Saturday, 13 July 2013 00:00
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nShowcasing non-mainstream musical performances that draw on diverse influences
Whether by choice or not, everybody knows the sound of mainstream music. It is the music fed to us through the mass media, tied in with the promotion of consumer products, and which preys on our need to conform to popular taste, and distract ourselves with escapist entertainment.
Yet alongside the mainstream, every society has its ‘alternative’ music; music that tries to detach itself from the conventional, in order to free the musician to express his/her unrestricted artistic potential. This is music that can be appreciated, not necessarily for its surface appeal, but for its originality, raw beauty, and spontaneous manipulation of familiar sounds in unexpected ways.
Musicmatters Festival 2013 is an event which showcases non-mainstream musical performances that draw on diverse influences such as contemporary classical, world music, jazz, Sri Lankan ritual music, experimental electronica, groove-based and free improvisation, and progressive/psychedelic rock.
Featuring the talent and innovation of local artistes such as Eshantha Peiris (piano), Sumudi Suraweera (drums), and Sarani Perera (guitar), as well as visiting musicians from USA (Derek Beckvold – saxophone, Brian O’Reilly – double bass), Malaysia (Yong Yandsen – saxophone), and Australasia (Darren Moore – drums, Tyson Smith – guitar, Isaac Smith – double bass), this festival promises one long night of music that will be – by definition – out of the ordinary.
Musicmatters Festival 2013 happens on Saturday, 13 June (5 p.m. onwards) at Park Street Mews. Tickets priced at Rs. 1,000 are available at Park Street Mews, Goethe Institut and Musicmatters. Please check out the Facebook event page for more information on the artistes, the music, and the festival schedule: https://www.facebook.com/events/136130719918419/?fref=ts.
The festival lineup
Eshantha Peiris: The 2013 Festival opens with a piano recital presented by Eshantha Peiris. The repertoire includes modernist piano compositions which have been influenced by traditional rhythms from around the world. Highlights include Sri Lankan pianist/composer Dinuk Wijeratne’s ‘Colour Study in Rupaktaal’, Joshua Uzoigwe’s ‘Abigbo’, and a new Sri Lankan composition.
Musicmatters students: Musicmatters proudly presents four groups of students, aged six to 13, playing a variety of music including old jazz standards, funk music and some of their own compositions. Nurturing creativity of young children through music education is one of Musicmatters’ main mandates and these groups are an excellent example of the two-year-old institute working well in-line with their objectives.
Game of Patience: Game of Patience creates improvised music combining elements of free jazz, electronic music and free improv. The group features Yong Yandsen (Malaysia) on saxophone, Brian O’Reilly (US/Singapore) on contrabass with electronics and Darren Moore (Australia/Singapore) on drum and percussion. Darren Moore (drums), Brian O’Reilly (bass), Yong Yandsen (saxophone).
Derek Beckvold and Sumudi Suraweera: The music of drummer Sumudi Suraweera and American saxophonist Derek Beckvold twists and turns with sensitivity and aggression. Melded together through the dialogue of improvisation and the combined knowledge of a diverse range of musical traditions from around the world, what results is a unique and exciting collaboration. Derek Beckvold (alto saxophone), Sumudi Suraweera (drums)
The Brahminy Kites: The Brahminy Kites draws upon a diverse spectrum of musical forms and influences ranging from Alternative Contemporary American folk music, folk music from North India, Eastern European Gypsy music, folk music from the Arab World and Western Contemporary endeavors in Sonic Art and Composition. The original music for banjo, percussion, voice, viola, double bass and electronics skillfully weaves a sound that is hard to define, steeped in melancholy and mystery. Isaac Smith (Banjo), Radiesha Daluwatte (vocals), John White (viola), Isuru Kumarasinghe (electronics), Uvindu Perera (double bass), Sarani Perera (percussion).
Baliphonics: Baliphonics presents the music of the Low-Country bali ritual tradition of Sri Lanka in a sublime collaboration with contemporary jazz and improvisation. The raw, original chanting, singing and dance gestures of the Low-Country in dialogue with experimental sounds and sonic textures sees the traditional boundaries being pushed, while still transcending the audience into the spirit of the ritual. Susantha Rupathilaka (voice), Prasantha Rupathilaka (voice), Eshantha Peiris (piano), Isaac Smith (double bass), Sumudi Suraweera (drums)
Mix Master Blong: Human behaviour strangely entangles with sound in an emotional and informative way, driving one into vivid states, perceptions and living styles. Sound colours humans according to the way it shapes. Mix Master Blong is an experimental improvisational exploration into textural, psychedelic, drone music experience for vivid colours! Isuru Kumarasinghe (keyboards and electronics), Sarani Perera (guitar), Uvindu Perera (electric bass), Harshan Gallage (drums)
Tyson Smith: Tyson Smith, an exceptional guitarist/singer/songwriter, originally hails from New Zealand’s South Island though his last decade of musical meanderings has taken him to the Caribbean, Central America, USA, Southeast Asia and Europe. He performs as guitarist with a range of high profile New Zealand artists in both jazz and popular music and also plays banjo in his sister’s world music group “Mundi”. He has released one album under his own name and is currently honing songs for a new album. This new material contains a variety of influences including folk, blues, rock and world music.
Amoral Compass: Orienteering you through to another way of musical morality, Sri Lanka’s own two bit, spazz step, go wave outfit promises you hip hop beats so hard and ragadocious rhymes so killing the soul of every shoe will, twist, turn, slide and step in unprecedented harmony, dancing their way into a lotus leaf of hip hop ecstasy! MC Toc Toc Baya, MC Jumps White, Isaac Smith (samples, percussion and auxiliary), Uvindu Perera (electric bass), Harshan Gallage (drums et al.)
