SYNCRETISM - 09-06-06 @ The Judith Wright Centre for performing arts

John Butcher - Experimenta/Avante Garde Saxophone Solo

Opening the night was John Butcher, an Australian Saxophonist who's been performing for a formidable 20 years with his band (of whom I forget the name, sorry!). John provided an entrhralling solo comprised of everything from low droning notes which resonated wildly around the room to squealing and shimmering trills, pops, bursts other intriguing noises. His performance certainly opened my eyes to the varied sonic capable of being produced by the Saxophone.

The Sisters Grimm - Ambient guitar work with ink drawing accompanyment.

Second on the bill, we have a band I *think* were announced as The Sisters Grimm, I was however suffering from a momentary lack of hearing, and as such, am not quite certain that was their title, but never the less, onwards we go. TSG is comprised of two members, one performing the audio component of the ambient music, utilising a guitar, heavily washed out with reverbs and delays as usual and a glockenspiel to mark the interlude between each song. Other other half of TGS provided a series of 3 ink drawings, painted live as the song progressed. The combination of some nice ambient guitar (sometimes sadly marred by a rather annoying tendency of the PA system being used to muddy up and resonate unpleasantly when the low end got a little too excited, but that seems to be nothing new for small indie venues around Brisbane, looking in your direction Ric's bar) with evolving children's fairy-tale-esque drawings was rather enchanting and both halves of the performance integrated perfectly.

Steven Vitiello - Ambient Music performance using light sensitive diodes and samples.

From the JWC website: "Stephen Vitiello has composed music for independant films, experimental video projects and art installations; collaborating with artists such as Nam June Paik, Tony Oursler and Darta Bimbaum. For his Brisbane concert Vitello presents a concert exploring mixture of digital and analogue sources to process elements within the performance environment. including light frequencies which he transforms to be read as audio frequencies."

Steven provided a brilliant piece using a rather unorthodox piece of equipment as the "sculpting tool" for the ambient backbone of his set, an array of photovoltaic diodes hooked up to a mixer via an instrument cable. From what I could see from the 3rd row (note to self, arrive earlier next time!) he was using a suitcase full of lights, etc to create thick, swirling pad like sounds and drum like loops of blips and squeals which slowly evolved over each bar slightly to create a constantly changing beat. Augmenting this sonic landscape was a collection of tastefully chosen and played samples played via a Macbook, mostly stand fair such as ethereal dog barks, bird chatter and some lovely delayed cracking noises which lethargically swayed from left to right around the room in an almost trance enducing fashion.

All in all a fanstasic night, bring on the next one!