daowadueng) = indra's paradise
- (เหาะ) (hoe) = sacred flying song
- รัว (rua) = miraculous tremolo
- ตะเคิง = takhoeng
- แขกเจ้าเซ็น (khaek chao sen) = dance of the shiite muslims
04. ลาวกระแต (lao kratae) = laotian chipmunk
05. เขมรไทรโยค (khmer sai yok) = tales from the waterfall of saiyok
06. เขมรพายเรือ (khmer phai ruea) = cambodian rowing song
07. ฟ้อนเงี้ยว (fon ngiao) = hill-tribe dance

this past weekend, the thai music scene lost three beloved artists; molam phonsak songsaeng, string star ot khiribun, and classical fusion musician bruce gaston. the bangkok-based american composer/multi-intrumentalist gaston was a chula professor, co-founder with bunyong ketkhong of the ensemble fong naam, and active in the thai film industry as a composer of incidental music. he passed away sunday, october 17th at the age of 74. today's 1987 cassette finds him paired with violinist takako nishizaki, accompanying her primarily on piano but also with a range of both electronic and thai classical instruments. for more information, refer to the fairly extensive english-language liner notes which are included with the download. enjoy!