Kicking It with K2

by Bryce Lambert on March 1, 2012

It’s been a while since I’ve been into see , Boston’s young and much-lauded “self-conducted” chamber ensemble, and really any music in general. So it was a real pleasure to hear their most recent program which based itself thematically on the heart; its empathy (a moody Shostakovich chamber symphony), its yearning (John Adams’ Shaker Loops), its capacity for love (a Debussy encore), and its physicality as a muscle. For this last manifestation of the heart, A Far Cry backed up string duo K2–a.k.a A Far Cry bassist Karl Doty and his childhood friend –in the premiere of Jones’ concerto Three Views of a Mountain.

The concerto sounded like a mash-up of of Reich and poppy neo-folk, although I don’t mean to call it derivative. Jones’ finger-picking and rock star artistically involved stage presence (looking more like Andrew Bird in a more pensive number than a classical musician), Doty’s jazzy bass lines, and soft vocal notes delicately layered over the music made for a fantastic lively entry into A Far Cry’s program that channeled both Minimalism and Americana.

If you want a closer reading of the music, see . Suffice it to say that the Jordan Hall audience went wild for K2, digging their pop sensibility and unique sound and style. I found the music invigorating and much more satisfying than the adult contemporary Classical/Folk stuff the major labels put out with Yo-Yo Ma sitting in. I’ll be buying K2’s album off soon.

Watch K2 perform in this KUMD studio session in their hometown of Duluth, Minnesota.

Vist A Far Cry’s website for a list of . I can’t wait to see them in the Gardner’s new space.

1 Kyera Reams March 5, 2012 at 11:13 am

Big things for this one! Keep watching and following. You can feel a power and prescence that only comes with excellence. Joyously enamored with excitement as I watch my two year old feel the vibe and dance. Thank you! “This is my favorite one Mommy. It’s a nice one.” says William dancing himself out of breath.

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