Varieties of Religious Experience Suite

“…Barring the obvious exceptions, much of 21st century composition appears to be thinning in significance, but this might be about to change. Gene Pritsker is one of a very spare handful of composers effecting this change, and evidence of this is found in the Varieties of Religious Experiences Suite … Of the three hundred or so compositions by Pritsker, Varieties of Religious Experience Suite may be his most groundbreaking yet. The penultimate, “Tolstoy” sequence captures Pritsker’s own sense of the empiricism of the plurality of music (although this echoes throughout the suite), where musical idioms—whether melodic, harmonic or rhythmic—mix into a melange as heady as peyote. Only this time, the memory of the music lingers long after the last note strikes the inner ear.”– Raul d’Gama Rose, All About Jazz

“Gene Pritsker’s music is much more than the sum of the elements involved … No matter what camp you may be a part of, this recording will stretch the boundaries of what you expect. Most importantly Pritsker does it all with an assurance and lucidity that make a case for why such hybrids can provide exciting, absorbing listening.”

– Grego Edwards, Gapplegate

“There are myriad textures here that invite meditation. Accessible, stimulating chamber music throughout … Exceptionally curious and inclusive rather than aggressive or confrontational, Pritsker and his collaborators explore passionate new expressions based on jazz, world rhythms, machine rhythms, lyricism, and the spirit … It positively asserts that your cosmic, mystical experience is as genuine as my mystical experience; or as genuine as that of any organized religion.”

– Chamber Music Today

“The classic 1902 tome [The Varieties of Religious Experience] by philosopher William James serves as inspired fodder for guitarist/conceptualist/composer Gene Pritsker. The results may have you seeing visions … Listeners may hear strains of jazz, contemporary classical music, minimalism and even hip-hop and African rhythms … Driven by both Pritsker and fellow guitarist Greg Baker, the music has a light, playful feel to it. 

“‘William James’ Introduction’ immediately sets the stage with faint echoes of some of Ornette Coleman’s electric music with Prime Time. ‘Consciousness Of A Presence’ continues the polyphonic feel, the Sound Liberation band both earthy with electric guitar peals and lighter than air with its implied but not really stated bottom end. Another tonally and harmonically ambiguous song, ‘Dream,’ is filled with unexpected twists and turns, both foreground and background moving in and out.”

– John Ephland, DownBeat