“Melford [has] reconnected music to motion, leaving today’s straight-laced young men in suits—who have dominated recent jazz—in her wake.” —The Observer (UK)
Is pushing a boulder up a mountain an onerous task or a welcome meditation? This is just one of the questions pondered by the creators of Knock on the Sky, an evening-length performance piece combining primordial movement, expansive jazz, and live video within a subtly changing sonic and visual installation. Bandleader/pianist Myra Melford’s captivating blend of experimental jazz/blues, 20th-century composition, and Eastern folk tradition provides the foundation for this carefully structured improvisation. She is joined by choreographer/dancer Dawn Saito, architect/scenic designer Michael Haberz, butoh master Oguri, bassist Stomu Takeishi, and trumpeter Cuong Vu. Co-commissioned by the Walker in partnership with the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts and the National Performance Network Creation Fund.
