Saturday, March 23, 2013

Crystal Cymbalogy Gig 3-22-13


Played a gig with the Cymbalogy group in Fairfield, CT last night. We were at the Yoga For Everybody annex - a new place for me, very close to the original Y.F.E. (and one maybe in need of better stage lighting ;-)

This group is very interesting. I have played maybe a dozen gigs with them over a couple of years. We  play in Yoga studios in Connecticut. People zone out, listen, meditate, or maybe all three.  Everything is essentially totally improvised - ambient landscapes broken up by deep grooves.

The group is Rick and Cyn Quintanal on (huge) singing bowls/various percussion and chanting/singing. The project is their baby.  John Marshall is back there killing it on many different pieces of exotic percussion. Dave Anderson is often on the gig as well, on electric bass.

I originally would just bring the shakuhachi, but that has evolved into me bringing other things. If Dave is not there I will bring a bass - a couple of times the upright, but last night was the second time I brought the Jaco fretless jazz bass I got in 2011. I started bringing the silver flute as well and last night for the first time, the nylon string guitar. It is a lot to juggle and I am still working out the best way to patch everything through the effects. Lot of fun and a huge challenge to play this gig.