I am excited about an opportunity to play soundscape in a coffee shop in Carrboro NC next Saturday night. TJ Goode and empty sound were scheduled to play at the Open Eye Cafe on February 7th, and I was going! Then TJ said they couldn’t do it and did I want to? And I said “yes” because Rob Brezsny’s Leo horoscope said to “do things before you are ready”. I let the day seize me! Once I committed, I am up at 4 am working on ideas in Ableton Live. I have three hours to play, so I want to do something languid and calming with an underlying energy. I am really thinking about a sound painting that will evolve over time. And I know exactly what I want to play.

In the early 1980s one album, one sound held me rapt in wonder and that was the album Caverna Magica. Andreas Vollenweider’s whimsical, sensual, joyful journey deep into a magic cave was a whole world to me. Furtive and fun, Caverna Magica
begins with two people whispering and laughing as they enter a sea cave where you hear the bloup, bloup, bloup of water. This is a moist place. I want to play with a soundscape reminiscent of Vollenweider and Caverna Magica.

Luckliy, I have started a Live Set of Vollenweider sounds, including two mallets, one percussion, two chimes, some absolutely beautiful strings, and that plucked samisen that I love so much. There is alot to play with here. I have some simple themes in D Dorian mode and I can vocalize and play the bowed psaltry as well. I have written several solos for the mallets and strings that I am finding very heart-wrending. The pleasure of longing returns. Here is a sample of the strings and the samisen with a little bass and tweaked high-hat:

Suzanne Romey is going to play flute and toy piano with me. She has a new Balinese flute that she is wanting to try. So if you are in Carrboro Saturday night, stop by and give us a listen. We will be painting the room with sound.

8 pm to 11 pm

Open Eye Cafe
openeyecafe.com/
Carrboro, NC