Podcast 717: A Conversation with Adam Rudolph

Over the past four decades, composer, improviser and percussionist Adam Rudolph has been hailed as "a pioneer in world music" by the New York Times and "a master percussionist" by Downbeats magazine. He has released more than 30 recordings under his own name featuring his groundbreaking compositions and tradition-bridging percussion work. Rudolph composes for his ensembles Moving Pictures, Hu Vibrational, and Go: Organic Orchestra, a 30-piece group for which he has developed an original music notation and conducting system, teaching and conducting hundreds of musicians worldwide in his concept. Rudolph has performed with Don Cherry, Sam Rivers, Pharaoh Sanders, Muhal Richard Abrams, Shankar, Wadada Leo Smith, Philip Glass, Jon Hassel, Omar Sosa and Fred Anderson. He toured and recorded extensively for 25-years with the legendary Yusef Lateef. The latest iteration of the Go Organic Orchestra has teamed with the Brooklyn Raga Massive for a deep dive into Rudolph's way of interpreting music. Using the classical music of Northern and Sothern India as a leaping off point, this large ensemble makes music that defies easy categorization. It's no wonder that the resulting recording, Ragmala - A Garden of Ragas has been called a "Bitches Brew for the 21st century." Rudolph will be joined by an orchestra of 35 musicians for an album release concert on Friday, December 13 at the Live@365 Series, Elebash Recital Hall, CUNY, 365 5th Ave, NYC.  Podcast 717 is a terrific companion to the three record, two CD Ragmala (click here for more) and a great way of preparing if you are headed to the show. Rudolph finds a way to bring across his difficult musical concepts to a less knowledgeable listener, and you can hear two selections from the recording, "Rotations" and "Thirteen Moons" as well. Adam Rudolph's Go: Organic Orchestra & Brooklyn Raga Massive in New York City Premiere of RAGMALA will be Friday, December 13 at CUNY's Live@365, 365 5th Avenue at 34th Street, NYC