Ches Smith & Shara Lunon: dismantling musical conventions
Drummer Ches Smith and vocalist Shara Lunon join the podcast to discuss improvisation vs. jamming, punk's connection to jazz, and the process behind the extraordinary album Laugh Ash.
Today, the Spotlight was meant to shine On drummer, percussionist, and composer Ches Smith, whose album Laugh Ash was released earlier this year on Pyroclastic Records. As we arranged to get together, Ches suggested we include Shara Lunon, the transdisciplinary poet, vocalist, composer, and improviser featured on the album.
Laugh Ash is one of the most intriguing records I have encountered in quite some time, with its mix of form and improvisation, acoustic and synthetic, quiet and explosiveness.
In addition to Ches and Shara, the album includes an all-star cast from today’s creative music scene: flutist Anna Webber, clarinetist Oscar Noriega, tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, trumpeter Nate Wooley, violinist Jennifer Choi, violist Kyle Armbrust, cellist Michael Nicolas, and bassist/keyboardist Shahzad Ismaily.
It is an exciting work and we had a great conversation. Enjoy.
(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Ches Smith’s album Laugh Ash)
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Başak Günak, the Istanbul-born, Berlin-based sound artist also known as AH! KOSMOS, has a new album, Rewilding, set to drop on September 20th via Subtext Recordings.
The Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark frontman chats with Spotlight On producer and guest host Michael Donaldson about art movements, political treachery, Kraftwerk's impact, and the brilliant album Bauhaus Staircase.
The Toronto-based pianist launches his trio into the stratosphere with Gravity, a high-octane follow-up to their 2018 debut Got a Light? Out now, via CaneFire Records
Today, the Spotlight was meant to shine On drummer, percussionist, and composer Ches Smith, whose album Laugh Ash was released earlier this year on Pyroclastic Records. As we arranged to get together, Ches suggested we include Shara Lunon, the transdisciplinary poet, vocalist, composer, and improviser featured on the album.
Laugh Ash is one of the most intriguing records I have encountered in quite some time, with its mix of form and improvisation, acoustic and synthetic, quiet and explosiveness.
In addition to Ches and Shara, the album includes an all-star cast from today’s creative music scene: flutist Anna Webber, clarinetist Oscar Noriega, tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, trumpeter Nate Wooley, violinist Jennifer Choi, violist Kyle Armbrust, cellist Michael Nicolas, and bassist/keyboardist Shahzad Ismaily.
It is an exciting work and we had a great conversation. Enjoy.
(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Ches Smith’s album Laugh Ash)
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Dig Deeper
• Purchase Ches Smith’s Laugh Ash on Qobuz or Bandcamp, and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Visit Ches Smith at chessmith.com and follow him on Instagram and Facebook
• Visit Shara Lunon at sharalunon.com and follow her on Instagram
• Ches Smith’s ‘Laugh Ash’ Is Exhilarating Music
• Shahzad Ismaily: He listens. He improvises. Meet the ‘music doula.’
• Marc Ribot + Ceramic Dog
• Ches Smith and We All Break: Path of Seven Colors review – a tour de force of jazz innovation
• Congs for Brums - A Complete and Tonal Distaster
• List of Famous Bands from Sacramento
• X-Ray Spex’s Poly Styrene is focus of gripping documentary
• Punk, purity, and positive mental attitude: The turbulent tale of Bad Brains
• Brazilian psych-rockers Som Imaginário will give you an eargasm
• Motion Man
• Terry Riley - Shri Camel
• On Minimalism: Kerry O’Brien and William Robin in conversation
• Improvisation and Jamming - the Similarities and Differences
• Ches Smith About Improvisation
• ListN Up Playlist: Shara Lunon
–
• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
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