Parking Ramp Project topped Twin Cities dance scene in 2018

Posted on January 14, 2019 by John C.S. Keston

Cody McKinney (bass) and Peter Hennig rehearsing Parking Ramp Project

Parking Ramp Project was selected by the Star Tribune as the Twin Cities’ top dance scene in 2018:

“1. Parking Ramp Project: Aniccha Arts founder Pramila Vasudevan showcased her eye for space and ritual with this bewitching site-specific performance, full of eerie neon ropes, haunting vocals and post-apocalyptic pillows, in a Bloomington parking garage.”

The music that I composed for the event highlighted the movement of the cast through the seven story parking ramp with an animated, generative, graphic score written in Javascript. Read more about the project below:

Video Documentation of Parking Ramp Project
Animated, Generative, Graphic Scores for Parking Ramp Project
Star Tribune: 10 great Twin Cities dance events for fall 2018
City Pages: Parking Ramp Project

Sound / Simulacra: Davu Seru Recordings

Posted on January 9, 2019 by John C.S. Keston

On Wednesday, July 25th, 2018 Sound / Simulacra featured drummer and composer Davu Seru at Jazz Central Studios. Davu started off the evening with three improved solo pieces. We followed that up with four pieces as a trio with myself and Cody McKinney joining in.

Sound / Simulacra: Bloodline Recordings

Posted on January 8, 2019 by John C.S. Keston

On Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017 Sound / Simulacra featured Bloodline at Jazz Central Studios. Bloodline is Peter Hennig (percussion), John C.S. Keston (Rhodes, synthesizers), and Cody McKinney (bass, vocals, electronics). During this concert, captured by Dave Kunath, we performed three pieces as a trio as well as solo pieces from each member of the group.

Sound / Simulacra: John C.S. Keston & Graham O’Brien Recordings

Posted on January 7, 2019 by John C.S. Keston

On Wednesday February 22nd, 2017 Sound / Simulacra featured Graham O’Brien at Jazz Central Studios. This was only the second event in the series and somehow these recordings captured by Dave Kunath slipped through the cracks. Fortunately I came across them recently so I can share them now. This concert was shortly before Graham and I performed for Merce Cunningham: Common Time at the Walker Art Center. During this period we were trying a lot of things with aleatoric techniques. This included graphic scores with chance elements, randomized digital sounds that Graham triggered from his acoustic drums, and randomized sound design I was triggering from the PreenFM2.

Sound / Simulacra: Mankwe Ndosi Recordings

Posted on January 4, 2019 by John C.S. Keston

On Wednesday April 25th, 2018 Sound / Simulacra featured Mankwe Ndosi at Jazz Central Studios. Mankwe is a fearless performer and vocalist who filled the room with her extraordinary presence, captivating movement, and distinctive extended vocal techniques. This recording is from the last set of the evening when me and Cody McKinney joined Mankwe to form a trio.