Woodland Pattern™ |
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Alternating Currents Live Archive Alternating Currents Live: Making Sounds Musical |
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Alternating Currents Live presents Marilyn Crispell - piano Thursday, September 16, 7pm 30 Years of Women at Woodland Pattern
Marilyn Crispell discovered jazz through the music of John Coltrane, Cecil Taylor and other contemporary jazz players and composers in the mid 1970s. For ten years she was a member of the Anthony Braxton Quartet and the Reggie Workman Ensemble. She has been a member of the Barry Guy New Orchestra and guest with his London Jazz Composers Orchestra, as well as a member of the Henry Grimes Trio and Quartet Noir (with Urs Leimgruber, Fritz Hauser and Joelle Leandre). She's also performed and recorded music by contemporary composers John Cage, Pauline Oliveros, and Anthony Davis. Most recently she has released several recordings in trio with Paul Motian and Gary Peacock and a solo collection titled Vignettes. This is Marilyn Crispell's fourth visit to Milwaukee and Woodland Pattern Book Center; her third solo appearance in the Alternating Currents Live series. "Hearing Marilyn Crispell play solo piano is like monitoring an active volcano. She is one of a very few pianists who rise to the challenge of free jazz." (Jon Pareles, N.Y. Times) "Her improvisational approach is so personal, so explosive and so devastating that it makes jazz (and most other music) sound like the archaic language of an ancient people. There's also a gentle side that makes even simple melodies seem radiantly beautiful." (Larry Kelp, San Francisco Express)
Two of the high points from the last time I played Woodland Pattern were the workshop I did there, and meeting Menomonee musician Wade Fernandez. I also remember the wonderful drawing of a big purple piano that the son of Wade Fernandez gave me. That drawing is really precious to me. They came downstairs to the "green room" (which is Anne's office) during the break, and gave it to me then. After the concert we sat out in the bookstore and talked about the meanings of Menomonee names. I like to recommend Woodland Pattern to other musicians. Recently, I heard the Alash Ensemble, at a small venue in Woodstock, NY where I live, and overheard the leader of the group say they were going to Wisconsin to visit his family. He also mentioned they had no concerts lined up in Wisconsin. I immediately thought that Woodland Pattern would be a PERFECT venue for them (they are a group of Tuvan musicians who sing and play traditional music, and the leader is an American musician who went to Tuva, fell in love with and married a sheep-herder there. He acts as a kind of master of ceremonies for the group, explaining the meanings of the songs, translating for them, etc.) I told him about Woodland Pattern Book Center, and the next day called Anne to let her know about it. Chuck, the Literary Program Director at Woodland Pattern, did some quick research and figured out how to get in touch with them. Alash ended up playing a concert there to a packed house. I was so happy to have set up the connection between them. Also, the dinners at Anne & Karl's house, where I had the chance to see Anne Kingsbury's exquisitely magical artwork close-up. And the hospitality. I remember the first time I played there we went shopping for wind-up toys. Woodland Pattern is that kind of place, like an extended family. Whenever I'm trying to plan a tour in the Midwest, they are the first people I call, not only because I think they'll want to have me back, but because I want to play there. It's a place that's really dear to my heart. Marilyn Crispell
 This concert is brought to you by the Alternating Currents Live series, broadcast on WMSE (91.7) FM, Milwaukee.
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