JAZZ GUNTER SOMMER CCA, Glasgow, Wed 23 Mar
The combined efforts of the Glasgow lmprovisers Orchestra and the Centre for Contemporary Arts have brought about a remarkable growth in interest in that most arcane, and maligned, of all jazz’s diverse genres - free improvisation. The latest chapter in that collaboration will see the German percussionist Gunter ‘Baby’ Sommer work with the GIO in workshops, culminating in this solo performance.
Sommer is a well known performer on the European free improv scene, both through his trio with Conrad Bauer and the late Peter Kowald, and in collaborations with the likes of pianist Cecil Taylor and trumpeter Wadado Leo Smith, as well as many of the main figures in UK improv circles.
He is also professor for drums and percussion at the Music Academy in Dresden, and visits Scotland as part of ‘Saxony in the UK’, a project supported by the Ministry of Culture in Dresden and Goethe Institute in Glasgow. Graham Mackenzie, the director of the CCA, used that connection to good effect.
‘Contact with Gunter came about through my being asked by the Goethe Institute to develop a music project with Dresden/Leipzig. I remembered that some time ago CCA had screened a short film called ‘A Place in Berlin’ which featured Gunter and saxophonist Deitmar Deisner performing a day- long concert in front of the monuments of Marx and Engels in East Berlin. I knew that Giinter was now based in Dresden and therefore he was my starting point.’
The film will be screened again at CCA on 24 March, with an introduction and Q&A session with Sommer. Saxophonist Raymond MacDonald explained what will be happening from GlO’s perspective.
‘The orchestra will have three days of workshops with Giinter this time. That is a step towards a week-long phase of the project in September, when he will return with ten German musicians for a series of collaborative concerts with us, at least one of which will involve 31 musicians. In 2006 it is hoped that GIO will travel to Germany and perform in Dresden, Munich and Berlin.’ (Kenny Mathieson)
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This rSSue: Queens of N0rze
A girl who follows bands around with a wonying passion is a groupie. But a girl who follows bands about with a worrying passion and plays a few records at their gigs is a Queen of Noize. Mairead and Tabitha might have an entire section of their website dedicated to photos of them with famous types (and Mark Owen), but Edinburgh-born Tabitha tells us why they’re stars in their own
HARABLIN’ JACK ELLIOT
Pleasance Cabaret Bar, Thu 17 feb .00..
"Just sa'. t'ie cords. the std". play a little guitar‘ That's Rimlilir“ Jack's advice. and he's been to can) it for years The son of a Nev. \om doctor he ran awa‘. with a 'OJU.‘ it " :2 late teens. met and torri‘ed a hunt with Wood. Guthrie, and became ttit- cowboy myth that =ong tasftriatea "il'l‘ He's a professional entertainer ‘.'.’to enraotures as a 'husker'. Or. “faul‘t‘. it's the other way around. He points out that the v.ord husker derives Tltl'l‘ the Spanish. ‘busguer' ~ to search lle desires movement. SLXX‘IlK‘ilH‘, trains. boats. trucks and horses 'I like liati horses. Anybody can get along ‘.‘.‘lll‘. .l nice horse.‘ He's always searching for moments, and he makes you feel liki- you've iust stumbled across one too His repertoire of songs is huge. and suggests a comriiunity of words and melodies shared by all and sundry. Songs Sung fOr the” own sake. Tonight's rendition of Dylan's ‘Don't Think TWice, it's Alright' is dark. deep and electrifying. 'Ballad of the South Coast' induces nostalgia for a world you never experienced. But neither had Ramblin' Jack Elliot when he set out. and his early distance from a life he felt connected wrth is partly why he and his stories are so affecting. He is also very funny. ln Johnny Cash's words: ‘For every mile behind him. there's a friend and a song.‘
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ROCK CLAYHILL AND THE
TENDERFOOT King Tut’s, Glasgow, Sat 5 Mar
Forming after fistiCLifts at a car boot sale over a copy of the Modern Lovers' first album is a st0ry the grandchildren of the Tendertoot wrll no doubt be hearing in years to come. but their sound owes as much to Teenage Fanclub. the Bluetones and even Athlete as to Mr Richman himself. Slightly ott-krlter and occasionally COLiritry-tinged the navel
get sent stlit‘i, but ; gigs’ It's iriiiiortant to New to". I,‘ 3%.“. a“: 1/: excited by l‘tUSlC.
And are you aiming to becoming pop stars with your new single (‘lndie Boys Don’t Deserve lt’)?
No? 'laughs. It's Just uu'r‘et‘ni'g
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The Goat. Glasgow, Sun 27 Feb 0...
It may onl. haw" liven HH‘lll'W) t »r i couple ol llltlllll‘i». rl'l'l thwiw': lillll-l, room to fi‘.'.’|llt_l ii thi‘llrll iii thw tin, stage area. lllll thin l-w llll.‘,ll llltllil I‘, already attiar‘ting .i utitiutaiitial it section of the West of 55m itlanrl lllll‘m scene lhat it's lit istr‘d ll. (Zli.irlii; illl'l Neil tioin Astrid and the Heiiirlw" Section should rim.- a iiiwtf, riot ill |ll(ll(l£lll()ll of it", higher iiir ifllt.‘ 't‘i wit guests; [.ugenw Kelli, l‘. even on llllllil on riii><ing desk (lllll‘r‘; Milw l‘i.iili,-, lays down the .iauntliet with [)illllltfl‘. Rice-esgue robust at,oiisti<,.'i. it ill it: by the inesinerisingi, riteandeririti alteountr‘, ot the z/eri'lJN .Jeriri, Reeve is up next. all delicate haiiiionies and aceiliir, lynmr )illi it", Cold Night Song thernselmt; rounding the evening off that really lllllltl‘i the crowded put» to life, l)£l,lllf} a linet homage to their
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What do our female readers have to do to emulate your deckswoman success?
Well. we never nad a iiiarz. .ve .‘xe'e lint "in": slabdash and interestirg than some have i' It“: (:Orner As far as finding 'l‘ilifi“, gut-u. aliuwinl, .'.'e
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You’re at least as famous as most of the bands you DJ with. How did playing records get you so far’?
The first time we DJed together it went don-m reall, well, despite Our lack of ‘technical knowledge. But Our thing is to make DJing more of a live experience. We Jump ar0und. we get oeoole up On stage. because being dart lS what comes naturally to us.
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I Queens Of Home May the J/rri Bear/i Mot/C Tour 2005 along With the Ravecriertes, Dogs and the Boxer Hebe/hon at the Venue. Edinburgh, Mon 28 Mar; King Tut's, Glasgow. Tue 29 Mar.
‘ 13' '.‘I:' [/5 THE LIST 73