Soundcheck

Singing Storytellers and The Practical Percussionist

Tuesday, July 30, 2002

Singer-songwriters Dar Williams and Robin Holcomb both have busy seasons coming up, but before they hit the road, they perform live in the studio and discuss their labors of love. This week, they’ll be playing, respectively, at the Downtown NYC River to River Festival and at Joe’s Pub. Plus, percussionist Bill Trigg talks to us about bangin’ and clangin’ on a variety of common, non-musical items.

On her fourth solo album, 1997’s The Green World, Dar Williams assembled a collection of 11 short-stories-in-song that seems ever-relevant in these dark times: Among other things, the record reflects on the mysteries of the natural world and on the need for levity under duress. After her end-of-summer tour wraps, Williams will be teaming up with the likes of Bela Fleck, Alison Krauss, and Blues Traveler’s John Popper on her fifth album. Tentatively titled Beauty of the Rain, the disc is scheduled for release at the beginning of next year.
Dar Williams
Downtown NYC River to River Festival

From country to contemporary classical, there are few genres that have not inspired the music of nomadic pianist Robin Holcomb, who has composed for and performed with chamber ensembles, Indonesian gamelans, improvising orchestras, and musical theater. She’ll be touring the U.S. this fall to promote her new album, The Big Time.
Robin Holcomb
Joe’s Pub

Percussionist Bill Trigg has played works by contemporary Chinese composers in several new-music consorts. This time around, he tackles “Akrodha,” a recent composition by the South Africa-born Irish composer Kevin Volans that involves thumping on such instruments as car brakes, chisels, and suspension coils.
Kevin Volans
“Akrodha”