One Alternative's new recording called Pendulum has received the honor of being "CD of the Month" from the ECHOES radio program. Twelve tracks continue the musical jourmey that oboist/ Engish horn player Jill Haley and guitarists Mark Oppenlander & Len Doyle started some 20 years ago. Creative writing and inspired musicianship are the key elements that make One Alternative flourish. "As a fan of most kinds of music, I have always been very impressed with The Paul Winter Consort and Oregon. After hearing One Alternative I have a new favorite band in this category." - Dean Sciarra - ItsAboutMusic.com |
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New sounds have crept in to the musical palette of ONE ALTERNATIVE but the style is distinctly their own. Pendulum contains six pieces penned by Mark and four by Jill. Their contrasting writing styles result in music that is refreshing and interesting throughout the disc. The addition of new timbres including slide guitar and a woodwind quintet bring even more diversity to the sound of Pendulum. Play Pendulum Play Dana Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1 Pendulum 2 Zing 3 Dana 4 Lost and Found 5 Deep 6 Risa's Dance 7 Spindrift 8 Perfection Rearranging Overnight 9 Close Call 10 Affretando 11 Right On The On 12 Mister Magic  | | Receiving the distinction from the syndicated program Echoes of being one of the 25 Essential Echoes CD's of 1996. Includes 8 original compositions plus Oregon's "Yet To Be" and the Dixie Dregs "Night Meets Light". Play Yet To Be Play Optimist Song Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1 Alive & Kicking 2 Yet To Be 3 Plagal 4 Siena 5 Optimist Song 6 You've Had Enough Air 7 Boulder Sky 8 The Traveler 9 Night Meets Light 10 Mode Of Inspiration |
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1998 marked the release of "Changes", a compilation of music from the four previous recordings. Acoustic Guitar magazine reviewed "Changes" saying that "The recording is first rate and the entire work is thoroughly enjoyable." Play Take Note Play No Need To Tell Me Why Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1 Changes 2 Underwater 3 The Profit 4 Greenlawn 5 Take Note 6 Light Bends 7 No Need To Tell Me Why 8 Ave Maria 9 Holiday 10 Point Of You 11 Surrounded By Green 12 The Traveler 13 You've Had Enough Air 14 Boulder Sky Acoustic Guitar magazine said "The recording is first rate and the entire work is thoroughly enjoyable". | ||
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| It all began back in 1983 when an oboist and two guitarists decided to compose and perform their own style of music. They wanted their sound to be an alternative to other acoustic ensembles by using a unique instrument lineup and by exploring different musical styles. This became ONE ALTERNATIVE.
The members of ONE ALTERNATIVE are co-founders, Jill Haley on oboe/English horn and guitarist Mark Oppenlander plus the new addition of guitarist David Bozenhard. ONE ALTERNATIVE describes its sound as an acoustic fusion that blends the compositional form of classical music with the spontaneity of jazz and rock. The resulting mixture of these elements is an ever-changing, enjoyable listening experience. One Alternative is actively performing throughout the Eastern half of the United States. Past performances have included Penns Landing and the Keswick Theatre in Philadelphia as well as the Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. The group has shared the stage with Spyro Gyra, Oregon, Pentangle, Larry Coryell, Acoustic Alchemy, and the Dixie Dregs, among others. Reviewing a One Alternative concert, Susan Pena of the Reading Eagle wrote: "One Alternative captivated the audience by displaying the precise playing and sinuous melodies that have gained them increased popularity.". ONE ALTERNATIVE has released six recordings. The first, "Greenlawn", was recorded in 1985. It was described by Jonathan Takiff of the Philadelphia Daily News as the "tastiest independent record project to come out of these parts in many moons." The second album "Take Note," released in 1988, received much praise from publications such as Billboard and CD Review, where John Diliberto wrote: "There are alot of artists masquerading as new acoustic musicians with saccharine new age formulas. But One Alternative brings a much needed vision to an increasingly faceless genre." In 1990, the third album "Shadows" was recorded and released. Radio airplay for this recording was heard on several hundred radio stations in the United States, as well as Japan and Spain. ONE ALTERNATIVE with Gene Shay of WXPN In 1996 "Yet To Be" was released. John Diliberto said "...it's their best yet" and Jon Takiff gave the recording three stars stating that "Open minds will delight as the trio flits cheerfully from oeuvre to oeuvre like a bee between flowers..." Echoes, a highly regarded radio program that is syndicated throughout the country, picked "Yet To Be" as one of its 25 Essential Echoes CDs of 1996. ONE ALTERNATIVE has performed numerous times as part of the Echoes Living Room Concert Series. One appearance was included on volume three of Echoes live compact disc series. Visit the One Alternative web site |