experimental chamber noise
7-9:45 pm
$12
"Burgon and Dunn make the most of their distinct setting by exploring subtle and sometimes barely audible properties of sound. Their dynamic range is as vast as their sonic palette.” - The Shaking Ray Levi Society
Trevor Dunn and Shelley Burgon are a unique Bass and Harp duo, making music that evokes the likes of John Cage or George Crumb, in which they explore the little-charted territory where chamber music converges with free jazz. The interplay of steel, string, and wood gives way to the creation of otherworldy sonic textures. Tim Duroche of Wilamette Week writes: “Wavering between patent meditation and maniacal catharsis… the duo has a haunting, cinematic quality that is both staggeringly complex and achingly beautiful.”
Trevor Dunn is best known as a founding member and co-composer of the notorious Mr. Bungle (with vocalist Mike Patton), as well as for his work with Patton’s experi-metal outfit Fantômas (along with Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo and guitarist for The Melvins, Buzz Osbourne). Fans of these projects may not find much common ground with Dunn & Burgon’s duo, but more open-minded listeners will realize that this is a testament to Dunn’s prolific versatility on the bass (both electric and contrabass). Dunn’s work can be heard on over fifty recordings to date, straddling such diverse genres as punk, death metal, contemporary classical, blues, and jazz. He also plays with various formations of the downtown jazz scene, including various Ben Goldberg groups, John Zorn’s Electric Masada, David Krakauer’s Klezmer Madness, Marc Ribot, Susie Ibarra, and Jenny Scheinman. Dunn also leads his own Trio-Convulsant, which spent Fall of 2004 touring with The Melvins.
Originally from San Francisco, Shelley Burgon has amassed an impressive list of performance credentials since her relocation to New York in 2002. She is currently involved in a project fronted by indie vocalist Miho Hatori (Cibo Matto). She has also performed with such illustrious figures in modern music as John Zorn; Eyvind Kang; a quartet comprised of Chris Speed, Ikue More and Skuli Sverrisson; Tin Hat Trio; and in 2003 participated in the Ravished Limbs Improvised Music Festival where she shared the stage with Jim Black and Okkyung Lee.
The Zeitgeist performance is part of a tour of the Northeast US and Canada. The duo has become a fixture of New York’s downtown music scene since 2001, performing in such venues as Tonic, Barbes, and The Stone. They have toured extensively around the US and Canada and are working on their first recording, scheduled for release in 2006.