Today the first day of summer also was Make Music New York, where musicians spread out throughout the entire city and burst into songs, jams, and noise. I took part in the New York premiere of Mauricio Kagel's Eine Brise for 111 bicyclists sponsored by Red Light New Music. Cornelia Street was closed down and all 111 bikes (well, really about 30 of us) rode down the street ringing bells, whistling, and making various (prescribed) sounds. It was a lot of fun, although very short (less than a minute). In fact once we got to the end of Cornelia Street, we all turned around and had an impromptu encore performance going back the way we came! 

There were a number of video takers so when the video is up I'll post a link to it. But here are a few shots as we were gathering before the performance.

POSTED BY NUMINOUS AT 7:30 PM 

On Monday John Turturro screened his film Passione at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) as a fundraiser for the school I teach at P.S. 321 (THANKS JOHN!!!). The film, which he directs, is a heartfelt tribute, a musilogue if you will, through Naples, Italy. John described it at the fundraiser as a sort of "Italian 'Buena Vista Social Club'" and there are some similarities between the two films (GREAT music and personalities). However most people in the States probably have little knowledge of Neapolitan music going in, whereas Cuban music is more widely known.Personally, I knew very little about the music of Naples before seeing the film and must say was quite impressed with the mixed music tendencies inherent in the influences; music from the Middle East, Spain, reggae, Catalan, America, and more all meet in a culture of miscegenation. It was an ear-opening experience and when the film is released in the States on June 22, I would suggest GO-SEE-IT!

POSTED BY NUMINOUS AT 12:56 AM