Instrumentals
Program 1, March 23:
William Basinski, Vivian & Ondine
Tristan Perich, Dual Synthesis
Program 2, March 24:
Arthur Russell, Instrumentals directed by Peter Gordon
Mary Halvorson, Septet nos. 30-33
Curated by Nick Hallett
Co-presented with Carnegie Hall as part of the 2012 American Mavericks Festival
The Kitchen dips into the Music Program archive and extends its envelope-pushing legacy to a new generation with this weekend of shared double bills. Launching the event is William Basinski's ambient electronic opus Vivian & Ondine, which identifies the haunting materiality of sound through the physical process of tape loop manipulation, with light art by Seth Kirby and Brock Monroe. Sharing the evening, Tristan Perich—in his Kitchen debut—demonstrates his unique 1-Bit universe, mixing custom-built microchips and harpsichord performed by Daniel Walden.
The second evening begins with a new septet convened by Brooklyn-based guitarist Mary Halvorson, who effortlessly connects jazz, pop, and experimental strategies. The septet includes Kirk Knuffke (cornet), Greg Ward (alto saxophone), Ingrid Laubrock (tenor saxophone), Jacob Garchik (trombone), Mary Halvorson (guitar), John Hebert (bass) and Tom Rainey (drums). The weekend culminates with work by Arthur Russell, former Kitchen Music Director and protean composer who set the contemporary standard for fluidity between musical genres as he moved freely among avant-garde composition, traditional songwriting, and commercial disco. His Instrumentals, which played at The Kitchen in 1975, and was described by The New York Times as "full of stirring melody, part Copland and part western movie soundtrack," will be given a new reading directed by composer Peter Gordon, a friend and collaborator of Russell's. Musicians appearing on Instrumentals include Ernie Brooks* (bass guitar), Peter Gordon* (saxophones, organ), Zach Layton (guitar), Katie Porter (bass clarinet), Bill Ruyle* (mallets, percussion), Elio Villafranca (piano), Alex Waterman (cello), and Peter Zummo* (trombone).
*member of Instrumentals ensemble (1975-1978)
Music programs at The Kitchen are made possible with generous support from The Amphion Foundation, the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, and with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.
Photo, clockwise from top left: Arthur Russell by Tom Lee, Tristan Perich by LF, William Basinski by James Elaine, Mary Halvorson by Amani Willett.
March 23–March 24, 2012
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