Sparks & Shadows Bring The C.O.W.L. Sessions

SPARKS & SHADOWS TO RELEASE THE C.O.W.L. SESSIONS FEATURING ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSED BY JOE CLARK

“American history gets overhauled in C.O.W.L., a new series about the superhero labor union of 1960s Chicago that’s been described as Mad Men meets Avengers.” – The Hollywood Reporter

Sparks & Shadows announces the release of THE C.O.W.L. SESSIONS soundtrack digitally on October 28, 2014. THE C.O.W.L. SESSIONS is the audio companion to the first five issues of the hit comic book series C.O.W.L., created by Kyle Higgins & Alec Siegel, with art by Rod Reis (who also contributes the cover art for the album). The recording features original music by Joe Clark.

The gritty style and era of the comic (1962) lends itself to the bebop jazz of the era. “Before Kyle started the book, he told me the story he had in mind and talked about the musical mood of the project,” said Clark. “Kyle is very musically savvy and had a lot of thoughtful ideas for the sound of the world — even before he wrote the first draft!”

“In many ways, THE C.O.W.L. SESSIONS has been in the works for almost fifteen years, from the day Joe and I met in high school jazz band,” said Higgins. “Of course, we had no idea our collaboration was going to take this form–his album inspired by my crime-noir-superhero-comic– but considering we became friends over our mutual love of jazz, Chicago, film, and comics, I can’t think of anything more fitting.”

THE C.O.W.L. SESSIONS is the first release from Sparks & Shadows not composed by the label’s founder, Bear McCreary. “My goal for Sparks & Shadows was to release unique soundtracks I believe in,” said McCreary. “Joe Clark’s original score for the comic book C.O.W.L. was the perfect choice for our first release of music other than my own, because he perfectly captured the moody, sexy energy of the retro / noir stories. If the elegant painted pages of the comic were to resonate strongly enough, Clark’s music might just burst out of them.”

The idea for THE C.O.W.L. SESSIONS was to capture an album as if someone recorded it about the heroes of C.O.W.L. in 1962 Chicago. “Each of the five leads of C.O.W.L.’s first story arc are represented musically: Grey Raven, Radia, and Blaze have their own themes,” described Clark. “John Pierce’s hunt for tragic truth can be heard in the song ‘Investigations’. Arclight’s more self-destructive tendencies are highlighted in ‘Sparks’, named after the nightclub he frequents. Of the remaining tracks, ‘The Boss’ evokes the Chicago political machine, especially the late mayor Richard J. Daley. I also wanted to have one track that set the mood of C.O.W.L.’s Chicago, arguably a character in itself. We decided on a re-harmonization of the old jazz standard ‘Chicago (That Toddlin’ Town)’ and we were fortunate to have Raya Yarbrough sing on the track.”

Track Listing:
1. Blaze (4:56) Solos: Mark Hiebert, Baritone Sax; Andy Baker, Trombone; Joe Policastro, Bass
2. Chicago (3:59) Featuring Raya Yarbrough, Solos: Pete Benson, Piano; Keith Brooks, Drums; Mark Hiebert, Baritone Saxophone
3. Investigations (3:31) 
Solos: BJ Cord, Trumpet; Pete Benson, Piano
4. Grey Raven (5:33) 
Solos: Pete Benson, Piano; Andy Baker, Trombone; Chris Madsen, Alto Saxophone
5. Sparks (3:41) 
Solos: Chris Madsen, Alto Saxophone; Andy Baker, Trombone; Mark Hiebert, Baritone Saxophone; BJ Cord, Trumpet; Keith Brooks, Drums
6. Radia (5:09) 
Solos: Mary Jo Neher, French Horn; Chris Madsen, Alto Saxophone
7. The Boss (5:14) 
Solo: Andy Baker, trombone
8. Wraith (7:14) 
Solos: Mark Hiebert, Baritone Saxophone; BJ Cord, trumpet; Joe Policastro, bass
9. Chicago (Instrumental) (3:59)

{All compositions by Joe Clark except: “Chicago” by Fred Fisher}

Sparks & Shadows presents THE C.O.W.L. SESSIONS, available digitally on October 28, 2014.
On October 29, Image Comics will release C.O.W.L., Vol. 1: Principles Of Power TP, (collecting issues 1-5).

Other releases from Sparks & Shadows include Bear McCreary’s two soundtracks for the series Da Vinci’s Demons (featuring the Emmy® Award-winning title theme), Black Sails (featuring the Emmy® Award-nominated title theme), Defiance, as well as motion picture soundtracks for Europa Report, Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie and Knights of Badassdom.

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