I loved talking with Rob Rosenthal for the Sound School Podcast (one of my favorites). We discussed Forest Listening Rooms and my composition process with archival recordings. Rob states, “I think my favorite quote from Brian Harnetty on this episode of Sound School is when he told me his work as a sound ethnographer is ‘basically, curiosity that’s rooted in sound.’” You can listen to the episode on all podcast services, plus bonus content here:
Photo courtesy Kevin Davison
New Article in Matter News: "Ohio Imprint"
Andy Downing from Matter News wrote a nice profile for an upcoming exhibition called “Ohio Imprint,” where I follow in the footsteps of photographer Dick Arentz. Andy and I sat down to talk about the project, and its inspiration. The exhibit opens with a reception on Sunday, January 22, from 2-4. You can read the article here.
Read: 2022 Year-in-Review
Here is my 2022 Year-in-Review. It began with mix of grief and joy, and was followed by an astonishing amount of wonderful reviews and responses to "Words and Silences" over the past months. I'm also grateful for the many kind words from friends and strangers alike. Thank you!
Please consider signing up for my newsletter! You can read it here: https://mailchi.mp/28c747d38180/2022-year-in-review
The MOJO Editor's Favorite Albums of 2022
Here is another lovely list for Words and Silences to be a part of: the MOJO Editor's Favorite Albums of 2022. You can read the list here.
From Independent Clauses: "An amazing, challenging, intriguing composition"
Be sure to read this lovely review of Words and Silences from the blog Independent Clauses. Many thanks for such nice words!
You can read it here.
Jeremy Woodruff, Katie Porter Maxwell, Brother Paul Quenon, William Lang, Phil Rodriguez, and Brian Harnetty sit in front of Thomas Merton’s hermitage in the fall of 2022. Photo courtesy of Kevin Davison.
Read the Latest Newsletter: Reflections on Last Month's Performances of Words and Silences
"A Bunch of Five" for OutsideLeft Magazine
I got to share five things with magazine OutsideLeft -- not a best-of list, but things that inspire me. I talk about Radiooooo, Niki and Nat Segnit, Hanif Abdurraqib (and Two Dollar Radio), Robert Lax, and my father's workbench. I hope you enjoy it and have a good day!
https://outsideleft.com/main.php?updateID=2516
Words and Silences #5 for Modern Composition in The Wire
It is so nice to see Words and Silences be in The Wire Magazine’s top ten Modern Composition best-of list for 2022. And such good, company, too!
Watch: Live Solo Performances 2013-22
Watch a playlist of my solo piano performances over the past decade. This includes two tracks from The Star-Faced One (from the Sun Ra/El Saturn Archives), “Jim” from Shawnee, Ohio, a suite of pieces from Many Hands, and three tracks from Words and Silences.
Words and Silences is MOJO's #2 Underground Album of the Year
I’m so happy for Words and Silences to be MOJO’s #2 Underground Album of the Year! What a great honor!
"Words and Silences" Premiere November 9
We are a little under a week away from premiering "Words and Silences" at the Wexner Center for the Arts -- next Wednesday, November 9, at 8:00pm. I hope you can come hear/see the show! Tickets are on sale below.
I'm so lucky to have all of the original performers from the album joining me, including Katie Porter (bass clarinet), Jeremy Woodruff (flute, alto sax), Phil Rodriguez (trumpet), and William Lang (trombone).
Purchase tickets here.
Photo: Kevin Davison
"5 Questions" for I Care If You Listen (ICIYL)
I recently corresponded with Jacob Kopcienski about Words and Silences for I Care if You Listen (.com)
I really appreciated his questions, and this article was an opportunity to provide more context for the project.
Read the article here.
New Reviews for "Words and Silences" in the Wire, Aquarium Drunkard, Allmusic, and A Closer Listen
Read new reviews from The Wire, Aquarium Drunkard, Allmusic, and A Closer Listen here.
Words and Silences Out Today: Read New Newsletter and Watch a Live Performance
Words and Silences is out today! Listen to and buy both digital and physical items (CDs, chapbook) at Bandcamp. Plus, it's a "Bandcamp Friday," which means that Bandcamp waives their cut.
You can read and sign up for the newsletter here.
And finally, watch the above video for a live solo performance at Merton’s hermitage. You can watch and listen to a storm come in halfway through the recording.
New Newsletter for September 2022
The CDs and chapbooks just arrived, and you can read about them, listen to a new track, and pre-order them ahead of the October 7 release date.
Listen to and read about "Who Is This I?" from Words and Silences
Listen to a new track from Words and Silences called "Who Is This I?" and then read an excerpt from an essay I wrote about it and other recordings from the album, called "Thinking Out Loud In a Hermitage." You can pre-order the album on Bandcamp here.
Words and Silences now available for pre-order on bandcamp
The official release date for Words and Silences is October 7, and you can pre-order the album now. It will be available as a digital download and as a 2-CD set. There is also a limited edition letterpress chapbook that includes the full transcription from Thomas Merton’s hermitage tapes used for the album, as well as a long form essay describing the project and my process of making the album. You can pre-order everything here, on Bandcamp.
Global Arts and Humanities Discovery Theme: Society of Fellows
I am happy to announce that I will be a part of the 2022-23 cohort of the Society of Fellows for the Global Arts and Humanities Discovery Theme at Ohio State University. I’m particularly excited because the theme this year is “Archival Imaginations,” and it will also coincide with a premiere performance of my latest project, Words and Silences, at the Wexner Center for the Arts this fall. I am so looking forward to learning from this cohort, and returning to OSU, where I received my undergrad degree in music, over 25 years ago! You can read more about the fellows here.
Interior of Thomas Merton’s hermitage. Photo courtesy of Kevin Davison.
New Newsletter - Visiting Merton's Hermitage
If you would like to read and learn about my recent trip to Thomas Merton’s hermitage to film, record, and perform, feel free to read the newsletter here. And, please do sign up for future news and events — this will be a busy year, and it would be so wonderful to have you along for the ride!
Latest Newsletter Out Now: 2021 In Review
My latest newsletter is out now, which includes a year in review for 2021: exhibitions, performances, conversations, writings, interviews, and more. Please do sign up to receive more updates and stories in 2022. It would be great to have you along! You can find the newsletter here.