The Fuse Factory | Columbus, Ohio

This show features audio/video artist Byron Westbrook (NYC) performing his work CORRIDORS, guitarist Stefano Pilia (Italy), and electronic musician Central Inhabitants (CMH). Date: Friday, December 8. Location: Brothers Drake Meadery (26 E. 5th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201). No cover charge. Doors open 8pm.

About the performers:

CORRIDORS is a body of works for audio and video that have been developed over the last three years utilizing a specific process of preparation and performance. In this process, an instrumentalist is recorded improvising, with minimal instruction. These recordings are then edited, choosing only the moments where the performance appears to be the most energetic and intuitive. These moments are processed using esoteric noise software to remove the representation of the instrument, but retain and emphasize the energy of the playing, with the end result being approximately 6-15 sound files of static texture. For performance, these files are loaded onto multiple minidisc players or iPods. Each piece contains a set bank of sounds used as building blocks that are “mixed” live over a 5-7 channel audio system and “played” dynamically, responding to the performance space. Speakers are placed strategically around the space while I control the performance from the center of the room. This allows height and distance to be used along with range of frequency as dynamic compositional tools to shift the perceived size of the room over time and gradually envelope or release the listener. Custom speakers have been developed to act as specific voices and to allow for easy placement throughout a space. Some works also use live guitar feedback distributed through the same multi-channel system.

Pilia’s work has become progressively concerned with the research of the sculputural dimensions of sound and its relations with space, memory and time suspension both through instrumental executional-experimental practices (mainly on guitar and dbass) and investigations into the recording and production process. He is one of the founding members of 3/4HadBeenEliminated, a synthethis between improvisation, electro-acoustic composition and avant-rock sensibilities. Since 2008, he has been a member of the Italian band Massimo Volume.

Jeff Chenault aka Central Inhabitants has been involved in the Columbus electronic music scene since 1983. His early experiments were unannounced noise improvisations. In the late 80′s, he founded the Exoteque Music label and would release over 60 cassettes of original music. His multiple collaborations include James Towning of Fact 22, Mark Gunderson of the Evolution Control Committee, Andy Izold of 10-Speed Guillotine, and Chris Phinney of Mental Anguish. Jeff is also a music historian, a staff writer for Tiki Magazine, and last year produced his first vinyl LP, The Beachcomber Trio Live at the Kahiki–a rare vintage recording that was recorded at the famous Polynesian restaurant in Columbus, Ohio in 1965. A second album of rare Exotica music is planned for later this year, after beginning to perform solo again following a 15 year hiatus.