UAF guest artist Robert Black to highlight new music

Submitted by Scott Deal
Phone: (907) 474-1873
02/01/06

The University of Alaska Fairbanks music department will be highlighting contemporary music Feb. 1-2 with a series of concerts and lectures featuring renowned double bassist Robert Black.

UAF faculty, students and ensembles will present a free concert of new music Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. at the Charles W. Davis Concert Hall. On Feb. 2, Black will speak about new music and contemporary composers during a lecture from 1-2 p.m. in the McGown Room in the music wing in the Fine Arts Complex. Black will perform in a solo concert on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. in the Charles W. Davis Concert Hall. General admission is $10, $5 for students, seniors and military. He is also scheduled to visit local high schools to speak with music students there.

Noted in a recent press review as "an amazing tour de force," Black’s interests range from traditional orchestral and chamber music to solo recitals, collaborations with actors, music with computers and MIDI, movement-based improvisations with dancers, and live action-painting performances with painters. A tireless champion and promoter of new music, he has commissioned new pieces from more than 50 composers and has a special interest in working with young or emerging composers. He has also collaborated or performed with a diverse number of musicians from D.J. Spooky to Meridth Monk to Cecil Taylor.

Acclaimed by the New York Times for his "cheerful virtuosity" Black regularly presents recitals throughout North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Japan, appearing at major festivals, on radio and television broadcasts, and as artist-in-residence. In addition to solo performances, Robert performs with the Bang On A Can All Stars, New York City’s hard hitting new music ensemble.

His solo CD, State of the Bass, was released on O.O. Discs to critical acclaim. Mode Records released his second solo disc, Look She Said--The Complete Solo Bass Music by Christian Wolff. He also has recorded for Sony Classical, Point/Polygram, Koch International, CRI, Neuma Records, Gasparo, Opus One, Artifact Recordings and Folkways Records.

Black received his formal education at the Hartt School and at the University of North Texas. He is a professor of music at the Hartt School at the University of Hartford and the Festival Eleazar Carvalho in Fortaleza, Brazil.

CONTACT: UAF music department office at (907) 474-7555.