JEFFERY KYLE HUTCHINS, SAXOPHONE
  • ABOUT
    • WORK
    • projects
  • EVENTS
  • Look/Listen
    • Photos
  • TEACHING
​[ w o r d s ]

What are you listening to?

3/21/2013

0 Comments

 
I have been on Spring Break from school this week, and since I did not have many commitments it gave me lots of time to listen to some great things while I attempted to clean my house. On a side note: turns out you can not buy CD players anymore at stores like Target, Wal-mart, etc. Since my car and computer both crapped out, I have had no way to play CD's, which apparently does not matter to mass consumers anymore because that technology has a foot in the grave. Resorting to a pawn shop to find a basic CD player/boom box makes me feel old. And also slightly confused considering Target had record players? "Hang on to those CD's kids! Some day they will be worth something!" Said no one. 
If you have not seen Meredith Monk's film Book of Days yet, you need to GET. WITH. IT. If anyone wants to perform this piece with me, let me know ASAP. (In full costume, obviously). I call dibs on the tall black and white guy with the pointy fingers... and head.

Also check out Monk's piece Dolmen Music. It is some fantastic stuff.... And believe it or not, part of my regular playlist. I have subjected dozens of people to listen to this in entirety with me over the last six months or so. Bjork has also covered one of her songs, Gotham Lullaby which is pretty awesome as well.
...if you are paying attention, you will now begin ascension of the mind.
True words, Amy. This is a great song I first heard about seven years ago when Amy Steinberg played a show in Denton, TX. I still remember that show, it was a small venue and we got to hang out afterward which was fun times. I bought her CD. Support local music! 
I particularly like this orchestral piece, La Navette by James Dillon. It is such a shame orchestra's do not program new music very often (other than "pops" concerts, which are mostly not worth attending). I suspect it is unfortunately not in many concert goer's or performer's repertoire in the US. Totally worth checking out!
0 Comments

Processing

3/19/2013

0 Comments

 
“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. ... No artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”

― Martha Graham


I was reminded of this quote today and thought it was worth sharing. This so beautifully sums up what I try to tell my students, and how I feel about music personally. And all art, really. It is not about the result, it is about the process! The product does not matter, but if we do not love the act of making art, then the product will not be very good either. But when we take joy in the process and refine the craft, the result is not only better, but more satisfying. 
0 Comments

What are you listening to?

3/14/2013

0 Comments

 
Here are a few more fun things I have been listening to recently. Let me know what you think, and feel free to share something!
MOON HOOCH! This is seriously pretty cool. And it is ALL about the contrabass clarinet.
This piece, Press Release by David Lang is pretty popular these days. If you have not heard it yet, listen immediately. It is one of the most interesting solo pieces I've heard recently. There is also a bari sax version here. I was introduced to this piece from the movie Untitled. Lang's piece was the soundtrack for the entire movie. Not only was it very effective, but the movie was fantastic as well. Every contemporary artist and musician should see this movie! You can watch the trailer here.
fumms bo wo taa zaa?!
I recently performed this piece at a Renegade concert and while practicing it at home, I was always afraid my neighbors would think I was having a stroke. But I must confess, it is kinda catchy, and I have since caught myself saying it out loud as I'm walking somewhere, only adding to the worry of all who overhear.
0 Comments

What are you listening to? 

3/7/2013

1 Comment

 
In the last few weeks, I have had almost the same conversation with every one of my students regarding what music they are currently listening to. Almost all of them were caught off guard by the question and would usually reply with something along the lines of "A few people." or "You've probably never of them." I even had a student tell me his favorite band was Nickelback.... I shudder at the thought of the rest of his playlist.

A few months ago, I would have struggled to answer the same question. After my hard drive crashed last year, losing over 50GB of music, I had a very limited selection when it came to my personal listening. Then when the CD player in my car and the optical drive on my computer both stopped functioning about the same time, I was left stranded in silence. While I do buy songs from iTunes, a 50GB library is just not going to happen on my budget, especially when I obviously need a new round of technology upgrades. For the longest time I would only listen to the radio in my car, but while Top 40 songs and Classic Rock are enjoyable and at times even desirable, they are lacking in musical depth. For myself, I found that listening to only Top 40 radio music was not as fulfilling and did not move me in the way truly great music has the power to do. So with my limited amount of personal music, I turned to YouTube.

Although I have always listened to music on YouTube, I never took full advantage of this excellent resource. With more and more people uploading their own performances including many recordings that are otherwise unavailable, it should be taken as a very serious resource for listening. What worries me about my students is that they are growing and learning in a world with unlimited music access and not taking advantage of their place in history because they do not know what to type in the search bar.

I think as a performing musician, or just a creative person in general, it important to continually be exposed to different expressions of art. I will post some more videos in the future of music (and other things) I have found particularly interesting as of late, but here is a sample:




Bhimsen Joshi, Indian vocalist in the Hindustani classical tradition. His use of vocal inflection paired with the traditional instruments makes for some pretty interesting music. This was recommended to me by my mentor James Dillon, and I quite like it.
Arvo Part's Magnificat
Although not as popular as some of his other works, this piece is it for me. I find it to be particularly moving, and it has a nice video. 
"The individual is always comparing himself or herself to the mass media, preventing the individual growth of that person..."
A short interview with Laurie Anderson. Wise words...
Hopefully you will hear something for the first time, and whether you like it or not, I invite you to let me know what you think and to share whatever you are listening to! 
1 Comment
    Picture

    JKH

    Saxophonist, Artist,  Listener, Thinker, Teacher, Performer, Curator, Veggie, Reader, Lover of Contemporary Music

    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    June 2017
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All
    Antithesis Project
    Art
    Australia
    Avidduo
    Binary Canary
    Cmw Presents...
    Contemporary Music
    Dance
    Electronic Music
    Film
    Free Music
    Hutchins Choi Duo
    Improvisation
    Installation
    Jazz
    New Music
    Orotund2
    Performance
    Product Review
    Product Review
    Quartet
    Recordings
    Renegadeensemble
    Saxophone
    Teaching
    TMEA
    Travel
    Video
    What Are You Listening To?

    RSS Feed

© Jeffery Kyle Hutchins 2023
Support Local Music!
  • ABOUT
    • WORK
    • projects
  • EVENTS
  • Look/Listen
    • Photos
  • TEACHING