Vijay Iyer Sextet pictured on stage in the Chapel. Picture by Nidi Garcia. Sometimes concerts fail to live up to the hype, even when the hype is appropriately built by many great records and even a previously seen live show. That was my experience seeing Vijay Iyer and his sextet perform in Lawrence Memorial Chapel…
Meditations on Music: Ryan Keberle and Catharsis
Guest artist Ryan Keberle playing trombone on stage. Photo by Taylor Blackson. The group Catharsis is trombonist Ryan Keberle’s vehicle for his compositions and distinctly arranged covers that dip in and out of jazz roots to bring together other traditions, echoing the leader’s background of playing with musicians such as Sufjan Stevens and Maria Schneider.…
Meditations on Music: Mike Truesdell
Percussionist Mike Truesdell performs in Harper Hall. Photo by Marieke de Koker. Percussionist Mike Truesdell ’07 made a return to his alma mater this past Friday with a performance that was succinctly and sensitively programmed, while also displaying his broad ranges of technique, approach and artistry. While most of the audience was made up of…
Meditations on Music: Yo La Tengo
Live at Thalia Hall, March 30 This show further solidified Yo La Tengo as a sensitive band that makes late night music, but of course they don’t let that limit them. Their late night music is the stuff you can brood to, the stuff you can experience beauty to, the stuff you can dance…
Meditations on Music: Evan Williams
Performers in Evan Williams’ recital stand onstage in Harper Hall. Photo by Taylor Blackson. It is always a moving experience going to a concert with little to no idea about what it will be like beforehand and leaving fulfilled —ruminating on sounds, their inspirations and what they consequently inspire. This past Sunday, I had this…
Meditations on Music: Laurie Anderson
“How do we begin again?” These were the words that ended Laurie Anderson’s concert this past Friday at the Wisconsin Union Theater in Madison, WI. Coming from the 2010 song “Another Day in America,” off of her album “Homeland,” the lyrics still resonate within today’s climate, a subject of Anderson’s spoken word throughout the night…
Meditations on Music: Nils Frahm and Quin Kirchner
The live music scene here at Lawrence has been quiet, and in an effort to shed some light on music I have been listening to — besides Lawrence-related releases — here are two instrumental albums that I strongly feel will end up in my list of 2018 favorites. And yes, I know it is only…
Meditations on Music: Shed, Ridley, Jason Koth
In lieu of a live review, here is another series of album reviews from Lawrence-affiliated bands. This week features six alumni (two solo acts and one band, with four of its five members being Lawrentians). Like the pairing two weeks ago, this trio of reviews covers a lot of musical ground. Shed’s Demos …
Meditations on Music: Esperanza Spalding’s “Exposure”
Songwriter/bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding has yet again shown how energetic a creator she is. With her sixth album, she has taken a wildly different approach from those she had taken with her previous releases—and wildly different from any other artist, for that matter. Even with 2016’s “Emily’s D+Evolution,” a stark contrast to her jazz roots based…
Meditations on Music: Work Friends and The Burstein Boys
While on break, two entirely different music groups near and dear to my heart released two entirely different EPs. The day after Thanksgiving, jazz rock quintet Work Friends debuted with their eponymous recording. On Christmas Eve, The Burstein Boys, a unique and comical boy band, made available their second recording, “A Very Merry Burstein Boys…