New York, 10013
(212) 608-0555
ALSO:
Wed. June 23, 9 and 10 pm
Cornelia St. Cafe
29 Cornelia St
New York, 10014
(212) 989-9319
Debuting a new collaboration with an amazing young sarod player, Anupam Shobhakar
plus Dan Weiss, Gary Versace, Stephan Crump
original pieces featuring national steel guitar, plus reworking of older pieces
www.anupamshobhakar.com
Composer’s statement
Life Force
When Wendy asked me to write music for her second solo cd, I was thrilled by the challenge. The lessons I learned in composing in such an intimate setting have been a gift. Feelings about one’s own music are not always to be trusted- they change with the prevailing winds; however, I had the strong sense after we recorded this project that with this music I had finally begun my real life’s work. I find it very difficult to articulate why this is so. All I can say is that this project forced me to ask a question whose ramifications are substantial and ongoing: “What is most important to me? If I strip my music to its essence, what is left?”
In a sense my goal was simple (even if the process was not): I wanted to write music with soul. The cello and violin, especially in the hands of masters like Wendy and Tim, are deeply expressive instruments. Their ability to illuminate the extremes of human emotion are amazing. Though I have some familiarity with the wealth of Western classical string literature, I looked elsewhere for starting points. For instance, movement one of the duo was inspired by the great jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius (a favorite of Tim’s) and his gift for both passionate, lyrical melody and intensely driving funk. The relentless rhythmic activity contrasting with simple tunes is a way of speaking about the poles of Jaco’s, and my own, personna. The opening cello piece, “Go Towards the Light” came out the way it did largely because I am a guitar player partial to alternate tunings, the ringing sound and bell-like harmonics of open strings. The remarkable sound that Wendy produces in the “circular bowing” sections of the piece, sometimes roaring, sometimes whispering, comes from my attempt to bring into sound a vision I had as my father died of a great wheel that never stops turning, constantly bringing all things in and out of creation.
The sound world of this project is quite focused and particular, and it might surprise those who have heard my jazz music. Frankly, some of it surprises me. As the foundations of the pieces revealed themselves, Wendy and Tim helped reel me back in to the original intent. They were more than performers- they were editors and co-conspirators.
Much of this music is dedicated to, and inspired by, recent events with people I am very attached to. I truly hope that I have honored their singular spirits with this work. More and more it seems to me that music acts as a bridge to the dead, that the notes are rungs of a ladder that we climb in order to peer into other worlds. The wonder of music is that it can deepen the mystery, without ever claiming to offer answers to the questions that are raised.
ALSO:
Wed. June 23, 9 and 10 pm
Cornelia St. Cafe
Debuting a new collaboration with an amazing young sarod player, Anupam Shobhakar
plus Dan Weiss, Gary Versace, Stephan Crump
www.anupamshobhakar.com
