no.231 | Going Nowhere Well with Joe Williams, Sante Fe, NM + Austin, TX
A beautiful classical guitar improvisation paired with sounds from the porch
…..And We’re Back!!
PSO took a little break in July to reboot and recharge. I am super excited about a lot of new PSO projects cooking up. This week I am super chuffed to share a new improvisation from my dear friend and esteemed composer and classical guitar player, Joe Williams. We met a couple of years ago during the run of my show LOST PINES at Lora Reynolds Gallery. Joe is what I consider to be the heart and soul of Austin Classical Guitar (although there are many great souls involved in that organization). As such, he wears many hats there as both the Artistic Director and Director of the Austin Classical Guitar Youth Orchestra. Joe invited me to score a suite of images to accompany the world premiere of HOME, an ACG original composed by Marek Pasieczny. This was a one-night performance with 80 guitarists of all ages. It was insane and a truly singular event.
Joe is a powerful force for good. He brings light and energy to all he does, and man, he does a lot!
Joe will play bass with Matt Hinsley and Justin Jay Hines in an ACG original, Journey, at the Rosette in Austin. There will be performances at 4:30 pm and 8 pm on Saturday, February 1, and at 4:30 pm on Sunday the 2nd.
Joe is also presenting performances by Ana Vidovic, Bokyung Byun, Raphaël Feuillâtre, Cuatro Elementos with Azul Barrientos & Joseph Palmer, William Kanengiser, Phantom of the Opera with Sandy Yamamoto, Annie Jacobs-Perkins & Moontower Guitar Duo, CC Duo, Kasia Smolarek, and none other than Pepe Romero along with Austin Young Artists for ACG THIS SEASON!!
Joe recorded this improvisation in Sante Fe while on a kind of working vacation. Instead of playing along with Joe’s recording, I made a field recording with two omnidirectional mics from the porch. Joe’s quiet contemplation is set against the swooshing of passing cars and the percussive subtle cumbia sounds coming from the construction crew next door.
After I sent the proposed track to Joe, he texted back:
The ambient and street sounds really make it something special for me. It all adds up to "going nowhere well." That's something I've been attempting to do on and off my whole creative life.
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