matana-roberts-at-the-roundhouse

[medjuck]

I'm not familiar with her, but IIRC (and I often don't) she has some fans here who might be interest in this review:

https://thebluemoment.com/2024/04/26/matana-roberts-at-the-roundhouse/

[tranemonk]

I saw her at Newport a few years back and she did the same thing. I understand what she was trying to do but it didn't work for me. I am not in the "shut up and play" crowd but there are times when an artist should give the audience what they came for.

[JSngry]

I like her records a lot.

I might have enjoyed that show as well, although probably more iaf there had been more playing.

But she does sound like she would be fun to hang out with!

[mjazzg]

I was there. It was a heartwarming and involving performance, about an hour of them (I believe that's Matana's preferred pronoun) riffing on heritage, history, politics and their new pet dog.  They played some very nice soprano interludes although it was all pretty seamless and of a piece. I've seen them play enough times to not be bothered by this chat based performance. I do wonder whether mention of a head cold may have influenced what was performed.

They opened for Lonnie Holly whose set was absolutely mind-blowing, my first experience of his music live (I enjoy his visual art a lot). There's a very deep well being visited to great effect there.

[rostasi]

I enjoy her work and a spoken word performance is just that.
Lonnie Holley too! I remember one of his performances where
we'd all walk thru the streets of Knoxville collecting scraps of
found objects to play on the way.

[mjazzg]

25 minutes ago, rostasi said:

I enjoy her work and a spoken word performance is just that.
Lonnie Holley too! I remember one of his performances where
we'd all walk thru the streets of Knoxville collecting scraps of
found objects to play on the way.

That sounds great and makes perfect sense. A retrospective is opening here in the summer, I'll keep an eye on the streets nearby...