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.
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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.