Don Slepian and Electric Diamond at the Cosmic Coffeehouse

[egw]

On Saturday November 8, I attended the Cosmic Coffeehouse in Crosswicks New Jersey. http://www.brainstatik.com/coffeehouse.html
This was the second in a series of electronic music performances, organized by Ken Palmer of Brainstatik.
Just before the show started, we were treated to a nice view of a total eclipse of the moon!
Don Slepian opened with some very nice keyboard improvisations, in a variety of styles. As usual, his playing was superb and seemingly effortless. Don does something similar at the beginning of each of his internet radio shows, the ArtMusic Coffeehouse (every Wednesday). You can hear them at http://artmusiccoffeehouse.com/
After a while he invited Stuart Diamond to join him, together they form Electric Diamond, and have been playing together for more than 20 years! Stuart plays a Lyricon, an analog wind controller, which he has connected to an Oberheim synthesizer. They played a number of pieces in styles ranging from classically influenced improvisation, to medieval dances, and native American flute music. They both demonstated mastery of their instruments and a unique playing style. I've never seen dynamics used so effectively in this kind of performance! The music was melodic and easy to listen to, yet complex, challenging, and varied. The Lyricon is an incredibly expressive instrument, and Stuart seems to focus on using it as expressively as possible. The concert was not long, but the audience was very appreciative of the music. The sound was excellent, and the ambience at the Crosswicks Community House was pleasant. Ken Palmer deserves a lot of credit for providing a venue where new and unusual music can be heard in the cultural wilderness of New Jersey!