MUSE: Breaking Artistic Ground

Dean Christesen — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:38:00 +0000

Scott Burton and Glows in the Dark, along with Fight the Big Bull, will be hosting Matana Roberts for a performance on May 22, 2009, at MUSE Creative Workspace.

by Joey Ciucci
photos by Dean Christesen

Ashby Anderson is a piano player who performs concerts, not a keyboardist who plays shows. He is a composer concerned with the historical and structural intersections of mood, form, and rhythm. He is a theorist who relishes mathematical chordal relationships and harmonic connectedness. For Anderson, these are important distinctions, and his reverence for acoustic jazz played in traditional formats is palpable. Despite his preference for old style performance settings, his writing style is a taut, contemporary, rhythmic stew that that encompasses Anderson’s well delineated musical philosophy.

Anderson furthers his vision as the founder of Richmond’s MUSE Creative Workspace, a converted Shockoe Bottom warehouse that serves as a performance space, music school, art gallery, and community gathering place. On May 22, MUSE will host Glows in the Dark with special guest saxophonist Matana Roberts. This is the type of event that Anderson envisioned when he created MUSE—presentations of high quality, performance-centered concerts, featuring distinctive Richmond groups in an intimate setting.

MUSE’s uniquely organic vibe, a mix between a house show and a formal concert, is a testament to Anderson’s passion as well as the myriad of activities that go on there. The lovingly restored building's functional and funky décor offers comfortable settings for individual and group lessons (many offered through the Richmond Youth Jazz Guild) as well as acoustic concerts.

MUSE’s strength lies in its diverse philosophy. Although Anderson notes that Muse was born out of frustration over a lack of performance-centered environments, the overwhelming feeling once you enter the studio is one of forward-thinking hope and inclusion. When I had the opportunity to interview Mr. Anderson for this article, I felt lucky and empowered to converse with him. Mr. Anderson was enlightening without being didactic, a characteristic which surely helps him reach his students, and his concept offered a holistic creative ethos, powered by surroundings, family, respect for the past, and a keen desire to break new artistic ground.

Anderson’s fingerprints are all over MUSE, in its physical layout and its confident, optimistic backdrop. Look for Glows in the Dark, Fight the Big Bull, and Matana Roberts to incorporate MUSE’s distinctive character into already formidable and inspiring music.

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An Aural Painting of Richmond's History

Dean Christesen — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:29:00 +0000

Ashby Anderson will be presenting his Historic Richmond Jazz Suite on Sunday at 3 pm at MUSE Creative Workspace. Debuted in 2006, the four movements - "The Devil's Half-Acre," "Locomotive 231," "Steppin'," and "Soul of 2nd Street" - tell the story of African-American history and folklore in Richmond.

The Historic Richmond Jazz Suite is purely my musical statement about things in and around me. The suite has taken two years to complete, reflect and learn. Since all artists need a subject to work with, I chose historical people, places and events. These subjects have always intrigued me. The folkloric quality of the buried train, the Devil's Half-Acre, and Gabriel's Rebellion (not in this musical collection) produce strong emotions and images that deserve attention. It is my conviction that my music will always be about something. Therefore, I draw inspiration from my immediate environment. For this work, I tuned in more and more to my surroundings. I did research, visited official historical markers, and spoke with knowledgeable people. My goal for this commission was to interpret these historical occurrences into works of music.
Taken from the Jazz Composer's Alliance website

The piece is being performed by Anderson's A Work of Art Ensemble, which consists of Anderson (piano), Kevin Simpson (tenor sax), Matt Hall (bass), Kevin Davis (percussion), Marcus Tenney (trumpet), Alex Powers (trombone), and Billy Williams (drums).

On Friday, check out Moods of Monk at MUSE, which will feature visual art by Nicole Elise Black and simultaneous music by Anderson's Creative Music Ensemble.

Sunday, April 20, 2008
The Black History Museum and Cultural Center Presents:
The Historic Richmond Jazz Suite
MUSE Creative Workspace
3 pm
$12 Museum members, $15 general public
[where: 6 N. 19th St., Richmond, VA 23223]

Friday, April 25, 2008
Moods of Monk
MUSE Creative Workspace
6:30 pm
Admission TBA
[where: 6 N. 19th St., Richmond, VA 23223]