Pocket Symphony
Coyly titled fred, eighth blackbird’s newest disc is completely devoted to the beloved musical radical Frederic Rzewski. The premiere recording of Pocket Symphony, a piece written for the ensemble, opens the CD and gives each of the players plenty of room to show what they’re made of (though rumor has it that the theatrical aspects of their performance not on display here make the piece a must-see should a live performance come to a town near you). Contrasting sharply with the composer’s engaging music, the Q&A-style liner notes between the band and Rzewski offer a bit of insight into his working process: “I never know what I’m doing until I’ve done it and even then I don’t know what I’ve done.”
—MS