Austinist Show Preview: Tatsuya Nakatani and more
Saturday, March 1
Salvage Vanguard Theatre ()
$12, 9pm
[info]
Our barely-frigid winter is turning tail and running, with nary an “ice storm” or onslaught of freezing rain thrown at us all season. Though spring in Austin doesn’t mean the slow rebirth of nature like it does up north, March still brings good tidings like SXSW, the promise of sunny and beautiful days - not to mention a new season of concerts, shows, and all that jazz. Always on the ball, The Church of the Friendly Ghost is here to welcome March with a show on the 1st featuring a three-part show from notable local and far-off acts.
First up, the Japanese-born but current United States resident Tatsuya Nakatani is going to lead us into the evening was a set of improvised percussion works. Since 1997 he’s been remarkably prolific, releasing at least one album a year, and taking part in seven releases in 2004 alone. Nakatani has “created his own instrumentation,” and his sets often utilize traditional drums, gongs, “singing bowls” common-place objects and more. Need more information? This picture speaks for itself.
After Mr. Nakatani, electronics artist and composer William Meadows and cellist Steve Bernal will perform “Pluto: Requiem for an Icy World.” Sadly relegated to non-planet status in recent years, Pluto gets special recognition in this piece, which was nominated by the Austin Critic's Table for Best Original Composition two years ago, and which will also be performed at the 2008 SEAMUS (The Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States) National Conference in Salt Lake City.
The last piece of the evening is entitled “Old River/Lost River,” composed by Austin violinist Travis Weller. Inspired by landscapes in East Texas, the piece utilizes Weller’s violin in addition to other musicians working with viola, contrabass, percussion, and something called the “the owl,” a “a high tension music wire instrument.” The piece was composed this January, and this is performance will serve as its proper premiere.
Tatsuya Nakatani: [website] [myspace]
Steve Bernal: [website]
William Meadows: [website]
Travis Weller: [website]
