From: owner-trajectory-digest@smoe.org (trajectory-digest) To: trajectory-digest@smoe.org Subject: trajectory-digest V1 #40 Reply-To: trajectory@smoe.org Sender: owner-trajectory-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-trajectory-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk trajectory-digest Sunday, December 14 1997 Volume 01 : Number 040 Today's Subjects: ----------------- veda hille at cb's gallery [meredith ] Veda at CBGB Gallery ["Michael R. Abram" ] Veda Hille: Here Is A Picture [meredith ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 13 Dec 1997 12:26:55 -0500 From: meredith Subject: veda hille at cb's gallery Hi! Well, as promised Veda and the Smokin' Combo were at CB's 313 Gallery in NYC on Thursday night, and they ruled. It was the best performace of hers I've seen. I don't know exactly what it was, but the trio was *on*, and every moment for me was a slack-jawed revelation. Like the first time Veda took the stage there solo in May, all I could do was sit there with a stupid grin on my face going "ohwowohwowohwow". And I wasn't alone. Set list (I may be misremembering the order on some of the songs): Strange, Sad One Hot Summer Pause Small Weight INSTRUCTIONS Bellyfish With No Caring Noah's Ark Slumber Queen The crowd vociferously called for an encore, but there was another act that had to set up, so Veda just came back to apologize and serenaded us with a cute little a cappella version of the "Enjoy Yourself" song (you know, "enjoy yourself/it's later than you think"). :) That, and the sing-along to "My Generation" (which was on the PA system as she checked her mic prior to starting the show) were nice bookends to the performance. ;) Veda, Martin and Barry had just come in from Vancouver earlier in the evening. Veda mentioned that she's still sick (strep throat -- ugh), but she had good prescription drugs. :) She sounded great -- I noticed she tended to take the low road whenever she had a choice, but when she had to sing the high notes they came out just fine. There was some nice jamming happening too, especially in "With No Caring". The space at CB's Gallery was quite full, and she got a great response. Luminaries spotted in the audience included Chris Cunningham and Michelle Kinney (of The Chanting House, among other groups) and Meryn Cadell. Whoo-hoo. Jeff Donaldson, it was great to meet you (be sure to tell us all about the Vin Scelsa Bottom Line thing!). And Michael, good to see you again as well. Oh yes, she did have copies of _Here Is A Picture_ there for sale. More on that later... +==========================================================================+ | Meredith Tarr meth@smoe.org | | New Haven, CT USA http://www.smoe.org/~meth | +==========================================================================+ | "things are more beautiful when they're obscure" -- veda hille | |***TRAJECTORY, the Veda Hille mailing list: trajectory-request@smoe.org***| +==========================================================================+ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 Dec 1997 20:00:22 -0500 From: "Michael R. Abram" Subject: Veda at CBGB Gallery Hey Hilleans! Caught the show Thursday night - Veda played a Smokin' set with her combo - those guys are excellent! Being a bit of a bassist myself, I really appreciate the sounds Marty coaxes out of that fretless Fender. I'm the wrong person to ask about a setlist, but I recall that she played "Strange, Sad", "Instructions", "One Hot Summer", "Bellyfish", a couple of Emily tunes, and ended with "Slumber Queen". They really sounded together - all that recent touring must have --- you know, reading that, one might get the impression that I had heard them at a time they were _not_ so tight - not the case! I also noticed three songs were in 3/4 time - quite unusual these days. The new CD is out, and like the absent-minded fool that I am, I left it in the car, and haven't wandered over to the garage (two long city blocks away) yet to get it. So no review yet :) Always good to see Meth and Woj again, sorry I had to run, but it was after (my wife) Dorothy's bedtime (she gets up at 5:20) although she was really glad I brought her - another Veda convert! I would have like to stay a bit to schmooze and hear that Kogyo bassist guy. And next time, I promise I'll bring enough cash to get all the CDs I want, even if it's too late for Chanukah! Michael "Keep your mouth shut and let someone else have something to say" -- Mrs. Natalie (a BTT production, http://www.phonetheater.com/mrs_nat.ram) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 Dec 1997 21:22:17 -0500 From: meredith Subject: Veda Hille: Here Is A Picture Hi! (Warning for those who prefer to wait: Spoilers follow!) Yes, Thursday night I picked up my copy of _Here Is A Picture (Songs for E Carr)_. I guess the third time was the charm -- Veda got this batch pressed at a different plant, and she said she's very pleased with how it came out. Well, I have to say I am too. :) It's not often that a piece of music resonates with me on the first note and convinces me it's positively brilliant before it's even finished playing, but that's exactly what happened with this. And this album really is one piece: 17 tracks total, and where there are spaces between the tracks they are very small. "Introduction" and "Exit" tie everything up into a nice package, and in between we have gorgeous melodies, sometimes left to stand on their own and other times accompanying the lyrics Veda ingeniously cobbled together from Emily Carr's writings. The cycle takes us from Emily Carr's childhood ("Small") through to the end of her life ("Noah's Ark"). I was happy to note that the melody of "Meeting the Group of 7", which has been my favorite of the songs I've heard live, is a theme for the piece at large. It exists in instrumental form as "Boat ride to Skidegate", and then of course a few tracks later as "Meeting the Group of 7". The instrumentation in the piece ranges from sparse to lush, some tracks only accompanied by a piano that sounds like a very old upright recorded in a large airy room (I have no clue if that's really the case or not), others by simple guitar and drums, and still others by a rich arrangement that includes an achingly beautiful cello line. Veda plays piano and of course her guitar (she even confirms in the liner notes that she still has old Stella, for those who have been wondering :). Apparently Martin also plays the saw, but I haven't been able to figure out where yet. There are even guest appearances by the animals. :) With this piece Veda has proven herself to be a true composer. I firmly believe that it is much harder to create art when handed the subject matter and given a deadline, which is what happens when one is commissioned to do a work. This piece was obviously thoroughly researched, and a lot of thought was put into it. The result is wonderfully, brilliantly satisfying, even to someone as ignorant of Emily Carr's life and work as I am. I have no idea what it's going to be like with the choreography added - -- if anyone manages to see the dance piece when it's performed in Vancouver, please please post in detail about it here! (Veda et al. will be providing live accompaniment to the performance(s?).) In a nutshell: It rules. It's a must for anyone interested in Veda's music. 'Nuff said. (Veda hasn't updated the web site with ordering information yet, and I was too zoned to ask her about it the other night. As soon as I find out the details of the cost, I'll post it here so everyone can place their order.) ------------------------------ End of trajectory-digest V1 #40 *******************************