Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 21:16:23 -0500 From: Zach Steiner <zsteiner@butler.edu>
"After a controversial 1998 solo concert in Washington D. C. attracted a considerable amount of attention to Rainey's music." (from the AMG). Does any one know what was so controversial about? Was it just the music or were there other circumstances that made it controversial? Thanks.
The other responses were basically correct. Since I organized the concert, I can fill in a few details. It was a double bill - Baltimore's Music in the Key of Zero trio (John Berndt et al) and Bhob solo. I organized the concert over the phone - it was the easiest venue arrangement I ever did, maybe 5 minutes total conversation - the owner seemed completely acquiescent and had no constraints - I did describe the music as "avant-garde free-improvised music" to her, fwiw. Anyway, the trio played, then Bhob started. But evidently a couple of the regulars or maybe the staff (the owner was never there that night) disliked the music to the extent they called the owner. She called back, and the phone was held up so she could hear Bhob's microtonal playing, which she was aghast at (. She had me come to the phone, said it sounded like a 4 year-old practicing, and demanded that the concert be stopped. After arguing fruitlessly, I went up to Bhob, whispered to him we were being kicked out, and then told the audience, "I'm sorry, but the owner hates the music tonight, and is kicking us out.". Later she calls back and bitches that I had "no right" to tell the people that! ha. Anyway, the concert continued outside in a nearby park as previously described. The incident sparked a little write-up in the Washington City Paper, and 3 subsequent weeks of letter-writing, one from the irate owner and two from audience members (ragging on her and the staff). It did qualify as 'infamous', all told. :) I didn't know it was referenced in AMG - kinda odd. But it did make the internet music-discussion rounds at the time. I thought I posted a description to rmb, but can't find it in google. Either I misremember, or those particular archives weren't recovered by them. -- Vincent Kargatis np: Steve Lacy & Roswell Rudd - "Brilliant Corners" (School Days)