William Hooker discusses his new multimedia work, Chimes. Directed and composed by the American jazz drummer and poet, Chimes incorporates music, dance, and film created in collaboration with Hans Tammen (electronics, guitar), Ka’a Davis (acoustic guitar), Theodore Woodward (synth, visuals), and Michael Battle (dance).
William Hooker: drums, direction
Hans Tammen: electronics, guitar
Ka’a Davis: Acoustic Guitar
Theodore Woodward: synth, visuals
Michael Battle: dance
William Hooker has a long history of premiering work at Roulette. Beginning in 1988, his rich interdisciplinary performances incorporating dance, music, visuals, poetry, and historical texts have illustrated the Great Migration – the historical movement of African Americans from the American South to points north during the years of 1935–1950, the life of activist and writer James Baldwin, and the work of novelist Richard Wright. TOUCH: Soul and Service, the third in a series of multi-disciplinary performances which included 2018’s The Great Migration and 2016’s EVIDENCE: The Baldwin Suite was scheduled to premiere on March 15, 2020 and was the first show suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hooker shot a studio visit with Roulette TV in the weeks prior and Chimes will be his first concert at Roulette since.