after work today i cycled by the river for a litle while, it was a beautiful if cold day and the thames path was pretty busy, my camera ran out of batteries as i was doing a bit of filming for one of my projects so i didn't go on to take advantage of the amazing light as i might have done...
this was around 3pm and i don't know exactly but this whale would have been in the thames at that time... i didn't see him/her but i'm pleased that i was on the river today...
went out with uncle filmo last night to the redrose, very close to my house, to see han bennink, the dutch improvising drummer...
the redrose was packed, i have never seen an improv gig with an audience like that, for the first 5 minutes of so after i arrived i was wedged into a crowd just a meter from the door...
improv events are normally very poorly attended, it's not a big scene, but then he's a big name, and there was some drum'n'bass link-up apparently, springheel jack were putting on the night... not that i know who they are...
when i arrived he was doing a solo piece, i wish i'd got there earlier as this was pure gold... wonderful playing, inventive...
after the break he was joined on stage by a host of players, including AW who is one of my apprentices for the improv workshops i teach... great sax player, fiery, quite scary at times...
but there were too many of them and it didn't work at first, not like the immediate, visceral stuff of the first half, after a bit of playing they found some interesting places but i would have preferred to see some smaller groups, duo's ideally...
han bennink himself had just got back from america where it appears he was involved in some education work, there were photo-copies of letters written by students about him on different coloured card/paper... a couple of quotes:
he was the most lively, exciting, amazing drummer i've heard live or on recording. it was the most inspirational art experience i've ever had...
to me, han truly was an inspiration through his incredibles sense of unrestrained, unlimited, free expression. i have never encountered someone who lets their energy flow loose like han's does...
tell it like it is school kids...
oh and i've been working out some ideas i've had for awhile about the i-ching and musical scales over on deoxy, in response to something someone posted about the guitarist pat martino... interesting to put it down these kind of thoughts...
going out tonight's to see filmo and bo, who's coming over to his, also where that beatiful piano lives... also where my landlord lives...
x
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