Marisa Anderson channels the history of the guitar and stretches the boundaries of tradition. Her deeply original work applies elements of minimalism, electronic music, drone and 20th century classical music to compositions and improvisations based on blues, jazz, gospel and country music, re-imagining the landscape of American music.
In the last 15 years alone she has appeared on, collaborated with or released upwards of ten (10) albums including The Quickening, a duo release with drummer Jim White
The idea of a collaboration between the two developed while on the road together in 2015, Anderson playing solo and White playing with Xylouris White. The Quickening began in late 2018, where the duo initially agreed to meet in Portland OR to improvise and record. Happy with the initial recordings, the duo headed to Mexico City and into Estudios Noviembres, a time capsule of a studio from the 70’s that had been largely closed before some young engineers took it over. The “slight disorientation” of working in less familiar environments mirrored their willingness to plunge headfirst into exploring new sonic territory together. Anderson purchased a new nylon string Ramos-Castillo guitar from a Mexican luthier just ahead of recording which leant to the spontaneity of “The Lucky” and “The Quickening”. The duo did not rehearse or perform together prior to the recording sessions; as White puts it, “it’s good to suspend disbelief”
“To listen to any free improvised music is to hear another world, speaking its own spontaneous language. The Quickening comes from a place very nearby our own, now lost, but recoverable by listening.” – Pitchfork
“The Quickening… captures two masters at their most free.” – Exclaim
Australia marks the live debut for these two pioneers. Shows this special don’t come our way very often. Don’t you dare miss it.