In some lounges, the music is con
sumed by the clatter of the silverware,
the whir of the blender or the ring of
the cash register. The notes are
relegated to the background, intend
ed more to stimulate the stomach than
the mind.
Pianist Larry Natwick, half of a duet
that plays each week Monday through
Wednesday at Biederbeck’s, says
he’s experienced that banishment
from center stage and was concerned
about the possibility when he first took
the job.
“It's working out a lot differently
than we expected. The crowds have
been very receptive. Obviously it’s
changed not having a drummer. But,
we haven’t altered our repertoire. We
made up our minds that we wouldn’t
fall into the trap of becoming animat
ed muzak.”
Still, Natwick and his partner, bas
sist Andre St. James, don’t dominate
the atmosphere of the basement club.
It’s possible to talk above the music
and Natwick admits that the tempta
tion is to change the music when the
audience is inattentive.
“There’s a tendency to become
more introspective if you play where
people aren’t listening. But we can
keep it challenging and still commun
icate. New material is always good as
is dealing with tunes in new keys, new
times.”
The duo works without drums, and,
while admitting that it changes things,
Natwick says the lack of cadences
doesn’t hamper the music.
“Most of the rhythm is implied. Our
timing is strong enough that we can
take it out and people will still be
tapping their.foot, even though
there’s nothing sustaining the line."
In fact, Natwick contends the
smallness of the group allows for
greater flexibility.
"We can take it out a lot easier
without having to worry about other
people. The other night we played
almost a whole set just leading each
other into different tunes rather than
breaking them up.
"We're supportive of each other;
it’s not just a piano with bass accom
paniment. It’s two musicians working
together. Some tunes I don’t even
solo on, but just back up Andre."
Natwick says he was concerned
about more than the audience re
sponse when considering the Bieder
beck’s job.
“It’s easy, especially in a small town
like this, to just please the audience
and fall short of the goals you should
be setting for yourself. There’s not
that many groups to see and the
audience won’t place heavy demands
on you — there isn't as much pressure
to develop. So the musician has to
sort of play for himself, be his own
worst critic.”
Natwick and St. James don’t play
many original pieces, a situation
Natwick promises to change. Still, he
explains that doing other people’s
music can be rewarding.
“But I hope to never fall into the
syndrome of taking another’s tune
and trying to do it exactly the way
some other performer’s done it. The
challenge is to be creative within
whatever form you’re working with —
Larry Natwick and Andre St. James
stretch it as much as you can.”
And Natwick dismisses concern
that the music might get too elastic for
the audience.
“The sophistication is there. Just
relating on the emotional level, good
jazz music has always been there, and
it always will be, no matter how out
side it gets. Consider the World Sax
ophone Quartet. These four players
are very avant-garde, very free with
their music. But the people who saw
them in Portland described them as
very entertaining. Whether you were
into that kind of music or not, you had
to enjoy it. There was a lot of energy. ”
Those interested in listening to
Natwick's energy should stop by
Biederbeck’s Monday, Tuesday or
Wednesday between 8:30 p.m. and
12:30 am.
By Glen Ozonewood
Photo by Jimmi Harris
Eugene Opera
sponsors S.E
opera company
The Western Opera Theatre, the tour
ing affiliate of the San Francisco Opera,
is coming to Eugene. In its fourteenth
year of touring operatic productions in
English, the company is presenting one
performance of Johann Strauss Jr’s. Die
Fledermaus.
Die Fledermaus, composed in 1874, is
a whirl of mischief, disguises, mistaken
identities and memorable melodies in
waltz time. Its story is full of familiar
characters — the philandering but
jealous husband, the wronged but flirta
tious wife and the intriguer who sets up
the entire farce.
Sponsored by Eugene Opera, Die
Fledermaus performs Sunday at 3:30
p.m. in the South Eugene High School
Auditorium. Ticket prices are $7 and $5
for reserved seating, $2 for senior ci
tizens and a limited number of free tick
ets for full-time students with valid
identification. Reduced senior prices
and free student tickets are made possi
ble through a purchase by the City of
Eugene using room tax funds. Further
ticket information may be obtained by
calling 485-3985 or 485-3983. The box
office is located in the Eugene Opera
dffices, 115 West 7th Ave.
The company is also seeking ushers.
Duties will include approximately one
hour of service in exchange for free
admission to the opera.
>V
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for all the news
• OneBSQff
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t uu rift on *
Robert Webb, peerless entertainment editor, has not written
the weekly Hear and Now Staff Box, so how can he complain about
folks not meeting the Thursday before publication deadline? I
mean, here it is, Monday night, and he’s talking some trash about
"having the proper stimulus ” So, I (Sally Oljar, the lowly
copy-editor) had to do it myself. Designer Jerril Nilson and erudite
apprentice Erzsi De'ak didn't even help, but then, they do the
creative work around here.
»
WIN
A NIKON
IN THE 5th ANNUAL
COLOR
PHOTOGRAPHY
CONTEST
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES
APRIL 30, 1980
STOP IN AT DOT DOTSON S
FOR DETAILS
IfcJotson’s
WE COMPLETE THE PICTURE
"When Die Wblhiire had
its premiere in 1876, the critics
loued it. On that note, I poured
myself a Grenzqueir
-R. Wagner
Grenzquell is one of Germany's premium beers. In fact, it’s so highly regarded by Germans that
they reserve it for special occasions.
Over 500 years of experience in the art of creating a tine natural beer has
given Grenzquell a flavor rich, yet mellow. A flavor that tells
you with every sip that this day is, indeed, special. And
Grenzquell is available in a superb dark Pilsner as well.
So, if you’ve got something coming up that calls
for a really special beer, try one Germans drink on
special occasions. Grenzquell Wagner would have
applauded your decision.
Imported from Germans by Olvmpia Imports. Olympia, Washington
A BEER
GERMANS DRINK
ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS.
Page 3 Section B