Helen Sung/Ron Carter @ RMA 2/6/09

This was awesome. I had to go, especially because of the acoustic aspect. I know piano and bass are already acoustic, but no mics in this room is very special. Also, I don't remember seeing these 2 listed together on any other gigs.

The first and last piece were Monk compositions. The 2nd was Helen's piece she was required to do to graduate from the Thelonious Monk Institute. There was another piece and then a few of Ron Carter's compositions.

Next was a long piece that was inspired by the museum pieces Helen selected. It was a piece in 4 movements with a coda. I see from the listing this was a specially commissioned suite inspired by the female deities of the Himalayan pantheon. She composed about the rhythm of the art. It was pretty cool how she chose a bunch of art that had dancing figures. I would have liked to do the after-tour to find out more about them, but I had to rush off for the Zorn stuff.

Harlem in the Himalayas: Helen Sung/Ron Carter Duo;
$18 in advance/
$20 on the day of/
$7 Student Stand-By
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART
150 WEST 17 STREET, NEW YORK CITY 1 www.rmanyc.org 212.620.5000 x344
Featuring the premiere of a specially commissioned suite composed by Helen Sung inspired by the female deities of the Himalayan pantheon. Helen Sung has been called "one of the brightest emerging stars in jazz today." Breaking stereotypes as an Asian-American female jazz pianist and composer, Helen’s work in classical, jazz, and popular music gives her a compelling, unique voice. A graduate of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, she has gone on to work with such masters as Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, and Wayne Shorter; and with luminaries including Steve Turre, T.S. Monk, and Regina Carter. She is also a busy bandleader; her project NuGenerations was selected as a 2009 Rhythm Road ensemble and will tour as American musical ambassadors. Helen’s experience at the Monk Institute inspires her to remain involved with music education through workshops and performing with arts organizations benefiting young people.