Concert Review
By Judith A. Coe The Acoustic and Electronic Music of Mark Applebaum Faculty Artist Series at McComas Theatre Thursday, September 10, 1998
Mississippi State University featuring: Mark Applebaum, piano, sound-sculptures
guitarScott Bauer, trumpet
London Branch, contrabass and The Sacrifice Quarte t
Gail Levinsky, soprano saxophone
Josh Power, alto saxophone
James Bell, tenor saxophone
Kevin Poe, baritone saxophone The second movement, Acting, used inflected blues rhythms with a hip, very cool, steady wind-up, walking through a tonal scenario, where, mid-way through, a badly muted bass key on the piano halted the performance. Applebaum got up and inspected the inside of the piano, asked the page turner to examine it as well, and then used his cell phone to call someone to fix the problem. An AAA mechanic in a jumpsuit rolled out an electronic keyboard, tried the pedals, connected the keyboard to the grand piano with jumper cables and "jump-started" the piano. The movement ended on a questioning, ascending jazz arpeggio, and the musical tourist is left pondering where creativity would be without technology, and where technology would be without creativity. The remainder of the concert was a delightful and accomplished jazz combo performance by Mark Applebaum on piano, Scott Bauer on trumpet, London Branch on acoustic bass, and Chad Anderson on drums. The combo performed two of Applebaum's pieces: 8 Years, written for his wife on their 8th anniversary, and the frenetic and sparkling Tornado Food. Arrangements of Wayne Shorter's Footprints and Victor Young's Beautiful Love were particularly exquisite, aided by Bauer's mellifluous horn-playing, Branch's fabulously versatile bass-playing, and Anderson's exceptional rhythmic expression. Applebaum's compositions exhibit an unusually broad scope and an engaging fusion of intellect, playfulness, and superb craft. | |
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