New Music

The 20th century is over. Rock n roll has legs, but nothin' compared to the blues. "Independent artists" selling through YouTube and CD Baby are replacing the monolithic music factories, or at least competing with them.

The hippie movement in San Francisco ended in Autumn of 1967, crushed by the influx of strangers attracted by media exploitation. The following 40 year reign of the culture thieves interrupted the natural evolution of popular music, but the river runs deep.

The blues has defied the money-changers, along with other indigenous forms. Some genres are too new to be recognized as indigenous, but avant garde, free jazz, hip-hop and poetry transmuted to rap are hardy survivors if not wildly popular.

Steeped in blackness and free-thinking, longing for the excitement that surrounded every new release by Miles, or Little Richard "back in the day" and tired of the long run of the over-amped guitar, my soul longs for new expression.

Shifting focus from learning repertoire to divination of the underlying principles of harmonic music, I was fortunate to experience a year of Saturday nights as horn man with the wonderful trios provided by Dennis Kong (bass) and Walter Hern (drums) at the Dogpatch Saloon in San Francisco. This has come to an end, but our musical dialogue with Don Alberts, Nora Maki, Mitch Schrift, Aaron Thompson, Ben Anjo -- what a joy -- and what a workshop opportunity.

Now, to satisfy my soul, and staying in tune with the times, I'll concentrate on new music for the 21st century. Engaging in artistic partnership with remarkable artist, drummer, percussionist, spirit woman Carmen Baraka as The Barakas will be my main sonic pursuit going forward. We'll report our accomplishments rather than waste time and typography on planning and projections.

But to give some indication of where The Barakas (and other avenues) might be going, we will be creating new genres of music as proper vehicles for the blending of forms and the irrepressible urgency of creativity and expression previously denied. “An artist is never ahead of his time but most people are far behind theirs.” --Edgard Varese as quoted by Frank Zappa. Blue Train

One new genre, lacking a descriptive name at the moment, will be characterized by use of a percussion ensemble with only one harmonic instrument. Carmen and I debuted the concept at her Bach, Dancing and Dynamite Society birthday party in 1988. We're now able to devote some time to developing the idea.

The Barakas will also use our own recorded loops as a springboard into free jazz improvisation. As an example, we'll be able to start with an R&B groove and let it morph into a sonic painting that will capture the moment rather than seeking nostalgia or familiar recognition from the listener. If you like a good audible challenge, we're gonna give it to ya!

I've said too much already, better to get on with the activity...