Inside Vipassana #8: Voices Carry, part two with Amy Cervini and Wendy Gilles

Here's part two of the interview with the singers of Vipassana, this time featuring Amy Cervini and Wendy Gilles. Part one (October 22, 2009) discussed the background of how voices came to be on Vipassana as well as interviews with Julie Hardy and Sara Serpa.

Amy Cervini

photo by Melanie Einzig

What challenges does Vipassana pose for you as singers? Have you sung anything like it before?
As a vocalist, I rarely get the chance to sing such challenging music especially with other vocalists.  The concept of large ensemble with 5 singers is something I’ve never been a part of before.  I imagine that it is more a classical music concept but I welcome the opportunity.  It is fun and challenging.

What are you feeling when you sing Vipassana?
The first few times I sang Vipassana I was concentrating intensely and not able to experience the performance outside of my part in it.  Over the years, as I become more confident I’m able to listen to what’s happening around me and that is the magic of this piece.  The sections that groove have become really fun to sing.  I find myself dancing and getting lost in the music instead of focusing intently on each note or phrase.  It really can become a meditative experience for me.  There are still sections that require my absolute focus but I’m finding more and more moments to lie in the music.

What do you like about Vipassana?
I really enjoy being part of a large ensemble and as a vocalist I rarely get that opportunity.  It’s such a pleasure to be one small piece of the larger puzzle.  As a vocalist I’m more often than not the band leader or front and center on stage.  Being a part of this allows me to flex different muscles and make music in a different way. 

What do you find beautiful (or where do you find beauty)?
The most awe inspiring moments of beauty for me involve water.  I am very strongly attracted to water and find myself lost in the beauty of water and it’s surroundings every time I’m near it.  It gives me a sense of peace that I haven’t found in any other experience.

Who are your musician heroes?
I have a lot of musician role models but right now I’m really into Matt Wilson. As a human, as a musician, as a business man.  Full disclosure: I’m working with him as his manager right now.  I think that says even more about my admiration for him.  He’s positive, he has ridiculous chops and I’ve never had more fun making music or working with anyone.

If you could watch a summer sunset anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?
Tel-Aviv.  The ocean in Tel-Aviv is the most enchanting place in the world for me right now.  I visit at least once a year and am transfixed by the sea every time.

What is a book(s) that have inspired you?
There have been many books that inspired me but I often find myself going back to things that I learned in The Little Prince [by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry].  “It is also lonely among men.” This quote comforted me in times when I felt like an alien in my surroundings.  It also made me realize that somewhere I would find my “people.”  I have been very lucky to find many of these people in the community of musicians in NYC.

When was the last time you had that numinous feeling about something?
I converted to Judaism earlier this year for what I thought to be very practical reasons, not much more. I was surprised to experience the deep emotions when I experienced the conversion ceremony. The Rabbi performing the ceremony is a deeply moving, intelligent and spiritual man who had a great impact on me and helped to make the moment so important and deep.  

Tell us something fun or interesting about you that most people wouldn't know or suspect?
I was a very serious classical pianist until I was 18 and was a jazz saxophone major in college. 

What's next up for you in your own music career?
My new record, Lovefool will be released on November 3, 2009.  We’re have some East Coast gigs in December — Jazz Standard, NYC, December 8, The Lily Pad, Boston, December 10, Firehouse 12, New Haven, December 11.  I’m really excited about this record and can’t wait to start sharing it!

www.amycervini.com

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Wendy Gilles

photo by Gretchen Parlato

What challenges does Vipassana pose for you as singers? Have you sung anything like it before?
Vipassana is not completely unlike some of the more contemporary big band music I've sung. Sometimes finding your pitch is difficult--even counterintuitive--and you have to be very focused to keep track of where your entrances are, and from which instrument you should take your cue. Where it is different, is that I think Joe uses the voices more texturally than just melodically. We often reinforce, and sometimes represent the rhythmic patterns he's trying to bring out, and using sprechstimme-like techniques creates a texture and atmosphere you usually hear within the contemporary Classical realm.

What are you feeling when you sing Vipassana?
As focused as it is possible to be. The patterns in the movements are meditative and repetitive, so I am counting like crazy to avoid getting lost along the way.

What do you like about Vipassana?
There are some really beautiful moments, and I always enjoy singing in ensemble with other voices. 

If you could watch a summer sunset anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?
I haven't been able to travel much, so I can only imagine that the sunsets in New Zealand would be spectacular. However, my favorite place to see the sunset is my hometown in Eastern Washington state. It's a desert climate, so the hills are low, and you can see for miles. Being able to actually experience the vastness of the open sky is a beautiful and humbling thing. Sunsets stretch for miles, and last for much longer, since there's no obstruction to the view. I miss that a lot. 

What's next up for you in your own music career?
My goals at the moment are to play more often, and to make a recording. Funds are scarce, so that's something that has been sorely neglected. 

www.wendygilles.com

Check back soon for more insider tidbits about Vipassana and those that make the music!

Numinous performs Vipassana
Wednesday October 28, 2009 8 PM (one set only)
$10  
Brooklyn Lyceum
227 4th Avenue
Park Slope
Take the M, R Train to Union Street

POSTED BY NUMINOUS AT 10:05 AM

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