Comments on: Fred Frith/Zeena Parkins/Ikue Mori

By: Jack Balchin

Jack Balchin — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 08:02:10 +0000

Sorry Fred, I don’t know who Cody is but the world always has room for dreamers. To the un innitiated your show could be quite exiting. Us jaded old dogs though………………….

By: Jack Balchin

Jack Balchin — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 08:01:57 +0000

Sorry Fred, I don’t know who Cody is but the world always has room for dreamers. To the un innitiated your show could be quite exiting. Us jaded old dogs though………………….

By: Seth Nehil

Seth Nehil — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 13:06:04 +0000

I agree with DEG… although I was so disgusted that I left after about 15 minutes, so perhaps my response is not very well informed. Maybe my tolerance level is down after seeing performances every night for a week, but I must say, improvised music seems to have lost all urgency and relevance. This “jam” existed somewhere in between a million different stylistic cliches, with Frith trying to get a lick going, and Parkins banging rocks, all in the name of the “spontaneous” and “free”. How many times will these big name players trot out their bag of tricks, throw them in a pot and make a murky sound soup? I crave bold choices and clear directions from people with this much experience and skill.
And by the way, where is this audience the rest of the year, when local experimental players make sensitive, informed music?

By: dalas v

dalas v — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 01:26:46 +0000

damn, i meant to see this.

By: DEG

DEG — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 16:03:31 +0000

This was one of the worst pieces of so called improvised music I have ever seen in its history. I should know, I have followed its history since the 70’s. Frith should be ashamed of himself; he is capable of far better. Hitting a piece of metal with a 4/4 beat that shredded my ears over and over again like a mindless twit. He used his Loop pedal to horrible effect, sounded like improvisation from 1992 by a total amateur. He and Zeena sounded like they were having a brawl over who would get the most attention. They only listened to each other for a total time of about 5 minutes.
Ikue Mori was the exception. She was brilliant, but could not be heard.
This was a complete waste of time. The standing ovation was a joke. This added insult to injury.
Portland, you have no taste of what improvised music is if you even thought for a minute this was good.
We have local improvisers who are capable of extremely high value. And you don’t have to pay 20 dollars to go see it.
Just because these people have a reputation, does not mean that this was any good. I have seen derek bailey a total of 5 times, every time it was fantastic. This was mindless posturing…..and the audience facilitated it.