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| P2 At Albany Again |
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| :: Posted by Sid Smith on Mon., Feb 20, 2012 |
My thanks to J Eric Smith for sending in this marvelous review of P2 playing Albany. You can hear the gig that Eric is writing about here.
Eric writes "I was a music critic (for better or worse) in Albany, New York for many years. My wife and I recently relocated to Des Moines, Iowa, and as part of launching a web presence in my new home community, I have been reviewing old archives of my work for items that might lend themselves to new purposes. I found a ProjeKCt Two live review (copied below) while digging through old floppy discs and files, and thought I would share it here, since I have not seen many other formal newsprint reviews from that era posted here. It was a lovely show, one that I still cite as one of my all-time favorite live performances.
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ProjeKct Two
Valentine’s Music Hall, Albany, New York, May 8, 1998
Copyright 1998, J. Eric Smith (Originally appeared in Metroland, The Alternative Newsweekly of Northeastern New York)
"OK, now we’ve played everything we don’t know,so we can play something that we actually do know," announced electronic drummer Adrian Belew at the end of ProjeKct Two’s second all-instrumental, all-improvised set. Belew, 10-string Warr guitarist Trey Gunn and electric six-string guitarist Robert Fripp then encored with King Crimson’s "Vrooom," an angular number originally created by Fripp, Belew, Gunn and their Crimson bandmates Tony Levin, Bill Bruford and Pat Mastelotto.
As nice as it was to hear "Vrooom," the true value of the encore was to place the evening’s improvisational extravaganza in context by providing a single sample of how ProjeKct Two sounded when tackling a fully developed and structured instrumental piece. Frankly speaking, the encore paled in comparison to the 90 minutes of music preceding it, as its rehearsed complexities and nuances were nowhere near as impressive as the knotty, towering sound collages that ProjeKct Two created on the fly as the rapt audience watched and listened.
Fripp, Belew and Gunn were watching and listening to each other as well, and much of the thrill of this concert came from witnessing the interactions between these deeply talented musicians who have played together long enough to anticipate each other’s thoughts, sometimes before they eve realize that they’ve had them. Belew or Fripp typically opened each number with a drum or guitar pattern that the other musicians would would investigate, mount and ride, sometimes to loud and uplifting summits, sometimes to quiet, scary grottoes, sometimes back to the point at which they started. It was actually harrowing to experience in many cases, as the trio careened just on this side of control as they rode, the looks on their faces indicating that it was just as thrilling (and frightening) for them as it was their audience.
As important as technical prowess was to the concert’s success, mention must also be made of ProjeKct Two’s technological proficiancy. Belew was playing the latest generation of Roland virtual drums, allowing him to create a seemingly infinite number of sonic assaults as he clattered and rattled along with a look-Ma-I’ve-got drums grin on his face. (Understandable, given that he’s normally a guitarist.) Gunn matched Belew’s rhythmic and textural intensity as he tapped, stroked and and beat the touchboard of his Warr guitar.
Fripp spun out any number of his trademark spine-tingling sustained guitar lines but also used the treatment technology he has developed over the years via his Soundscape and Frippertronic performance experiments to create a wealth of tones and intonations. At times, the bands’ sounds were so far skewed from what your eyes were reporting to your brain that it was almost psychologically easier to look at the floor and imagine that Fripp was playing cluster chords on some beaten-up jazz-hall piano while Gunn blew on a baritone sax and Belew kept time by tapping on whisky bottles and ashtrays. Crazy, man, crazy.
All told, ProjeKct Two’s concert was a magnificent one, and I must confess to feeling great relief in being able to report that. Why? Because Robert Fripp’s written and recorded works have done more to shape both how I listen to and how I think about music than have any other artist’s over the last two decades, although I never actually stood in the same space with Fripp until last Friday. So imagine the potential for debilitating disappointment at this show, and then imagine the transcendent relief and joy when it didn’t come to pass. It literally moved me to tears. And how often can a wordless concert do that?"
More news
Displaying 4135 items (Viewing 331 to 340 of 4135)
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Mister Stormy's Monday Selection
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Mon., Jul 9, 2012
A fantastic fly-on-the-wall recording from the 1997 writing sessions in which Robert Fripp unveils what would later become FraKctured. If you've ever wondered how a KC writing session worked out, well, now's your chance to hear a full 15 minutes worth - warts and all.
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Trey Plays Pete
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Mon., Jul 9, 2012
Trey Gunn is taking part in a tribute concert to Peter Gabriel's music in New York next month. Find out more details here.
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Vote For Fripp & Crimson
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Mon., Jul 9, 2012
Robert Fripp and the 40th Anniversary Edition series of King Crimson reissues have been nominated in separate categories at the Progressive Music Awards scheduled to take place in London in September. Hosted by Prog magazine (formerly known as Classic Rock Presents Prog), Robert Fripp is one of the nominees in the Guiding Light category. The 40th Anniversary Editions are also nominated in the Grand Design section. You can voice your support by popping over the the website and start voting.
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Minor To Major
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Sun., Jul 8, 2012
Robert Fripp was in London on Friday, one of the speakers at a panel discussing the current state in the music industry as it relates to the independent label sector.
Organised by AIM (the Association of Independent Music), the panel also included Martin Mills of Beggars, John Dyer of Domino, Peter Quicke of Ninja Tune.
Fripp spoke for around 20 minutes and, as can be seen from some of these tweets, evidently struck a chord with some of the conference’s participants.
@AIM_UK 'I don't know when I'll get paid. I don't know if I'll get paid.' Robert Fripp on the ethics of majors. #IndieCon
@Redkez Robert fripp: when we lose trust in our artists, society is dying #IndieCon
@AIM_UK I would not seek to become a professional musician if I was starting my career now - Robert Fripp #IndieCon
@HarryJIrving In the presence of Robert Fripp... a true legend #indiecon #bowie
@Rogboy Bob Fripp likens Majors vs Indie labels to Godzilla vs Bambi....its all over in 15 seconds as a large hairy foot descends #indiecon
@patfulgoni Amazing robert fripp telling folk how it is at #indiecon @aim_uk
@aAndyPatterson Robert Fripp at #indiecon amazing. The real deal.
@lucy_keys Robert Fripp definitely deserves a standing ovation after this talk #indiecon #universalbidforEMI
@yeahpod Robert Fripp very inspirational at #indiecon
@TouchTwoRecords Very insightful stuff from 'Don't you just love the majors?' Martin Mills and Robert Fripp, you absolute legends. #indiecon
#bambivsgodzilla
@snavenai #indieconRobert Fripp does know his stuff at Indie Con. Really good advice I'd say
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Keeling Reviewed
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Sun., Jul 8, 2012
Andrew Keeling's new album Unquiet Earth, received some words of praise in The Independent on Friday.
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Travis & Fripp: Discretion Required
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Fri., Jul 6, 2012
There's a new album by Travis & Fripp exclusively available via the esteemed audio company, Bowers & Wilkins. Discretion is taken from live performances in Europe including their take on King Crimson's Power To Believe theme. Check out the website for details.
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And The Winner Is...
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Fri., Jul 6, 2012
Congratulations to Alan Warren of the splendidly named Lake Hiawatha in New Jersey. Because Alan was able to tell me that the name of Andrew Keeling's most recent collaboration with Robert Fripp was called The Wine Of Silence, he wins a copy of Bells Of Heaven by Andrew. Thanks to everyone who took part and stay tuned for another competition.
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Vote Crimson
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Thu., Jul 5, 2012
Robert Fripp and the 40th Anniversary Edition series of King Crimson reissues have been nominated in separate categories at the Progressive Music Awards scheduled to take place in London in September. Hosted by Prog magazine (formerly known as Classic Rock Presents Prog), Robert Fripp is one of the nominees in the Guiding Light category. The 40th Anniversary Editions are also nominated in the Grand Design section. You can voice your support by popping over the the website and start voting.
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KC Covered By Scrap Metal
:: Posted by Sid Smith on Wed., Jul 4, 2012
My thanks to Spiegel for this heads-up about Deep Schrott (their name means scrap metal) who are described as the only bass saxophone quartet in the universe! Their debut album contains a medley of King Crimson tunes that includes Court and Red.
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