Mu
Richard Pinhas & Barry Cleveland
With Michael Manring & Celso Alberti
“Mu is fearlessly powerful, rich, and HUGE—the sounds of heavy metal jazz meeting electronic maximalism, guitars as freed by Jimi Hendrix in orchestrations rivaling Led Zeppelin’s, rock-solid drumming supporting it all. The effect is oceanic.” —Howard Mandel, Jazz Beyond Jazz
“Similes of a scenic tour into a Black Hole star with grooving pulses come to mind. Hence, the guitarists’ streaming and phase shifting notes and the rhythm section’s undulating cadences along with melodic overtones and ghostly apparitions are other sensations that prevail throughout the production … Think of space rock with a college education as the band paints a dexterous, intertwining sonic-scape from start to finish.” —Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz
“Mu is an entirely improvised, yet extremely focused effort that explores the intersections between myriad genres and influences … Incredibly strong stuff.” —Anil Prasad, Innerviews
“Nothing short of a masterpiece, beginning to end.” —Peter Thelen, Exposé Online
Hologramatron
An avant-rock 21st Century protest album featuring Robert Powell, Michael Manring, Celso Alberti, and Amy X Neuburg, with Harry Manx, Deborah Holland, Erdem Helvacioglu, Artist General, Rick Walker, and Gino Robair.
“There are a handful of albums in my life that hit me the way this album did. For me it sits in a small group of very special musical experiences: David Byrne and Brian Eno’s My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, Bill Bruford’s Feels Good to Me, NIN’s Downward Spiral, and King Crimson’s Discipline.” —Reeves Gabrels (David Bowie, The Cure)
“A fantastic, essential rock album. Several of its ten mini-epics explore the precarious state humanity finds itself at the present moment, with deep insight, humor, and wit—not to mention some ferocious playing from an avant all-star ensemble.” —Anil Prasad, Innerviews
“Cleveland stitches world fusion, ambient, avant metal, and psychedelia together into a glorious progressive tapestry. This is pretty amazing stuff, and one of the better prog releases this year.” (Score: 15/16) —Warren Barker, Progression
“Hologramatron has really bowled me over, so much so that yesterday I had to remain sitting in the car long after I arrived at my destination and long after the complete album had finished playing … An artistic rock album in the best sense of that term, with multilayered influences … Exciting from start to finish … Honestly, this year I have not heard a better album.” —Sal Pichireddu, Babyblaue-Seiten
“In other news, I recently received a copy of Barry Cleveland’s Hologramatron, new on Moonjune Records. I listened to it five times yesterday, and serial listening is rare for me. While it is not overtly avant, I think it is a great release.” (Pick of the Week) —Mike Borella, Avant Music News
Volcano
An explosive mixture of African and Afro-Haitian rhythms and progressive, jazz, ambient, and world music elements, featuring Michael Manring, Michael Pluznick, Norbert Stachel, Michael Masley, and other outstanding artists.
“A series of rhythm-based pieces that draw on inspirations from a multitude of sources to create a sonic landscape that becomes an entity unto itself. It’s an album that leans towards Eastern harmonies and yet clearly comes from players with a Western background. And, in the end, it’s an appealingly multilayered aural experience that continues to reveal new things with every listen.” —John Kelman, All About Jazz
“Cleveland’s third album as a leader finds the renowned guitarist and composer exploring the nuances of rhythm. Drawing from a varied palette of traditions, timbres and tonalities, Volcano bridges the impressionist leanings of his previous releases with a more audacious, kinetic approach. Listeners will appreciate the disc’s pulsing rhythms, inter-weaving melodies, and layers of evocative atmospheres.” —Anil Prasad, Innerviews
Memory & Imagination
This double-CD compilation contains the best of Cleveland’s Mythos and Voluntary Dreaming albums, six guitar and percussion pieces from 1992, two ambient guitar pieces from 1981, and an entirely improvised solo guitar piece recorded live on the Echoes radio program. Featured artists include Michael Pluznick, Michael Masley, Robert Powell, Kat Epple, Bob Stohl, and Carl Weingarten.
“”Much of Cleveland’s music doesn’t sound like the work of your conventional guitarist at all, but rather a far-reaching compositional visionary who uses whatever instruments and processes necessary to achieve his ends.” —Peter Thelen, Expose’
“I was immediately struck by the prominence of percussion and world music influences on several of the tracks, elements that have apparently informed Cleveland’s work through the years. The effects and sound processing that made Volcano such an interesting and beautiful experience are present, though the earlier music is characterized by more mellow, floating journeys, with a powerful ambient soundscape element.” —Jerry Kranitz, Aural Innovations
Voluntary Dreaming
Originally slated for release on the Audion Recording Company, this disc has a more electronic feel than than Cleveland’s other albums. It features Michael Pluznick (acoustic and electronic percussion), Michael Masley (bowhammer cymbalom), Robert Powell (pedal-steel guitar), and Anastasia Johnson (soprano voice).
“The contrasting balance of electronics, the old European earthiness of the cymbalom, the familiar croon of pedal-steel guitar, and the global percussion mix gives Voluntary Dreaming a depth that one finds all too rarely. The song sequence holds the varying styles together and rewards the listener with a challenging, compelling listen.” —Richard Price, BAM
“Voluntary Dreaming is an intricate, multi-layered work full of subtleties and inventiveness, an imaginative blend of unusual instrumentation, delicate textures, bright rhythms, and plenty of inspiration.” —Lloyd Barde, AllMusic
All but one of the tracks on Voluntary Dreaming are included on the 2-CD compilation Memory & Imagination.
Mythos
One of the debut releases on Larry Fast’s Audion Recording Company, Mythos combines layers of guitar with Michael Masley’s otherworldly bowhammer cymbalom and Bob Stohl and Kat Epple’s woodwinds, synths, and light percussion.
One of The 25 Best New Age Compact Discs (alongside such other “new age” albums as Dark Side of the Moon, Autobahn, Dig It, and Thursday Afternoon). —Stereo Review 1987 Compact Disc Buyer’s Guide
“The five hypnotic songs on Mythos engender a dreamy tranquility, yet remain interesting enough to hold your attention. Obscure ethnic instruments ground the guitar/synthesizer songs with an ancient earthiness.” Performance: 8 Sound: 10 —CD Review
“Cleveland himself does everything but play the guitar straight; he uses Ebow, violin bows, Thumbo, and Bowhammers to elicit long droning chords from his instrument. Side two is a 19-minute Frippertronics loop, with flutes, bells, and cymbalom floating in and out. Very empyrean.”—Electronic Musician
Stones of Precious Water
Restored and remastered vinyl LP version of the 1986 cassette-only release.
Restored and remastered vinyl LP version of the 1986 cassette-only release. Barry Cleveland’s earliest recording, featuring Bob Stohl (flute, synths, Lyricon), Kat Epple (flute, synths, voice, bells), and Kathy House (voice).
Additional Credits
The Best of Both Worlds: The Second Audion Sampler
Includes an alternate mix of “Voluntary Dreaming”
1987 Audion Recording Company
First Edition: The Audion Sampler
Includes “Abrasax” from Mythos
1986 Audion Recording Company
Cloud Chamber
Dark Matter
Barry Cleveland (guitar), Michael Manring (bass), Dan Reiter (cello), Michael Masley (bowhammer cymbalom, kalimba, gobeon, gobek, panpipes), Joe Venegoni (percussion)
Produced by Barry Cleveland and Cloud Chamber
1998 Supersaturated Records
“Extraordinary … created wholly in the moment with an ear to the next century.” —Derk Richardson, San Francisco Bay Guardian
“Those who dug King Crimson’s improvisational excursions—’The Mincer,’ ‘The Night Watch,’ ‘The Talking Drum’—will enjoy Cloud Chamber.” —Peter Thelen, Expose
Gayle Ellett and the Electromags
Friends
Layered 6- and 12-string electric guitars on “Maria’s Lakeside Drive”
Counterpoint melody and electric solos.
2023 Peacock Sunrise Records
Stephan Thelen
Fractal Guitar 3
“Black on Electric Blue”
Fundamentally rearranged (with Michael Manring, bass).
2022 Moonjune Records
Stephan Thelen
Fractal Guitar 2 Remixes
“Mercury Transit (Barry Cleveland Remix)”
Fundamentally rearranged (with Michael Manring, bass).
2021 Moonjune Records
Stephan Thelen
Fractal Guitar 2
Guitars and other instruments on “Fractal Guitar 2,” “Mercury Transit,” and “Point of Inflection.”
2020 Moonjune Records
Stephan Thelen
Fractal Guitar
Atmospheric guitars on “Fractal Guitar” and “Radiant Day”
2019 Moonjune Records
Johan Berke
Summer Ghosts
Guitar soundscape and sound design on “Pictures of August part 1”
Voice on “Any Other Ideas?”
2015 Gason Jazz Records
Michael Masley
Kalimbalom Solos
Produced by Barry Cleveland and Michael Masley
Recorded and mastered by Barry Cleveland
2012 AG Productions
The $100 Guitar Project
The $100 Guitar Project
Solo guitar improvisation: “Arab Spring”
2010 Bridge Records
Proceeds go to CARE
Purchase
Ol’ Cheeky Bastards
Bag O’ Tricks
Guitar solo on “Hand Bags & Glad Rags”
2008 Vagrant Records
Johan Berke
The Cactus Suite
Guitar soundscape and sound design on “Desert Night”
2006 Gason Jazz Records
Michael Masley
Cymbalom Solos
Produced by Barry Cleveland and Michael Masley 1985
Remastered by Barry Cleveland, 2004
1985/2004 Supersaturated Records
Carl Weingarten
Blue Faith
Mixing production.
Guitar on “The Dream Unfurled,” “Harvest,” and “The Shadow Returns”
Percussion on “Red Night”
2000 Multiphase Records
Carl Weingarten
Living in the Distant Present
Remixing of original 1984 recording
2000 Multiphase Records
Lou Maxwell Taylor
Cheshire Tree Suite
Engineer on “The Unexpected”
Guitar on “What is Life”
Guitar and dumbec on “Cheshire Tree Seque”
1999 QuiExote Records (Germany)
Carl Weingarten
The Acoustic Shadow
Mixing production. Guitar on “Light Years Dark Skies”
1995 Multiphase Records
Carl Weingarten
Redwood Melodies
Recording and mixing production on part of the album
1995 Multiphase Records
Michael Pluznick
Where the Rain is Born
Guitar, eggs, and rectangle on “Solar Safari”
1989 Sona Gaia/Narada Records
Emerald Web
Aqua Regia
Collaboration with Bob Stohl and Kat Epple
1982 Stargate Records