Brooklyn Botanical Garden - 990 Washington Avenue 40.66899 N, 73.96465 W
the rhythm in the birds came about from two moments: while on tour and after discussing the parameters of this commission, a band member suggested that I look for the ‘silence in the birds’
following that conversation, I went and sat outside to observe and listen to birds every so often. what struck me in the midst of that silence were the rhythms being communicated and the way that they were being expressed.
each individual bird had its own personal rhythm, personal melody, and personal flight path. yet there were always constantly at least two or three birds, generally in the same vicinity, seemingly working together for the same goal.
their flights, rhythms, and songs weren’t always accurately expressed altogether or in unison; but when brought together, they created beautifully layered textures that moved and flowed together.
The piece Migration Before the Storm is inspired by two common and fascinating bird behaviors: Migration and the group dynamic right before a drastic weather change, such as a storm. Both of these specific behaviors can happen in large groups and in this piece are represented by 4 tonal centers that appear in different shapes, dynamics and tempos
Neta Raanan is a tenor saxophonist and composer raised in New Jersey. As a teenager, Neta was drawn to the mysterious black and white photos of Bird and Dizzy, Thelonious Monk and Lester Young perched on the walls of the record stores in New York City. She began attending creative music workshops all over the east coast, participating in youth orchestras and ensembles…
Kayvon Gordon was born and raised in Detroit. At a young age, he was taken under the mentorship of legendary trumpeter Marcus Belgrave. Later, he went on to the University of Michigan where he studied with Robert Hurst and Benny Green. Gordon has performed In Europe, Africa, South Asia, The United Arab Emirates, and North America…
Dave Adewumi is an award-winning trumpet player, composer, and educator captivated by the intangible nature of music. His work is derivative of the great black improvisers and composers of the past yet pushes forward to capture the totality of the human experience…
