Podcast #36 – Mummers Magpie Jammers
This could quite possibly be the strangest podcast I’ll ever do. But it’s just perfect for a belated Halloween Show.
In fact, the whole thing came about at a Halloween Party at a friend’s house where I met an unusual fellow and we got to talking about music. This show is the result.
Meet the Mummers Magpie Jammers. Information on them is sketchy at best. Getting information on them was nearly impossible, in fact, I wonder if the participants want to remain anonymous?
The main spokesman for the troupe, Seymour, also an artist, arranged the performance in conjunction with an exhibition of his art at the Forest Plaza Gallery on Elmwood Avenue. He invited me to record it for the podcast. It’s a far cry from my usual show, but keep an open mind and just maybe you’ll find something enjoyable. Or spooky!
There are no song titles. There are no songs, per se. Just an hour of free-flowing improvisation using any available sound-making devices, from real instruments, to improvised ones, to found objects, and the room itself. Photos will be posted to further enlighten.
In the podcast:
Definition of mummers from WorldWideWords
Interview with Seymour King and Melissa of Forest Plaza. You can find out more about the Forest Plaza gallery by contacting Melissa at forestplaza@melscamp.com or 716-400-3144. The gallery is at 1121 Elmwood Ave. at Forest in Buffalo NY 14222.
I talk a bit about Release The Monkey http://releasethemonkey.com/ – a new music-based alternative perfromance company being formed in Buffalo.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
[Podcast file has been moved to Archive.org]
Scott said,
November 5, 2006 at 9:43 pm
Al … definately different.
Buffalo Live! Music Podcast » Looking for Musicians for this Podcast said,
February 19, 2007 at 12:28 am
[...] As always, the usual limitations are 1. Original music, so that you can grant me permission to use it. 2. Local, somewhere in WNY within driving distance. I like live shows, but I’ll work with whatever you want, practice sessions, studio work, whatever you want to do. 3. In good taste, I’m not prudish about lyrics or anything, but I don’t want to run out of a club with my ears bleeding, either. It has to appeal to my listeners. I try to cover a broad spectrum of styles, so that’s not usually a problem. (If you think I shy away from the weird, check out my Podcast #36!) But mostly, I’m looking for good music. [...]