Covering Arthur Russell On Bassoon....

Photo: Matthew Billings

Before a crowd of literally less than 10, trumpeter Jacob Wick and bassoonist Katherine Young performed solo sets at The Fridge in Washington, D.C. The art gallery can be loud and boomy when empty, which especially gave Wick an extra oomph behind sputters and intense breathing as he pulled the valves out of the trumpet. It was a continuous piece that took a while to digest, but rounded in a nice arc.

But I was curious about Katherine Young. Last year's Future Secret Origins featured solo compositions for bassoon and effects, which, like her performance, is neither showy or totally reliant on electronics. The tutelage of Anthony Braxton (she performs in his Falling Rivers Quartet) comes through in shades, never a mirror.

Complete on: http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2010/11/15/131321526/covering-arthur-russell-on-bassoon?ft=1&f=10002