Culture Agent Podcast

From his early Jazz explorations with brother Alex to his work in support of artists such as Willie Nelson and Rickie Lee Jones, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline has constantly pushed the boundaries of his abilities as an instrumentalist, composer, and improviser. Named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the top 20 guitar gods, and "World’s most dangerous guitarist" by Jazz Times, his work is consistently diverse, adventurous, and really good. G.E. Stinson was a founding member of the influential, genre-defining, and Grammy winning group Shadowfax. Known for their world music influences, well crafted arrangements, and evocative melodies, the band helped shape a whole generation of music artists. For the last 2 decades, Stinson has been exploring other aspects of Jazz and improvisation, including recent forays into ‘bit crunching’. The two have played together, on and off, since the mid 90’s and, in the upcoming Sounds Are Active release titled “Elevating Device,” they bring every bit of their attention to bear for 40+ minutes of concentrated creation. The two sat down with me and talked about their collaboration, the process of creation, their gear, extended technique, and the addictive nature of fuzz. What emerges is a glimpse into the hearts and minds of two very talented artists, with some laughs (and interjections from Vlad the Dog) along the way.

Christopher Scoates, Director of the University Art Museum at California State University, Long Beach, has worked diligently during his four and a half years there to present works and artists that reflect a kind of modernity not often seen in established art exhibition spaces. Works that blend technology, interactivity, and narrative are often featured. In this audio interview, Scoates talks about the exhibition of Brian Eno's 77 Million Paintings, which includes a series of prints, and real time displays of new works being created. He speaks about the process which led to this show, and the other events surrounding it, including a Circuit Bending workshop and concert, a panel discussion featuring a number of forward thinking artists, the Slow Sound Festival, SoundWalk, and Eno’s only public appearance in the United States this year, at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. A few words about Brian Eno, for those unfamiliar with his work: It is almost impossible to conceive of modern music without Eno. He has worked in collaboration with innumerable music artists: Roxy Music, Devo, U2, Coldplay, David Bowie, The Talking Heads, Peter Gabrial, Paul Simon, Robert Fripp, John Cale, Ultravox, James, Geoffrey Oryema, Elvis Costello, Laurie Anderson. The list (he has 6 pages of credits on AllMusic.com) goes on and on. These working relationships weren’t casual, either. More often than not, Eno's participation led directly to a huge growth in artists' popularity and creativity. He's also released more than 30 genre defining solo albums, and almost single-handedly forged a new genre known as 'ambient.' Eno has also worked in the visual arts, creating early and award winning music videos for the Talking Heads, and a variety of mixed media installation works. He's been a significant participant in the Clock of the Long Now project, which will build a 10,000 year clock to help illustrate the risks associated with short-sighted actions. He's active in the area of generative creation, a systems based process that uses simple tools to create music, video, and static art filled with wonderful complexity. Tickets may still be available for his lecture at the Carpenter Center, but they’re sure to sell out. The opening and reception for the museum's exhibition takes place on Saturday, September 12th from 6-8 PM. Scoates will open the reception with a gallery talk.

Griselda Suarez joined the board of the Arts Council for Long Beach last October. She brought with her an undergraduate degree in fine art, a masters in writing, and a long history of creative and cultural community engagement. She currently serves as a Professor of Chicano Studies at CSULB, is an award winning poet and author, and is a passionate believer in the idea that arts make cities thrive. In this hour-long conversation with Culture Agent columnist Sander Roscoe Wolff, she talks about her history, her thoughts on the history and future of the Arts Council, and shares her contagious enthusiasm for the city's creative and cultural assets.

Singer, songwriter, and pianist Oleta Adams is performing this Saturday night, February 20, with celebrated Jazz pianist David Benoit, who will be conducting the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra Pops. Adams has performed on stages around the world, thrilling audiences as a solo performer, with her band, and with large ensembles and orchestras. Her career, which spans 4 decades and a variety of styles, is centered on her beautifully versatile voice. Steeped in Gospel, Jazz, and popular idioms, her artistry has inspired collaborations with Tears For Fears, Phil Collins, Michael Bolton, Al Jarreau and Luther Vandross, and earned her multiple Grammy nominations. In this interview with Culture Agent columnist Sander Roscoe Wolff, Adams shares insights into her childhood, working in Kansas City, and the strange trajectory of her storied career. For tickets and additional information about Saturday's performance: http://longbeachsymphony.org/concerts-events/an-evening-with-oleta-adams-and-david-benoit/ To learn more about Adams' touring schedule and album releases, visit: http://oletaadams.com/