Congratulations to House of Waters for the nomination of their Rising album for best independent instrumental of the year.
Ever since seeing House of Waters at the first GroundUP Music Festival, I was captivated. After all, how many “power” trios comprised of hammered dulcimer, 6-string bass and drums have you heard? Their sound and virtuosity are totally unique and incredible. Max ZT is called the “Jimi Hendrix” of the hammered dulcimer. Crazily enough, I got to catch two of their shows in one week in July 2019 and then two more in September 2019 when they opened for Snarky Puppy. Here’s their September Birmingham in its entirety.
House of Waters is a band you may not have heard of but they play some of the most beautiful music you’ll ever hear. This band bounces between jazz, funk, world, Irish, Indian, African and even classical music at times and their music well deserves its own genre. I really dig these guys and think you will too! For my 2019 year in review I declared “Their album Rising should be on every jazz, world, fusion, funk playlist of the year!” and so it is on this one.
Last year I had the opportunity to do my first EVER podcast with the whole band. We chatted with the “power” trio of Max ZT (hammered dulcimer), Moto Fukushima (6 string bass) and Ignacio Rivas Bixio (drums) before their opening session with Snarky Puppy at The Tabernacle in Atlanta on September 20, 2019.
The far ranging discussion included the founding of the band, origins and elements of their album “Rising”, keys to great improvisation and influences of music and audiences from around the globe. Have a listen to the podcast here .