Somewhat OT: Music from Jaron Lanier

Last night, while I was driving home from the Busking Scofflaws* dinner and jam session, I heard the premier of Jaron Lanier’s new CD, Columns of Air, on the local PRI affiliate, WNYC.

Holy cow is it good!

For those who haven’t heard of him, Jaron is a 21st century rennaissance man, an artist and computer scientist and a modern classical composer and musician. This album is a collaboration with virtuoso experimental flute player Robert Dick.

The CD is modern classical, played on all acoustic instruments, many of them obscure, ancient ethnic instruments. It’s going to be released today or tomorrow. If you have any interest in this sort of stuff, do a web search for Jaron Lanier, Robert Dick, or Columns of Air. They’re playing live at Joe’s Pub (NYC) tonight.


*for those with short memories, The Busking Scofflaws are Tom Dowling, Amanderthad, Bloomfield and myself, plus new members PhilO and Steve A., a Bill Ochs protege who lurks here but doesn’t post.

Is Jaron the fellow who got lot’s of press having to do with virtual reality a few years ago? Interesting looking guy with dreadlocks…

-Brett

Oooh, i don’t know him, but Robert Dick is a famous fabulous flutist.

Jaron is generally credited with having coined the phrase “virtual reality.” And yes, he’s a white guy with long dreads.

You’ll like this recording, Glauber. Dick plays all kinds of flutes, including the tectonic plate shifting sub-contra bass flutes.