NoC Music
There are musicians who become proficient on their instruments, but who then choose to work within the established confines of a particular style or category of music. Then there are those who choose to use their proficiency to explode those categories and follow new directions. Percussionist and gong-bower Tatsuya Nakatani falls in the second group.
The music Nakatani plays is experimental in the truest sense of the word. Using a combination of traditional drums and percussive instruments and various sticks, bows, bowls, and found objects, Nakatani improvises soundscapes, moving from gentle to jarring in masterful fashion.
On Saturday, May 21st, Nakatani returns to Lexington for the third time since 2006. On past visits he’s collaborated with Lexington’s respected drummer and percussionist Dave ; this time, however, he’s bringing with him to town a brand new concept—The Nakatani Gong Orchestra. The orchestra is unique to each city, as its membership consists of volunteers from the local community, who are not necessarily percussionists, or even musicians.
Each orchestra consists of five people performing on 5 gong kits, with Nakatani acting as the ensemble’s conductor. The aim of the N.G.O. is to creates a metallic temple of deep harmonies, a beauty of spaces. All of the stands, bows and mallets are assembled or hand-made by Nakatani himself, which he considers an important phase of the composing process.
The members of the Lexington N.G. O. are Mike “The Geek” Bray, Matt Gibson, Jonathan Hampton, Nicholas Larkey, and Michael Lunsford. The performance will consist of two sets: one with the N.G.O., and the other a solo performance by Nakatani.
Collexion is located at the corner of Loudon and N. Limestone, behind the Hop Hop building. Showtime is at 8 P.M.; doors open at 7:30. A suggested donation of $5 helps defray the cost of the performance.
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