A Show of Hands

Last night I had the opportunity to see how far Guitar Craft has come in 20 years. Robert Fripp and The League of Crafty Guitarists played the Carrboro Arts Center. Before the music began, several of the Crafties announced in great detail, in at least 5 languages, the need to refrain from photography, recording, and so on. This was their tuning of the audience, and while it is impossible to say for sure, I think it contributed hugely to the success of the evening.

RF began with a set of soundscapes before the LCG took the stage, then accompanied the League, mostly on electric except for the last piece (Calliope, unplugged!).

Throughout the performance they mixed GC standards with newer pieces. One focus of the current incarnation of Guitar Craft is circulation, literally passing notes around the circle. At times it appeared notes were passing in opposite directions simultaneously, flawlessly I might add.

I also was impressed with the newer pieces, which seem to be more atonal at times than most of the old repertoire. Composition seems to have made a step forward in GC. Then again, there are the Hellboys.
;-)

More later...