Articles by Dylan McGuire
Fieldwork: Philadelphia, March 12, 2011
by Dylan McGuire
Fieldwork Christ Church Neighborhood House TheatrePhiladelphia, PAMarch 12, 2011 To describe the music of avant-garde jazz trio Fieldwork--featuring polymath/pianist Vijay Iyer, drummer Tyshawn Sorey and saxophonist Steve Lehman--as complex may be an understatement as broad as the group's dedication to exploring the far reaches of harmony, ensemble dynamics, and the physical capabilities of their traditional acoustic instruments. Fieldwork's ability to take a single, stark musical passage and build it and twist and transform it until ...
Continue ReadingDave Holland Big Band: Philadelphia, December 11, 2010
by Dylan McGuire
Dave Holland Big BandPainted Bride Art CenterPhiladelphia, PADecember 11, 2010 Bassist and jazz music legend Dave Holland says he is a believer in the communal spirit of music and, judging by the scope of talent in his Big Band--as well as the enthusiastic capacity crowd at his shows at the Painted Bride Arts Center in Philadelphia on Dec. 11--the community is happy to embrace his vision.Although it only makes a few appearances ...
Continue ReadingDave Holland: Passing the Torch
by Dylan McGuire
Standing onstage in the auditorium of the Philadelphia School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), a lanky, grey-haired gentleman stands by the piano, directing a small group of student musicians playing Herbie Hancock's “Cantaloupe Island." He stops the song during the trumpet solo and says to the student in a British accent, “Did you listen to the recording?" The student looks at his feet and replies, “No." “You always have to listen to the ...
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