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Atonal high modernism is not exactly a common style among African American composers, but it certainly exists in the work of George Walker and others. The conception of this two-act opera, however, is unique. Afterword traces the founding and early history of Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), even drawing in some passages on recordings of actual conversations leading to the avant-garde jazz collective's formation in 1965. Composer and trombonist George Lewis is a member of the group himself and has written studies of its development. This may not sound like operatic material, but sample the opening vocal scene, "Down South," where the players reflect on the repressive Southern environment that caused the musicians to migrate to Chicago. What Lewis does is capture an atmosphere of creative excitement, and he successfully fuses spiky modernist textures with elements of jazz improvisation; the work does not really sound like what one would hear at an AACM performance but is something of a classical abstraction of such material. The dramatic impetus slows somewhat in the second act, and one could argue that the work takes on oratorio-like qualities. Afterword has enjoyed several performances in different parts of the U.S., but this performance, by the singers (soprano Joelle Lamarre, contralto Gwendolyn Brown, and tenor Julian Terrell Otis) and forces (the International Contemporary Ensemble) for whom the work was composed, may be taken as definitive. The sound from New Focus Recordings, recorded live at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art in 2015, is clear and direct.
© James Manheim /TiVo
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George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
DISC 2
George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
George Lewis, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist - Jacob Greenberg, Mixer, Editor - International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist - David Fulmer, Conductor, MainArtist - Ryan Streber, Editor, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer - Gwendolyn Brown, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Levy Lorenzo, RecordingEngineer - Joelle Lamarre, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Terrell Otis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
Album review
Atonal high modernism is not exactly a common style among African American composers, but it certainly exists in the work of George Walker and others. The conception of this two-act opera, however, is unique. Afterword traces the founding and early history of Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), even drawing in some passages on recordings of actual conversations leading to the avant-garde jazz collective's formation in 1965. Composer and trombonist George Lewis is a member of the group himself and has written studies of its development. This may not sound like operatic material, but sample the opening vocal scene, "Down South," where the players reflect on the repressive Southern environment that caused the musicians to migrate to Chicago. What Lewis does is capture an atmosphere of creative excitement, and he successfully fuses spiky modernist textures with elements of jazz improvisation; the work does not really sound like what one would hear at an AACM performance but is something of a classical abstraction of such material. The dramatic impetus slows somewhat in the second act, and one could argue that the work takes on oratorio-like qualities. Afterword has enjoyed several performances in different parts of the U.S., but this performance, by the singers (soprano Joelle Lamarre, contralto Gwendolyn Brown, and tenor Julian Terrell Otis) and forces (the International Contemporary Ensemble) for whom the work was composed, may be taken as definitive. The sound from New Focus Recordings, recorded live at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art in 2015, is clear and direct.
© James Manheim /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 17 track(s)
- Total length: 01:57:35
- 2 Digital booklets
- Main artists: International Contemporary Ensemble Joelle Lamarre Gwendolyn Brown Julian Terrell Otis
- Composer: George Lewis
- Label: Tundra
- Genre: Classical
2023 George Lewis 2023 George Lewis
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