Bliss Out to Modern Masters Glenn Branca, La Monte Young, and Steve Reich

September 1, 2016 By Daniel Maurer

This fall, fans of modern classical music will basically be rolling in a sonic leaf pile, as three modern masters make the scene.

Glenn Branca Symphonies, at the Red Bull Music Academy Festival.

Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca– whose sprawling guitar symphonies were a big influence on early Sonic Youth, among others– once collaborated with David Bowie on an audio-visual installation, as he mentioned during his 65th birthday celebration a few years ago and reminded us during his recent appearance a the Red Bull Music Academy festival. To honor his “hero,” Branca is debuting a new work, “The Light (for David),” at Roulette on Oct. 8 (advance tickets are $25-$30). He’ll also unleash a revised version of “The Third Ascension,” a followup to 1981’s acclaimed “The Ascension” that made its US premiere at The Kitchen in February. Bring earplugs, cuz Branca’s work can be ear-shattering and mind-melting.

Tags: Arts + Culture, carnegie hall, dream house, la monte young, Red Bull Music Academy, roulette, steve reich, symphony space, The Kitchen

news No Comments

The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith Will Bop You and Floor You

November 12, 2015 By Daniel Maurer

W. Eugene Smith, (self-portrait at Loft window). (c) The Heirs of W. Eugene Smith.

“I caught the tail end of when New York was cool,” said a woman waiting in line to watch movies with Shia LaBeouf this morning.

Should she want to relive those days, she might want to forget about #AllMyMovies and catch The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith, showing Friday and Monday as part of the DOC NYC festival. The documentary by Sara Fishko is an offshoot of her “Jazz Loft Radio Series,” a 10-part WNYC production that unboxed the audio recordings that legendary photographer W. Eugene Smith made while sharing his Chelsea loft with some of the jazz greats of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. Her new documentary adds a visual element, sharing some of the thousands of photos that Smith took of the loft’s habitués, from Thelonius Monk to Salvador Dali to Warhol’s Ultra Violet, and the street life below.

Tags: chelsea, jazz, steve reich, the jazz loft according to w. eugene smith, thelonious monk, w. eugene smith, zoot sims