Perpetual Motion
Denver, Colorado, United States | Established. Jan 01, 1989 | SELF
Music
Press
“Dance of Two Souls” is the first album from the duo Perpetual Motion in ten years. Their seventh album together, violinist Josie Quick and husband Tom Carleno, an award-winning guitarist, bring us an exuberant, exotic, vivacious blend of world music, progressive jazz, and blues; “acoustic world fusion.”
Inspired by places they’ve visited and lands still waiting to be explored, the thirteen intricately composed tracks are a joyful celebration of life, love, good health, and the gift of being able to make music together. Joining Josie and Tom on the album are Blake Eberhard on electric and acoustic basses, and Christian Teele on drums and percussion. The album is like the gypsy in your soul. It’s lively, carefree, colorful, and adventurous. So, get your traveling shoes on and let’s go. . .
The album opens with the very exciting “Sunsplash,” which was inspired by a trip to Belize and watching the sun setting into the ocean from aboard a boat. Fun, and truly sparkling, it’s the perfect beginning to this album. Following is “Diabla,” which translates to “she-devil.” This song takes us on a journey through the mountains of Central America. Dynamic and spirited, we can feel ourselves there. “The Happy Song” is wonderful, with a fabulous and flowing violin melody, guitar blending perfectly around, percussion and a great beat underneath. Very nice and very happy.
We are easily transported to a French café in the splendid “Déjà Vu.” Josie says, “It’s a memory of a place we’ve never been.” For never having been there, they have flawlessly captured the rich and flavorful essence of such a place.
The title track, “Dance of Two Souls,” is one to listen to again and again. This sensuous bossa nova magnetically draws you in from the start. Silky and sumptuous, it is a graceful, effortless dance. I just love it.
“Troublant Boléro,” a song written by Django Reinhardt and Jacques Larue, is very nicely covered. Guitar, violin, bass, drums are all excellent together. It’s a stellar mix.
Inspired by a trip to South America, “Dos Gringos” is intriguing and passionate. “Viaje del Corazón” perfectly captures the sights, sounds, and ambiance of a trip to Cuba.
“Swinging Cats” is “Stray Cats meet gypsy jazz.” This is totally fun and playful. In addition to Josie’s flawless violin performance, there is a great guitar solo in here as well. Like the long, languid days of summer, “Summertime,” written by George and Ira Gershwin and Dubose Heyward, leads us into a lovely daydream. Again, flawless performances by all.
My total favorite on the album is the marvelous “Where Does the Time Go.” We can feel every note and nuance of this song in the very depths of our soul. This has got a mysterious, Eastern flair and is simply spectacular in all regards.
“Esmeralda” is titled for the Hunchback of Notre Dame’s unrequited love of a gypsy girl. This is expressive and deeply moving. The album closes out nicely with “Por Causa de Você,” which means “because of you.” This is a wonderful composition where we can almost hear lyrics where there are none. This feels like an intimate conversation and it’s another favorite on this ebullient album, overflowing with life.
Rating: Excellent 5 stars - Zone Music Reporter
“The combination of Josie’s progressive melodic violin playing and the gentle, rhythmic and Latin influenced guitar provided by partner Tom Carleno makes for sweet music. The broad strokes of sound painted on their musical canvas is the perfect marriage of sound, color, and vibrations. This is all natural with no additives, it is acoustic world fusion with jazz added for spice and snap. So, sit down and enjoy a homemade recipe of music straight from the magical fingers of two very talented souls.” Rating Excellent 5 stars - MusikMan Reviews
Review by Kathy Parsons
Inspired by places visited and some not yet seen, Perpetual Motion has created Dance of Two Souls, an album that overflows with sunshine, joy, happy memories, romance and just enough drama to keep it real. Violin and guitar dance together beautifully in the hands of Josie Quick and Tom Carleno (Perpetual Motion) plus a pair of guest artists! Nine of the thirteen tracks were composed by Quick, two by Carleno, and two are original arrangements. The album was produced by Quick and Carleno and the guest artists are Blake Eberhard (electric and acoustic basses) and Christian Teele (drums and percussion).
Perpetual Motion released their first album, Ready, Willing and Able, in 1993, but Dance of Two Souls is their first album of new material since Josie’s 2009 lupus diagnosis. They released an exciting 25-year retrospective called Rear View in 2017 and it’s so good to have this dynamic duo back in action! Josie Quick calls herself an “all purpose violinist” who was classically-trained. She was introduced to jazz in college and never looked back. She has performed and recorded with a wide variety of artists as well as with her husband (Tom) as Perpetual Motion. Guitarist Tom Carleno decided he wanted to be an entertainer when he was a youngster and nothing else would do. In addition to his recordings with Perpetual Motion and others, Carleno released an award-winning solo album in 2013, Perfect Imperfection.
Dance of Two Souls begins with “Sunsplash,” a Latin jazz-flavored confection that all but dances for joy. Inspired by watching a sunset from a boat in Belize, it’s an exuberant start! The rhythmic and energetic “Diabla” came about after a journey through the mountains of Central America and reflects the music from that part of the world. The perfectly-titled “The Happy Song” overflows with feelings of gentle warmth and an easy-going contentment. “Deja Vu” is “a memory of a place we’ve never been.” In this case, a French cafe. The piece itself has a lighthearted energy and a playful nature. I love the title track, a beautiful bossa nova for violin and guitar with some gently rhythmic percussion. The buoyant “Dos Gringos” was inspired by a recent trip to South America and the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Violin and guitar really soar on this one, propelled by some lively percussion. Quick describes “Swinging Cats” as “The Stray Cats meet gypsy jazz” and what a delight it is! With just hints of the bluesy “The Stray Cat Strut” blended with a gypsy attitude, it’s one of my favorites! The Gershwin classic, “Summertime,” has always been one of my favorite standards, and I love this sultry duet for violin and guitar! I also really love “Where Does the Time Go?” composed by Carleno. The haunting melody and pensive tone grab me every time I hear it! Carleno also wrote “Por Causa de Voce,” which means “Because of You” and dedicated it to Josie Quick. Bright Latin rhythms and some very elegant guitar work make this a beautiful closing piece to a great album!
Dance of Two Souls marks a long-anticipated come-back for Perpetual Motion and we’ll keep our fingers crossed that there will be many more albums from this exceptional duo! The album is available from Amazon, iTunes and CD Baby. - Mainly Piano
Discography
Dance of Two Souls
2019
Inspired by places visited and some not yet seen, Perpetual Motion has created Dance of Two Souls, an album that overflows with sunshine, joy, happy memories, romance and just enough drama to keep it real. Violin and guitar dance together beautifully! – Kathy Parsons, Mainly Piano
Josie’s violin meshes perfectly with Tom’s gently swaying acoustic guitar. They’re joined by some excellent players, too… You’ll hear them in all their musical glory on Josie’s lively original “Dos Gringos”. Tom’s acoustic guitar intro on his original piece “Where Does The Time Go” segues ever-so-nicely into a wonderful musical portrait of the movement of time. The recording is flawless, and the performance is (truly) among the best I’ve heard (yet) in 2019 – Dick Metcalf, Contemporary Fusion Reviews
Rear View
2017
Encapsulating a 25-year career in making world-class acoustic instrumental music on a single album is a daunting task when the duo is as talented and multi-faceted as violinist Josie Quick and guitarist Tom Carleno, who together record and perform as Perpetual Motion. Culled from four albums dating back to 1993, the thirteen tracks on Rear View present Quick and Carleno (supported by other artists* on bass, drums, and percussion) at their artistic best, whether swaying in romantic fashion (“Nova”), pirouetting with a world beat intensity (“Jungle Spirits”) or crafting a delicate, serene soundscape (“Harvest Moon”). Brimming with expert musicianship, inspired melodies, and infectious rhythms, this is one time you will benefit from “looking backward” more than ahead!
“It doesn’t take long when listening to Perpetual Motion’s career retrospective album Rear View before the astute listener realizes just how damn good guitarist Tom Carleno and violinist Josie Quick are at making their special brand of musical magic. Joined by their superb rhythm section, the duo covers a lot of ground (over a lot of years) crafting a wide variety of tunes, unified by expert musicianship as well as an obvious love of playing music, period. Hopefully, this is just their first “rear view” and somewhere down the line, they will release a Rear View Part Deux!” Bill Binkelman Zone Music Reporter
Swing Set
2009
An upbeat collection of vintage favorites, gypsy jazz classics, and a few originals thrown in for good measure, Swing Set will lift your spirits and get your toes tapping. Inspired by the spirit of the great gypsy jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli, violinist Josie Quick’s melodic improvisations are playfully lively and lyrical. Award-winning composer Tom Carleno deftly maneuvers his way around his guitar, giving the music that unmistakable swinging gypsy flavor. Rounding out the ensemble is bassist Blake Eberhard, and drummer Christian Teele, both are sought after musicians known for their mastery of their instruments.
String Theory
2006
Perpetual Motion shows their growth from a folksy acoustic duo
to a progressive jazz ensemble with this album. Calling their
sound acoustic world fusion”, Perpetual Motion has created
a vibrant blend of Central and South American folk, progressive
jazz, blues, and rock and roll. The result is a wonderfully eclectic
collection of songs, all tied together by an underlying Latin
groove.
Surfing on Cloud Nine
1997
Surfing On Cloud Nine is an appropriate title for Perpetual Motion’s
second album. From the opening chords of the energetic title
track to the driving swing of the final cut, all of the songs
show off the band’s zest for life. Their compositions are an
eclectic blend of a wide variety of musical influences. There
is something for every musical taste on this album.
Ready, Willing and Able
1993
Ready, Willing, and Able aptly describes Perpetual Motion’s eager,
energetic approach to their rather unconventional style of music.
The violin and guitar duo’s debut album showcases their wide
variety of musical influences of jazz, classical, rock, folk
and bluegrass.
Photos
Bio
Determined to break the mold of typical acoustic guitar and violin music, Perpetual Motion dives into blues, rock, jazz, and world music. For Tom and Josie, everything is an inspiration. Hop on a magic carpet ride with them to parts unknown.
“Remarkably, Perpetual Motion does exactly what their name says. From the moment the lights come upon them, they are engaged with their audience, sweeping them along on a quick trip around the world. It’s rare and beautiful to see a whole room of vastly different people moving together, leaving their everyday world behind, and being carried, up and away by Perpetual Motion’s lively melodies and expert musicianship. Perpetual Motion creates an escape and brings their audiences with them on a rising wave of fun, beauty, and connection until the very last note. -Hanna AckermanFormer Concert Director, Swallow Hill Music
“I can't say enough good things about Perpetual Motion. Every concert I've attended has been outstanding. Whether it's in front of 200 people at Swallow Hill Music or 40 at Mercury Cafe Denver, they always deliver. Tom Carleno and Josie Quick are outstanding musicians. Their music is like taking a journey around the world. They incorporate the styles of samba, bossa nova, calypso, flamenco, Django-style hot jazz, and rock into their songs. The emotion they convey through their songs is real and heartfelt.” - Chuck Montera, The Humbuckers guitarist
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