Grounded in the American improvisational tradition, Adam Rudolph’s Moving Pictures Octet embraces musical forms and instrumentation of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the African diaspora. Veteran percussionist Adam Rudolph, who was called ” a percussion wizard”? (Downbeat) and “a pioneer in world music” (New York Times), leads an ensemble of artists performing on instruments ranging from West and North African percussion, Middle Eastern oud (lute) and Japanese and Indian flutes to saxophones, clarinets, guitar and banjo. The program features the world premiere of music by Rudolph commissioned by Chamber Music America. Adam Rudolph’s Moving Pictures Octet will be releasing their new album “Both/And ” this spring, featuring the Octet with 12 string players.
A truly universal sound with amazing tonal variety, polyrhythmic fury and powerful melodies This is life affirming music
David Dacks – Eye Weekly
ADAM RUDOLPH (handrumset (kongos, djembe, tarija, zabumba) thumb pianos, sintir, multiphonic vocal, percussion)
GRAHAM HAYNES (cornet, flugelhorn, percussion)
BRAHIM FRIBGANE (oud, cajon, bendir, tarija, percussion)
KENNY WESSEL (electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, percussion)
RALPH JONES (flute, bass clarinet, alto flute, sop and tenor saxophones, bamboo flutes)
SHANIR BLUMENKRANZ (acoustic bass, sintir, oud)
MATT KILMER (frame drums, kanjira, bata, percussion)
Adam Rudolph, originally from Chicago, has appeared at festivals and concerts throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Japan over the past three decades. Since the 1970s, he has developed his distinctive syncretic approach to hand drums in creative collaborations with many masters of cross-cultural and improvised music such as Sam Rivers, Pharaoh Sanders, L. Shankar, and Fred Anderson. He is known especially for his innovative small group and duo collaborations with Don Cherry, Jon Hassel, Wadada Leo Smith, and Omar Sosa. In 1988, he began his association with the legendary Yusef Lateef, with whom he has toured worldwide and recorded 14 albums, including the large ensemble collaborations The World at Peace (1995), Beyond the Sky (2000), and In The Garden (2003). In 2001, Rudolph founded Go: Organic Orchestra, a 22-piece woodwind and percussion ensemble dedicated to developing his compositional and rhythm concepts in a large group format. Rudolph is known as one the early innovators of world music. In 1977, he co-founded the Mandingo Griot Society (with Gambian griot Foday Musa Suso), one of the first bands to combine African and American music. In 1988, he recorded the first fusion of American and Gnawa (Moroccan) music with sintir player-singer Hassan Hakmoun. Rudolph runs his own Meta Records label, and has received grants and commissions from the Rockefeller Foundation, Meet the Composer, the Mary Flagler Cary Trust, the National Endowment for the Arts, Arts International, the Durfee Foundation, American Composers Forum, and Chamber Music America.