Archive Dive: Staff Picks
As a part of the ongoing work of The Creative Audio Archive at ESS, we present Archive Dive - a regular newsletter featuring unheard recordings and ephemera related to the collections housed in the CAA. Items shared here are In Copyright: Education Use Permitted. By clicking the private links below, you agree that you will not make public, copy, distribute, or otherwise put to use any of the recordings featured here without the written consent of ESS and/or the rights holder(s), except for educational purposes. For more information on the recordings and/or collections included below, please contact haruhi@ess.org or visit: http://www.creativeaudioarchive.org.
It's only been a month since Matt Mehlan's departure from ESS, and with some more rapid changes to follow, I believe it’s worth starting with a short introduction - Hello! I’m Haruhi Kobayashi, the archives assistant for the past year and a half supporting Matt and the many impressive collections we have here.
To kick things off, I wanted to bring you our staff picks - our favorite items from our creative audio archive collection:
Adam Vida - Managing Director
Vernon Reid & Laraaji, Live at Inroads, January 15th, 1981
Studio Henry Collection, SH-001
"This selection is from the Studio Henry Collection which consists of audio documentation of performances that took place in New York City from 1979-1986. Vernon Reid and Laraaji performed a set of improvisations live at Inroads on January 15, 1981 — 3 years before Reid formed Living Colour. The set is a sonic exploration that combines Reid's wobbly and jagged guitar stylings with Laraaji's shimmery autoharp & bells landscapes. Side B is particularly intriguing as the duo settles into some heavily rhythmic passages together."
Alex Inglizian - Technical Director, Chief Engineer
Isotope 217, Live at Empty Bottle, August 25th, 1999
Malachi Ritscher Collection, MR-0914
"Isotope 217 defined a unique sound that is truly 'Chicago'! There is no genre that can embody their music. This recording demonstrates the vast landscape of sonic expirations into rhythm, melody, noise, and chaos, while still holding on tight to jazz and rock idioms they members are clearly influenced by."
Olivia Junell - Development & Outreach Director
ESS Gala 2021 Single Edition Release, Jim O'Rourke, 2021
Experimental Sound Studio Collection
Details: In 2021, Jim O'Rourke donated a single edition of new music for ESS to auction off in order to help raise funds as part of ESS's annual fundraising event. The winner of that auction has generously allowed ESS to include a digital copy of this work in the ESS Collection of the Creative Audio Archive
"This work was donated by Jim O'Rourke as a single-edition recording for auction at ESS's 2021 fundraiser. The supporter who had the winning bid on it very generously donated a digital copy of the recording to the Creative Audio Archive for preservation. I'm including this not only because it's a great listen, but also as an example of the amazing generosity of this community, both among the artists and among the listeners. How fortunate we are to be a part of this space and culture. Side note: Jim O'Rourke kicked off our 2021 OPTION season, which this year kicked off with an amazing performance and interview by evicshen!"
*Full version is available upon request.
Ralph Loza - ESS Media Manager & Studio Associate
Whenever The Breeze Blows, Julia Holter & Olivia Block, May Chapel at Rosehill Cemetery, June 2, 2018
ESS Collection, Outer Ear Residency 2018
“This piece offers an important collaboration of ideas and process between two highly regarded artists in two parallel spheres of experimental composition, one from a DIY “indie dream pop” lens and another from a notated “new music” lens. It’s also a piece that was fully incubated within the walls of ESS, and features many artistic improvisers who have helped shape today’s sound in Chicago.”
Omar Dyette - Marketing Manager
AJ McClenon, Amina Ross, & Jared Brown, Quarantine Concert, July 30th, 2020
ESS Collection, Quarantine Concert 2020
Details: A multimedia game of musical tag between three incredibly talented artists during the height of the pandemic.
Kelsey McFalls - Development Associate
Joe McPhee & Tomeka Reid, TQC Sequesterfest 6, June 19, 2021
ESS Collection, The Quarantine Concert 2021
"This performance was part of Corbett vs. Dempsey's sixth Sequesterfest series, featuring saxophonist, trumpeter, and valve trombonist Joe McPhee and cellist Tomeka Reid. McPhee is a creative music legend. His 1970 record Nation Time remains one of the classics of free music, a call-to-arms for multiple generations of listeners who have answered the question: "What time is it?!" As a theme for this Juneteenth encounter with Chicago-based cellist Reid, one of the leading lights of today's global improvised music scene, McPhee suggested a line from "Lift Every Voice and Sing," often referred to as the Black National Anthem. "Lift every voice and sing/Till earth and heaven ring," the song goes. "Ring with the harmonies of liberty/Let our rejoicing rise/High as the listening skies/Let it resound loud as the rolling sea."
Haruhi Kobayashi - Archive Assistant
City of the Winds (La Cité Des Vents), Filmed by Gilles Corr, January, 2003
Fred Anderson Collection, FA-028
"As someone who is relatively new to the experimental sound community in Chicago, this documentary is a snapshot into this wonderful industry. The artists interviewed are the godparents of the Chicago sound we know today - Ken Vandermark, Lauren Deutsch, Tatsu Aoki and Ed Wilkerson to name a few. It's such an exciting piece of work to watch and listen to the greats of Chicago sound."
As ESS continues to grow along with our community, our staff will continue to divide and conquer. I believe the best way for CAA to step into this new era is to allow different voices to be amplified, expressed, and dig deep back into what each collection represents and how it's shaped us now. As the search continues for our next Archive Manager, I'm excited to continue sharing our ideas and thoughts through the lens of our archival collection. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me about any archival requests, thoughts, concerns or ideas.
Looking forward to listening some more.
Best Wishes,
Haruhi Kobayashi