Mired by poverty and the global rise of fascism, the 1930s is far too often seen as a wholly bleak era stuck after the Roaring ‘20s and leading into a tumultuous global war. But, in reality, the era was also full of bright spots of optimism enveloped in a world of morosity. One need look […]
Considering guitarist Nels Cline’s history, it’s no surprise that the music of the Consentrik Quartet occasionally has shades of rock. “Slipping Into Something” starts subtly before bursting into a drum-driven groove fit for a rock song. Tom Rainey (drums) and Chris Lightcap (bass) keep heads nodding as Ingrid Laubrock (tenor saxophone) and Cline impressively trade […]
My sister and I made the scenic journey through the picturesque farmlands of central Pennsylvania, through the bucolic splendor of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, on a nine-hour road trip to Knoxville, TN, for the annual Big Ears Festival. The fest has become America’s – and perhaps the world’s – most diverse, eclectic, and exploratory festival comprising […]
It is sometimes easy to compartmentalize the internal and the external world. One can perceive personal thoughts as entirely an expression of spirit, removed from their surroundings. However, there is no sturdy wall between inside and out, only a permeable membrane. One’s personality and emotions will inevitably be shaped by experiences encountered during their life, […]
A popular saying holds that “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” The quote is often attributed to Oscar Wilde, without evidence he uttered it. In reality, the Irish playwright was far less flattering to mimickers. Specifically, Wilde correctly called emulation “the homage which mediocrity pays to that which is not mediocre.” True creativity – […]
Whether we wish to admit it or not, the human mind yearns for the familiar. The core of art’s genrefication lies in comparing new experiences with those of old. We often instinctively draw lines to place what we hear within the strictures of time, place, and cultural and ideological lineages. And while context is important, […]
From a tour of Central Park to trek through the rainforest to a voyage to outer space, the power of art to transport its audience to a location is well-documented. Equally important, however, is the role a particular place plays in shaping music itself. Could the rhythmic ingenuity of jazz come about in any way […]
Wheels. Compact discs and vinyl records. Rings. A full moon. A plate. A Pizza. In our daily life, we are surrounded by circles. Even prehistoric generations saw the importance of the circle, carving them out of stone and timber and featuring the shape in petroglyphs and cave paintings. However, despite its constant presence, the circle […]
In his “Odyssey,” Homer gave his protagonist the epithet “polytropos,” meaning “of many turns.” This descriptor captures the cunning, adaptability, and intellectual restlessness of Odysseus, a hero shaped by his ever-changing circumstances. It’s tempting to think Coleman – a musician whose career has been defined by perpetual motion, transformation, and the relentless quest for knowledge […]
Confucius noted that “silence is a true friend who never betrays.” To many creators, silence takes on supreme importance. Without silence, sound has no relevance. Silence is more than just the absence of organized sound, it is something to be given reverence. This is certainly the case for multi-instrumentalist Roscoe Mitchell. Throughout several prior interviews, […]
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