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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 2002)
Taarka bassist finds time for solo album CD review Aaron Shakra Pulse Reporter James Whiton is a busy man. He’s bassist for the band Taarka, and ac cording to his Web site, www.jameswhiton.com, he’s also currently involved with three other groups. Not to mention past accom plishments, namely as co-leader of the rock band Apricot Jam. And in spite of all of this, he has found time this year to record and release his own solo disc, “Rhythm & Motion.” The Seattle-based musician’s solo project may bear his name, but the music’s focus isn’t placed entirely on Whiton. Instead of acting as a band leader, he plays host to the other musicians featured on the disc. Many more prolific, higher budget albums don’t sound as good as “Rhythm & Motion.” And much like the Taarka album that Whiton was involved with, the album was recorded all at once, without over dubs. This equates to no second chances — what’s there is there, captured forever. The tracks might be considered “traditional,” in that they’re mostly a combination of funk, jazz and rock styles. The arrangements are tight, comprised of horns, guitars and keyboards — not to mention Whiton on the double bass. Many are clearly very talented; Lewi O. Longmire on guitar and pedal steel, and Bill Jones on trumpet, among others. The songs alternately fea ture Whiton’s poetry and Longmire and John Oliver’s singing. One standout is “Ancient He roes,” an eight-minute poetry piece that begins with Whiton’s words and occasionally gives way to instru mental interludes (the funk guitar screams here). In a delivery that could be likened to beat or scat, Whiton’s poem starts “Smoke crowds the unwashed I / on nights when whiskey swirls / and all the colors run together / and all the beautiful girls / lit up by the neon, winking through the smoke.” The most rhythmically interest ing tracks are the appropriately ti tled “5/4,” 6/8” and “7/16 (Michael’s Groove).” In mainstream music to day, these time signatures seem more and more uncommon. Unfortunately, the disc is not wide ly available, in music stores or other wise. Interested listeners will have to order it from Whiton’s Web site. Contact the Pulse reporter at aaronshakra@dailyemerald.com. 1525 Franklin Bivd. Eugene, OR 97402 541-343-2828 11:30am-9:00pm Daily Cnua Buffer Szechwan and Mandarin dishes to choose from Come eat buffet-style or order to go 0150671 SKI SWAP Lane County Fairgrounds October 24, 25, 26 THURSDAY Consign Equipment 9 A.M. - 9 p.m. FRIDAY Consign Equipment 9 A.M. - 5 P.M. TM SALE Friday 6 P.M. - 9 P.M. Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. l35 JSb Presented by Willamette Pass, Willamette Backcountry Patrol and Hoodoo Ski Patrol The mountain isn’t. Unrestricted 5-day mini pass. Just$179. Express Pass also available. (On sale two days only at BergV ^ Ski Shop, October 24 and 25. 4 Limit one per person.) When an endless series of winter storms from the Pacific collides with Central Oregon’s high desert, something special happens. At Mt. Bachelor, we call it 3,7oo exhilarating acres of the lightest, driest powder on the You’ll call it the best winter getaway of the season. For information, call 800.829.2442 or visit our Web site at mtbachelor.com. My House continued from page 7 nates most of the events for the do-it yourself venue. His graduate research parallels the same “DIY” theme. He said that the idea of do-it-yourself came out of the late 1970s punk-rock movement, and he considers it “com pletely grassroots.” “There is no other forum in Eugene for this kind of work,” Moscato said. Shoestring budgets, a great amount of independence and an at tention to craftsmanship are com mon themes behind much of the work coming out of the house. Moscato considers the promotional materials — small, silk-screened, hand-collated booklets — pieces of art in themselves. Citing independent film as an ex ample, Moscato discussed how main stream artwork has become superfi cial. What’s considered film by mainstream media is frequently a multimillion-dollar picture with a large amount of corporate backing. “Independent film’s a kind of per verted word — it doesn’t really mean it’s independent,” Moscato said. Moscato has planned anti-war ac tivist rallies in the past, and said that he sees My House as way to bring to gether community members mutu ally interested in artistic endeavors. The shows don’t exist as venues for one-dimensional purposes — they’re a method to create a “strong net work of people.” “There needs to be a forum for art work to be made for people,” he said. “I view this work as part of my ac tivism — building relationships with people. It’s a method of change.” "It feels like they're coming into a community instead of a venue " Jesse Garlick My House home owner Garlick, who owns the home, is a coordinator and also works the door during events. He said My House was an opportunity just waiting to happen. “I kind of felt guilty that there was all the extra space,” he said. Garlick also cooks dinner for in coming artists. “It helps,” he said. “It feels like they’re coming into a community in stead of a venue.” Many of the performers spent the night earlier this year for a show fea turing Finnish musicians Aavikko and local band Qui Quiri Qui. People camped out on the front lawn, base ment, living room and deck. My House coordinator Kate Wil son is relatively new to the project. A friend of Moscato’s, she has helped with promotion by distributing posters and recording a public serv ice announcement that airs on KWVA campus radio. She was in volved with the house’s “Make It Bet ter” workshop, which enlisted the help of Eugene residents to create a book and interactive exhibit. “I think it’s a constructive way to spend my time,” Wilson said. The “Make It Better” book is on sale at the house, along with a wide selection of homemade ’zines. My House also exhibits photogra phy and visual arts. Its most recent event, the “PDX DIY Show” show brought the work of Erin McKillip & Lin Stone to the house’s walls. The exhibit will run through November, and also features one of Moscato’s art installations. “Anyone can do this,” Moscato said. “It’s not hard.” Contact the Pulse reporter at aaronshakra@dailyemerald.com.
