| Numinous The Music of Joseph C. Phillips Jr. |
Year 1: 2000
Numinous at 25
1. 2000: The Beginning
#numinous25
#numinousmusic25
The beginning of the year 2000 I went to Japan for the first time. I was there for about 8 days and the food, culture, architecture, and people all made a huge impression. Tokyo, with its big energy and wonderful hidden off-beat treasures, was fun—even visited with a former student who was living and working there at the time. After a few days in the capitol I then rode the shinkansen from Tokyo to the former seat of the imperial court, Kyoto—marveling at the beauty of the Japanese countryside along the way. The wonders of Kyoto (staying in a lovely traditional ryokan; Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺); visiting Gokagai; etc) and the train ride all lead to me writing my piece “To Kyoto” in one week that spring. It has become probably one of my most performed composition to date, existing in multiple versions: from Numinous, to string quartet, to a jazz big band ensemble, to a version for the San Francisco Symphony (thanks to Tyshawn Sorey for programing it back in 2022)
——————--
The first rehearsal of Numinous was about 10-months after that Japan trip—October 5th 2000–and after so much thought about an ensemble, both before coming to NYC and during my first few years, I was nervous and excited about beginning the reality! I had five new compositions to read at that first rehearsal, but no performance lined up. However, I visited the old Pink Pony Cafe in the Lower East Side a month later and inquired about performing in their back room and our first performance was on: December 26, 2000! There were more people in the group (with me, 10) than were in the audience (5), but my first performance in NYC happened; and while I didn’t have any idea of what would be next, I was thrilled that my dream of Numinous had begun!
🎵: To Kyoto, from our first album The Music of Joseph C Phillips Jr
📸: 1. Cover of To Kyoto
2. Tyshawn Sorey conducting members of San Francisco Symphony, March 2022
3. Rokuon-ji (鹿苑寺), Kyoto, Japan 2000
4. My Japan guide from 2000
5. Joe in Kyoto, 2000
6. Handmade Flyer for first Numinous show
#numinous25
#numinousmusic25
The beginning of the year 2000 I went to Japan for the first time. I was there for about 8 days and the food, culture, architecture, and people all made a huge impression. Tokyo, with its big energy and wonderful hidden off-beat treasures, was fun—even visited with a former student who was living and working there at the time. After a few days in the capitol I then rode the shinkansen from Tokyo to the former seat of the imperial court, Kyoto—marveling at the beauty of the Japanese countryside along the way. The wonders of Kyoto (staying in a lovely traditional ryokan; Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺); visiting Gokagai; etc) and the train ride all lead to me writing my piece “To Kyoto” in one week that spring. It has become probably one of my most performed composition to date, existing in multiple versions: from Numinous, to string quartet, to a jazz big band ensemble, to a version for the San Francisco Symphony (thanks to Tyshawn Sorey for programing it back in 2022)
——————--
The first rehearsal of Numinous was about 10-months after that Japan trip—October 5th 2000–and after so much thought about an ensemble, both before coming to NYC and during my first few years, I was nervous and excited about beginning the reality! I had five new compositions to read at that first rehearsal, but no performance lined up. However, I visited the old Pink Pony Cafe in the Lower East Side a month later and inquired about performing in their back room and our first performance was on: December 26, 2000! There were more people in the group (with me, 10) than were in the audience (5), but my first performance in NYC happened; and while I didn’t have any idea of what would be next, I was thrilled that my dream of Numinous had begun!
🎵: To Kyoto, from our first album The Music of Joseph C Phillips Jr
📸: 1. Cover of To Kyoto
2. Tyshawn Sorey conducting members of San Francisco Symphony, March 2022
3. Rokuon-ji (鹿苑寺), Kyoto, Japan 2000
4. My Japan guide from 2000
5. Joe in Kyoto, 2000
6. Handmade Flyer for first Numinous show
Thanks and credit to all the original photos on this website to: David Andrako, Concrete Temple Theatre, Marcy Begian, Mark Elzey, Ed Lefkowicz, Donald Martinez, Kimberly McCollum, Geoff Ogle, Joseph C. Phillips Jr., Daniel Wolf-courtesy of Roulette, Andrew Robertson, Viscena Photography, Jennifer Kang, Carolyn Wolf, Mark Elzey, Karen Wise, Numinosito. The Numinous Changing Same album design artwork by DM Stith. The Numinous The Grey Land album design and artwork by Brock Lefferts. Contact for photo credit and information on specific images.