CURRENT COLLABORATIONS:
Ernesto Diaz-Infante (12-String bajo sexto) & Jeff Arnal (percussion)
The Neshama Alma Band
The Neshama Alma Band is a San Francisco-based collaboration of composer Ernesto Diaz-Infante and video-artist Marjorie Sturm. Their latest work, "The Sun Heals Life," is an experiential performance that provokes private reflection in a public space around retribution, forgiveness, and war. On a bajo sexto guitar, Diaz-Infante performs trance, mantra-strumming inspired by Native American and other rhythms. The minimalist video accompaniment focuses the mind to the hypnotic soundscape, breeding a personal and collective visualization to the current dilemmas. This performance is best absorbed by a ruminative participant who will engage with the Band of spirits who are being conjured for guidance. Video clip:Sun Heals Life mp3 release:Mirrors on the Crisis of the Moment (Stasisfeld)
Morton Feldman, Wadada Leo Smith, Ostad Elahi, Alice Coltrane, John Cage, Albert Ayler, Scott Walker, Cecil Taylor, Jandek, Joseph Beuys, and Charlemagne Palestine.
Sounds Like
"Ernesto Diaz-Infante's steelstring guitar pushes and shoves itself into a trance, like a spaced-out raga-master..." --Tokafi
"a composer and performer with an instinctive way of creating 'sound paintings" that stress mood and feelings. his atonal adventures here sometimes recall the work of British free guitar icon Derek Bailey." --Josef Woodard, LA Times
From Squidco:
An expansive and uplifting improvisation, the "Brooklyn Mantra" parts 1 & 2 demonstrate the vast creative skills and focus these two well-versed players bring to their performance.
Brooklyn Mantra [7" Record]
From Generate:
Ernesto Diaz-Infante and Jeff Arnal have been working together since 1999. Mantra strumming guitar meets percussion inspired by gamelan and funk - an inner bite within a minimalist shell.
From DMG:
ERNESTO DIAZ-INFANTE & JEFF ARNAL - Brooklyn Mantra [7" single] (Generate 15; USA) Ernesto Diaz-Infante on 12-string bajo sexto guitar & Jeff Arnal on percussion. I've known of west coast guitarist & pianist Ernesto Diaz-Infante for many years due to his many collaborations with Chris Forsyth (played at DMG on occasion), Jeff Kaiser & Kyle Bruckman. Although I haven't heard from him in recent years. On this record Ernesto plays a 12-string bajo sexto guitar which I am not sure what that is. "Brooklyn Mantra Parts 1 & 2" features some dark, eerie, acoustic strumming and haunting, ritualistic percussion. The effect is quite mesmerizing like some strange psychedelic ceremony being evoked. Both musicians are integral to the sound of this disc and Jeff Arnal's percussion is immensely righteous, like some spirit dancing freely on the flames of a fire.
ERNESTO DIAZ-INFANTE received his MFA in Music Composition from California Institute of the Arts and has created musical compositions that span a broad perspective: transcendental piano, noise, avant-garde guitar, field recordings, lo-fi four-track manipulations, and experimental song. ED-I has performed throughout Europe and the United States, and his music has been broadcasted internationally. He has recorded more than 15 CDs of music and collaborated with numerous musicans. ED-I runs Pax Recordings with the filmmaker/video artist Marjorie Sturm. He lives in San Francisco.
SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
ERNESTO DIAZ-INFANTE & JEFF ARNAL: Brooklyn Mantra
An expansive and uplifting improvisation, the "Brooklyn Mantra" parts 1 & 2 demonstrate the vast creative skills and focus these two well-versed players bring to their performance. "Quite mesmerizing like some strange psychedelic ceremony being evoked." --Downtown Music Gallery
ERNESTO DIAZ-INFANTE: s/t
2003 solo release & most diverse yet. Conceptual. Minimalist. Field recordings, solo guitar pieces, noise improvs, sound collages and vocals/guitar songs. "A fascinating album, uncompromising to the bone." --Francois Couture, All Music Guide
VOICES IN THE WILDERNESS: Dissenting Soundscapes and Songs of G.W.'s America
STOP THE WAR! Created out of the anxiety & disillusionment of Bush's reelection on November 3, 2004. This CD of 26 artists transcends music genres & ideologies with the common purpose of dissent towards the Bush regime. END THE WAR IN IRAQ! "Perfect reminder that we must not forget this madness" --Tom Sekowski, Gaz-Eta
THE ABSTRACTIONS: Novo Navigatio
2004 CD release of West Coast subtle, psychedelia-improv to experimental songs. sinking commentary on the disillusioned atmosphere of George W. Bush's America. "Sounds like Leonard Cohen deconstructed to some really nice abstract noise." --Vital Weekly
ERNESTO DIAZ-INFANTE & CHRIS FORSYTH: (as is stated...before known)
From their 2004 CD release, a kaleidoscopic range of post-Bailey approaches, quiet Fahey-esque folk-influenced fingerpicking. "I highly recommend this disc for a taste of some other aspects of what guitars can do." --Steve Koenig, Jump Arts Journal.
OUT NOW:
'Brooklyn Mantra' 7" - Ernesto Diaz-Infante/Jeff Arnal (Generate Records)
Bonus track 'Live at CIM NY 2007' - Ernesto Diaz-Infante/Philip Gayle/Jeff Arnal on "Generate Records 1999-2009" (Generate Records)
UPCOMING RELEASES:
"Faceless Empire" - Ernesto Diaz-Infante/Manuel Mota/Gino Robair/Ernesto Rodrigues (Pax)
"Civilian Life" - Ernesto Diaz-Infante & The Neshama Alma Band (Pax)
Just coming through to show some love. Hit up the page and check out our songs. FREE RINGTONES!! Sign the guest book if you get the time. oh and we are on twitter too. lol. twitter.com/sodeepsd P.S. Our cd So. Deep - ESCAPE ROUTE is now on amazon for only 6.99 and singles are only .89! Thanks for the support! So. Deep SD
Abolipop new free compilation, includes tracks by Lumen lab, Carrie, Nebula 3, Jack's son, Signal Deluxe, Bandido & Vektor. Click on image or next link to download!
Hola Ernesto, gracias por agregarme a tu lista. Felicitaciones por lo innovador de tu música. Sigue experimentado y que no decaiga la creatividad. Un fuerte y cordial abrazo desde Barcelona. Antonio