Showing posts with label jen baker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jen baker. Show all posts

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Point-Counterpoint

As promised, the new Point of Departure webmag has a healthy roundtable discussion with Jen Baker, myself, and Jon Raskin about the current state of creative music in such tricky times. Editor Bill Shoemaker seems to be especially interested in focusing on hardship, which I find a distraction from the more important questions we could be facing. After all, music is about a lot more than making it and getting paid for it. There's also hearts to inspire and our own characters to develop and grow! I think Jen did the best job of getting to the heart of things, and Jon did a great job of rounding up all the bottom line factors. I found myself somewhere in between. Funny to see how my own perspective lines up in the spectrum of voices.

Anyway, go read it for yourself: http://www.pointofdeparture.org/PoD21/PoD21WhatsNew.html

Monday, February 2, 2009

Back From The Void

I was shocked to notice recently that I haven't blogged in a year. 2008 was a confusing and intense ride, with a lot of upheaval and chaos. Now that the smoke is clearing and there's so much newness in my life (and on the horizon) I think it's a good time to get back into it, and hopefully on a regular basis.

First, I want to tell you that this Friday, Feb 6th, 2009 at 4pm Eastern I'll be broadcasting 30 minutes of solo bass from my home as part of the Deep Tones For Peace NOW project. You can watch me from your computer at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/reuben-radding---deep-tones-for-peace and for more info on the project go to http://www.deeptonesforpeace.org/live/

It's great to have a reason to get back into solo playing. I didn't do as much of it in 2008 as I had the previous couple years. Since I'm going to be doing a lecture/demo at the International Society of Bassists convention this June the time is definitely now...!

Later this month (on Valentine's Day!) I'm returning to The Red Room in Baltimore, one of my favorite rooms in one of my favorite cities! This time in duet with improvising trombonist Jen Baker. The next day we're at the COMA series in Manhattan, and then on Thu the 19th at the Infrequent Seams series in Brooklyn, which happens at the Le Grand Dakar in Clinton Hill. Check out our myspace page for full info and sounds: http://www.myspace.com/jenbakerreubenradding

Jen and I have been participation in a roundtable discussion slated to appear soon in Bill Shoemaker's excellent online magazine Point of Departure, along with Jon Raskin of ROVA. Should be out any day now. I'll keep you posted!