the project

The Altitude of the Sun, combining the original 1975 recording of Paul Horn & Nexus with the 1976 recording of Horn's Altura do Sol (featuring Egberto Gismonti), demonstrates that the material and musicianship is as vital today as it was then. This release represents the logical combination of two recordings rooted in multi–cultural rhythms. By transcending traditional Western musical biases, together they present a musical celebration of humanity, in all its diversity, linked by rhythms and melody into a unifying, satisfying whole. This is the premise behind The Altitude of the Sun. The compositions and the musical interpretations they elicit are formulated to address the question of how to make the influence of other cultures understood within the framework of American music and American cultural traditions.

The compositions, arrangements, and performances of the Brazilian guitarist/pianist Egberto Gismonti are showcased on tracks one through eight, while the earthy rhythms and richness of cultural influences spanning the globe—African, North and South American, Indian, Tibetan—on tracks nine through seventeen display the masterful improvisational signature of Paul Horn and Nexus.

the artist

Paul Horn has performed and recorded worldwide, applying his artistry to many genres of music in a variety of contexts. As a recording artist, he is renowned for his Inside series, which began in 1968 and includes Inside the Taj Mahal (11062) and Inside the Great Pyramid (12060). Horn first came to notice in the early 1960s, leading his own jazz quintet, and receiving two Grammy Awards for Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts. His 1987 new age pop album, Traveler (11086), also received a Grammy nomination. A former member of NBC's Hollywood Staff Orchestra, he has recorded with numerous artists, including Frank Sinatra and Duke Ellington. New age and classical releases include China (11080), Nomad: Selected Pieces 1976-1988 (11087), and the critically acclaimed The Peace Album (11083).