EWI
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EWI (an acronym for Electric Wind Instrument) is the name of AKAI's line of wind controllers, an electronic musical instrument invented by Nyle Steiner. The early models consisted of two parts: a wind controller and a synthesizer. The current model, EWI4000S, combines the two parts into one, placing the synthesizer in the lower section of the controller. It uses the Boehm fingering system and is designed to be similar in action to a soprano saxophone, although players familiar with the clarinet should have no problem adjusting to the fingering. Like a soprano sax, it is straight, and is held in front of the body with a neck strap. The major manufacturers of wind controllers are Akai and Yamaha. Available models include the AKAI EWI3020, AKAI EWI4000s, AKAI EWI USB, Yamaha WX5, Yamaha WX11, Yamaha WX7, and Synthophone. There is also a controller intended to be played by brass instrumentalists called an EVI (for Electric Valve Instrument) also invented by Nyle Steiner. The Akai EWI4000S has a special EVI mode that allows brass players to play the EWI. More info on the EVI fingering system. There are also homemade and experimental EWIs with different designs.
The wind controller part of the EWI has a mouthpiece with sensors for air pressure (volume control) and lip pressure (vibrato). The EWI keys do not move, but work through conductivity, sensing the positioning of the fingers by electrical current; this allows for very fast playing. The octave is determined by a set of rollers operated by the left thumb. The wind controller is used to control a synthesizer. Some EWIs have to be attached to a specific synth module, and some have direct output to the MIDI interface. It is also possible to connect the EWI to a Digital Work Station (soundboard) to produce an even larger variety of sounds.
Though it is usually associated with jazz/rock fusion and, more recently, with New Age music, the EWI is a musically versatile instrument. The air pressure sensor allows for great dynamic range, especially in combination with an analog synthesizer. Tonal range is also great, usually extending to 8 octaves.
[edit] Performers
Skilled EWI players include Marshall Allen, Courtney Pine, Joe Duran, Masato Honda, Dennis Kirchhoff, Dave Koz, Bob Mintzer, Dan Zinn, Michael Brecker, Paul Hazen, Steve Tavaglione, Scott Harris, Jay Beckenstein of Spyro Gyra, Jeff Kashiwa, and Eric Tsang. Brecker in particular has played the EWI both as a solo instrumentalist and in an ensemble context with groups like Steps Ahead, Paul Simon's band and also appeared on James Taylor's 'Hourglass'. Steve Tavaglione is another famous EWI player who plays on jazz albums but is best known for his TV and film soundtrack work; his EWI playing can be heard on TV shows like CSI: NY and movies including Finding Nemo, Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Twelve. Another semi-famous EWI player is regular flautist for The Polyphonic Spree Audrey Easley; the instrument can be heard on such songs as "A Long Day Continues/We Sound Amazed" on the band's 2004 album Together We're Heavy and more extensively in their 2007 album The Fragile Army. Yet another is Dino Soldo, who is featured on the EWI in several songs throughout the incomparable Leonard Cohen concert DVD "Live in London."
Since the 1980s the EWI has been well known to fans of the Japanese Fusion (J-Fusion) band T-SQUARE as a lead instrument. All three of the band's saxophonists-- Takeshi Itoh (1978 - Current), Takahiro Miyazaki (1998 - 2000) and the aforementioned Masato Honda (1990 - 1998)-- double on EWI. T-SQUARE has included 2 or 3 new compositions for EWI on each of their albums. They began using the Lyricon in 1980, then upgraded to the Yamaha WX-7 in 1987, then upgraded again to the AKAI EWI in 1990.
Before recent times, the EWI was particularly foreign to the U.S. population, mainly seen in Japan. But the EWI is slowly becoming more popular in the United States. The EWI has recently gained recognition in indie rock circles thanks to the Seattle-based band Heatwarmer, featuring EWI virtuoso Andrew Swanson. The band recently appeared on Portland radio station KBOO, discussing their inclusion of the instrument at length. The EWI has also been heard on select jazz radio stations as of late. Even ethnic musicians, like Catalan Xufu [1], are noted for playing the EWI 4000S.
Dan Brantigan plays the EVI with guitar virtuoso Kaki King.
[edit] Videos
[edit] External links
- The Wind Controller FAQ
- The Nyle Steiner Homepage (inventor of the EVI and EWI)
- Patchman Music is a seller and supporter of wind controllers
- A review of the Akai EWI4000s by Jonathan Block
- A review of the EWI4000s, which is on the cover (named as EWI4000m in error) of a sample issue available for free download
- to hear Nyle Steiner's music
