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Parks' manner of speaking has a similarity with the music he creates, nonchalantly integrating influences from far and wide.
Explaining himself, he blends in metaphors and proverbs: "I'm a black ant on a watermelon." "It's like going from zero to hero." "There may be snow on the roof, but a fire rages within."
When making music, he moves through and fuses musical genres from every direction, finding new points of entry and exit.
Feb 11, 2010 Michelle Broder Van Dyke
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+ Live Review: Van Dyke Parks and Clare & The Reasons
http://www.oregonlive.com/music/index.ssf/2010/02/live_review_van_dyke_parks_and.html