Photos from a very interesting show during the final weekend of Lincoln Center Out of Doors; featuring Gamelan Galak Tika from MIT, Kenge Kenge from Kenya (NY debut), and Kronos Quartet who with Gamelan Elektrika (Galak Tika on custom made electronic percussion) premiered the composition Super Collider by Christine Southworth.
From the last weekend of Lincoln Center Out of Doors’ challenging, diverse and amazing 40th season. Salsa legend Larry Harlow conducted a 30+ piece band performing his Salsa Suite ‘La Raza Latina’ for the first time since it was conceived in the 70′s when Harlow was an integral member of the Fania All-Stars. The performance featured Ruben Blades and Adonis Puentes on vocals, a half dozen dancers from the Masacote Dance Company, Bobby Sanabria’s big band augmented by an enormous string section plus an even more enormous, beyond capacity crowd.
The Budos Band just released their 3rd full-length album, appropriately titled ‘III’ on Daptone Records. In the many years the band has been at it, they have evolved into a ferocious, animated, scraggly instrumental outfit that combines power chords (and accompanying devil horns) and intricate afro-funk into a completely new and highly engaging, hypnotic sound. Think Staten Island transplanted to Madagascar. They are hitting up the west coast on tour right now. Catch ‘em if you can.
The photo above is from their recent performance at Celebrate Brooklyn opening for Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.
These images were made at their whirlwind 2-day recording session at the House of Soul in Bushwick, BK.
Brazilian legend Hermeto Pascoal, the magical man who can play anything, and I mean beards, lagoons, teapots…anything, and Michael Rother, founding member of krautrock legends Neu! played a unique double bill at Lincoln Center Out of Doors last week.
Hermeto’s group featured Aline Morena (vocals and guitar), Andre Martin (piano and flute) Fabio Pascoal (percussion), Vinicius Dorin (flutes), Itibere Zwarg (bass) Marcio Bahia (drums) and Oscar Feldman (sax).
Hallogallo 2010 featured Michael Rother, Steve Shelley (drums, Sonic Youth) and Aaron Mullar (bass, Tall Firs).
The peak moment for me came at the end of Hermeto’s last song Iramos Latinos (Latin Brothers). The musicians left the stage one by one, still playing, and followed each other back down to the dressing rooms under the stage where they continued to play for each other for a few joyous minutes. One of those amazing little experiences that comes out of nowhere:
I created this multimedia piece with Myron Walden, a sincere and soulful musician that I am proud to be working with. Myron Walden’s group Countryfied brings the intention and heart of soul and blues music into a dynamic contemporary ensemble. In this multimedia piece that combines live recordings, interviews and photographs, Myron shares his thoughts about the music and his early memories that are woven through it.
When I moved to NYC in 1997 to study jazz, one of my earliest music-crawl memories was hearing Myron tear up late-night jazz sets at Smalls in the West Village. After a long transformation from wide-eared college student to professional photographer, this opportunity came as wonderful return to my own roots. Myron has been undergoing a transformation as well, from well respected sideman with Brian Blade’s Fellowship to a dynamic and multifaceted leader and composer. In the past year, Myron has been leading 3 completely unique ensembles (Countryfied, Momentum and In This World) and has released 5 new albums spread across the 3 groups.
The photographs and live music recordings were created at his preview performance at Rockwood Music Hall and his CD release show at Sullivan Hall in NYC.
featured in the photos: Eddie Kirkland, The Party Stompers, Spyder Turner, Melvin Davis, Dennis Coffey, The Velvelettes, Death, The Gories, ? and the Mysterians, and Mitch Ryder.
