As promised, here’s the second entry from Ashley Capps covering his tips and selects for enjoying the Big Ears Festival to the fullest.
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Ok, it’s me again….with part 2 of my Big Ears overview and personal picks.
First of all, I would like to focus on 3 of our special programs that feature multiple artists and a nice overview of the festival. They could be a great way to stick your toe in the water of the Big Ears experience if you’re hesitant to jump into the deep end.
THREE GREAT PROGRAMS THAT OFFER A MULTI-FACETED TASTE OF BIG EARS:
The Calder Quartet & Andrew W.K.
The Calder Quartet with Iva Bittova / Sam Amidon / Andrew W.K.
Friday, March 26, 5pm, Knoxville Museum of Art
A special introductory show for the Big Ears festival…in addition to a really remarkable “classical” program by the Calder Quartet and violinist/singer Iva Bittova…Sam Amidon will sing a few Appalachian folk songs, and God only knows what Andrew W.K. might do…and there may be others. It’s an inexpensive way to get a taste of the festival, but seating will be very limited.
Dirty Projectors
The Dirty Projectors / DJ/rupture / William Basinski
Saturday afternoon, March 27, 2pm, Tennessee Theatre
The Dirty Projectors somehow combine the classic soul (think Al Green and Marvin Gaye), classic rock (think both Led Zeppelin and Jackson Browne), some hot African pop (like King Sunny Ade), with a complex 2 female/1 male vocal front line, into a wonderfully fun and completely original sound that somehow works beautifully. The show will open with William Basinski’s fascinating forays into decaying sound and the invigorating Third-World grooves of the inimitable DJ/rupture.
Brian Eno’s Music for Airports (performed by Bang On A Can All-Stars) / The Books / Tim Hecker
Sunday afternoon, March 28, 1pm, Tennessee Theatre
This program will feature Brian Eno’s legendary ambient work, as orchestrated for Bang On A Can, in a version thoroughly loved by Eno himself. The program will also feature The Books, rumored to be one of Mr. Eno’s very favorite bands (and one of mine, too!) along with a new master of electronic ambient music, Tim Hecker.
FOUR RARE, EXTRAORDINARY, and VERY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE ONE OF THE GREAT ARTISTS OF THE PAST CENTURY:
Terry Riley
I can’t say enough about Terry Riley and having him participate in this festival is a dream come true. Having been a fan for 40 years, I kind of have to pinch myself. The word can be overused, but he’s every bit the legend and influence that John Coltrane, Miles Davis, or John Lennon is. Built on pulsating, hypnotic structures, his music literally redirected the music of the latter 20th Century. It was felt everywhere. In classical music, but also in rock. It’s hard to imagine that an album like Dark Side of the Moon would have ever been created without his influence. It would certainly have sounded much different. You should read a bit about him on the Big Ears website if you don’t already know him.
TERRY RILEY QUARTET with Gyan Riley, Tracy Silverman, and Ches Smith
Friday, March 26, 7pm, Bijou Theatre
I saw Terry perform with this group in New York last fall. It was wonderful…very jazzy…almost like an acoustic Mahavishnu Orchestra or even alluding to McCoy Tyner and the great John Coltrane Quartet…but still retaining all of the essential elements of Terry’s greatest work.
TERRY RILEY – PIPE ORGAN SOLO PERFORMANCE
Saturday, March 27, 9pm, Cox Auditorium (UT Campus)
This will be momentous. Terry will perform on the incredible Pipe Organ at UT’s Cox Auditorium…performing the program that he was commissioned by the LA Philharmonic to present to christen the amazing Pipe Organ at Disney Hall. This is a first outside of Los Angeles.
TERRY RILEY’S IN C (performed by Bang On A Can All-Stars and others)
Plus
TERRY RILEY’S “AUTODREAMOGRAPHICAL TALES”
Saturday, March 27, Midnight, Tennessee Theatre
This will be an all-star cast of artists from the Big Ears weekend performing Terry’s most famous piece, “one of the true masterpieces of the 20th Century” – In C. You may have read about the triumphant performance at Carnegie Hall back in April. We hope to exceed those lofty heights!
Also, Terry and Bang On A Can will present his new work, “Autodreamographical Tales,” for only the third time ever. It’s a whimsical and often funny work where Terry tells stories based on his dreams.
This is the ultimate midnight show EVER!
TERRY RILEY’S “CADENZA ON THE NIGHT PLAIN” (performed by the Calder Quartet)…Plus
TERRY RILEY SOLO PIANO
Sunday, March 28, 7pm, Bijou Theatre
Perhaps the most straightforward “classical” presentation of Terry’s work during the weekend, this program will include his beautiful string quartet, “Cadenza on the Night Plain”, which I first experienced at UT Music Hall in the early 1980s, performed by Kronos Quartet. It was one of those moments when time stood still. Stunningly beautiful music. Terry will also perform some of his solo work.
The opportunity to see Terry Riley outside of the West Coast, New York City, or Europe is very rare. I hope you’ll take advantage of it. We’re also helping to celebrate Terry’s 75th Birthday Year during Big Ears. Join us!
Ashley