Zen Jazz, free improvisation, music without rules!
Kansas City’s tradition of jazz innovation continues with the amazing
~ RIVER COW ORCHESTRA ~
Zen Jazz... Every song is created on the spot,
without charts, dubs, retakes, or written music.
Abstract enough for you?
River Cow Orchestra takes a Zen approach to creating music.
Creating spontaneous music that will never be heard again, anywhere.
River Cow Orchestra sets the music free.
We welcome you to experience stimulating MOO-sic.
~ RIVER COW ORCHESTRA ~ free the music!
“The best song in the world, right now this morning (3-07-10) is… “Investment Bankers”
by the River Cow Orchestra. Kansas City outfit. I just heard about them yesterday and I’m
digging their chill.”
Jack Pribek - Snake Oil - music web blog
“That approach (River Cow Orchestra's) was what Kansas City was once famous for – jazz
musicians who cut new ground – or hoped to – each time they played.”
David Knopf - Richmond Daily News
“Ah yes, …improv at its best. To classify the sound as jazz – where most (of their band)
members have a lot of experience – would be too limiting. The improvisation created newer
and deeper textures.”
Cory Streeter - The Kansas City Star newspaper
“They create very open and wide structures and take time to develop things. This results in
very captivating music that is never in a hurry and working very consequent to its goal.”
Dolf Mulder - Vital Weekly, Netherlands
“River Cow Orchestra takes free form jazz and turns it into an experience that delights not
only the ears, but the eyes—and the mind as well. As the orchestra begins each piece, it
invites the audience to join an original journey, one that begins only in that moment and
ends vibrantly but only with a memory, because that exact performance will neither be
seen nor heard again. Members of the audience listen as the sounds build and blend and
excite. They watch as colors swirl and flow and energize. They feel the mood as it mellows
and then bellows. Then, the audience leaves with a smile, because they’ve been not to a
concert but to an event. ”
Sara D. Seidel Vice President, Friends of the Farris Theater Richmond, Missouri - Letter to
the Kansas Arts Commission Touring Roster
“And then the music began to fill the air that Saturday evening. I felt as if I was being
transported through time – to a different era, the era of Jazz clubs; where Jazz was truly
the “music of the streets”; where Jazz was truly alive. I imagined hearing Louis Armstrong
playing away on his trumpet while Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holiday scatted along with him.
The music flowed so seamlessly, that it was hard to tell when one song ended and when
another one began! But the greatest surprise was learning that ALL of the music that was
played that night was 100% improvised! ”
Jenny Gray - Performance Review (Music 116-PVCC KC, MO)
“I sincerely believe this is the best creative venture I've ever heard from a midwestern
group of cows & give it my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, as well as the “PICK” of this
issue for “best creative jazz”! ”
Rotcod Zzaj - Zzai Productions - Improvijazzation Nation
“River Cow Orchestra's philosophy is to explore the process of artistic improvisation rather
than focus on creating a music product for entertainment. “We emphasize musical mood
and place an aesthetic premium on the character and personality of each musician rather
than the technical skill of each individual.” Do not be fooled by the modesty of this
statement for each player is high-level musician with the skill of a Zen master.
I was overjoyed and impressed by River Cow Orchestra's performance. It was one of the
best spontaneous musical creations I experienced.”
Nihan Yesil - KCMetropolis.org July 27, 2011
