DEMPSTER, STUART - On The Boards

Stuart Dempster has been involved in a variety of new music endeavors over the last 40 years. He organized the ensemble to record Terry Rileys landmark piece In C for Columbia Records; commissioned works from Luciano Berio, Ernst Krenek, Pauline Oliveros, and several others; gave David Tudor a place to stay while developing Rainforest; participated in the U.S. premiere of Cornelius Cardews Treatise; toured with Merce Cunningham Dance Company alongside such luminaries as David Behrman, Takehisa Kosugi, and Tudor; founded Deep Listening Band with Oliveros; and much more. However, he has only released a few solo recordings of his own work during that time: In The Great Abbey Of Clement VI, originally released on LP by 1750 Arch and later reissued by New Albion Records, and Underground Overlays from the Cistern Chapel, also on New Albion. This is a third, originally released on cassette only in 1986 and receiving limited distribution. Unlike the others, this documents Stuart in front of, and with, an audience. This is important as Dempster works with the audience, two pieces in particular using them to add to textures he is creating and bringing them into the music. Dont Worry, It Will Come takes this a step further, using a series of hoses hidden underneath the audience seats with rather humorous results. The bulk of the disc is focused on his meditative buzzing and droning, skillfully drawn from unique didjeridus and the instrument he is best known for playing, trombone. - Anomalous.