Posts Tagged ‘Sundance’

I happened upon a documentary on the Sundance Channel about a singer/songwriter/cellist named Arthur Russell who performed in the famous “Kitchen” (a downtown avant-garde performance space) in New York. His music is amazing and spans the realms of folk, rock, soundscapes and dance. Just totally unique and amazing sounds.

He was relatively unknown during his lifetime, and a series of reissues and compilations have raised his profile in the 2000’s. Russell died of AIDS on April 4, 1992, at the age of 40. In an April 28 th column, Kyle Gann of The Village Voice wrote: “His recent performances had been so infrequent due to illness, his songs were so personal, that it seems as though he simply vanished into his music.”

This guys was WAY ahead of his time. Many of the indie folk dance sounds coming out today don’t touch the freshness of some of his sounds. I suggest browsing his records in iTunes and see what you like. There are so many different styles, you are sure to hear a few songs that turn you on.

Listen: Arthur Russell – That’s Us/Wild Combination

Listen: Arthur Russell – I Couldn’t Say It to Your Face

Listen: Arthur Russell – See My Brother, He’s Jumping Out (Let’s Go Swimming #1)

Author: Coach