"Matta is the soul of ['Beatbox Bard'], and because his mic covers his face throughout, we only see his impassive almond eyes and his quiet, rhythmic physical presence — until the curtain call, when the mic drops and the person behind the performer breaks through. With throat, tongue, voice and breath he creates not just beatbox rhythms (an urban tradition already a quarter-century old), underscoring or counterpointing the play's action, but an entire soundscape."--Ithaca Journal
"...his ability to remix his own voice is remarkable, at first singing over a synced beat and then slowing it down, speeding it up, dubbing, scratching, even using the layrngeal equivalent of a wah-wah pedal. He's wonderful to watch in these moments, right hand on the mic, left hand flailing in time, drops of spit and sweat flying off him. He must get terribly dehydrated..." -- The Village Voice
Monday, February 26, 2007
Monday, February 12, 2007
more on ithaca and updates
Wanted to let you all know about Bara Sapir's work, check out Www.barasapir.com and www.testprepny.com. I appear on her latest CD project, a test prep music-based study guide.
Ithaca was dope, went out with a bang, Saturday, we had a show in the afternoon, a show at 8(which got a standing ovation), then I went downtown to play an hour improv set with the unbelieveable Bora Yoon(got to meet some awesome Ithaca folks), then went back up to campus for our cast party, where I played for another two hours on Phil's Loop Station, bumping all kinds of beats with Molly, Bennett, Evan and Phil that everyone danced to until the wee hours. Then a show on Sunday. Then a chill cast party at Bruce's house, then a mellow, really fun hang at Bora's friend's family's house for a nice way to wind down a great month in Ithaca. I'm looking forward to going back March 1st to get started on Jim Self's multi-genre dance performance.
Peace y'all, stay warm.
Ithaca was dope, went out with a bang, Saturday, we had a show in the afternoon, a show at 8(which got a standing ovation), then I went downtown to play an hour improv set with the unbelieveable Bora Yoon(got to meet some awesome Ithaca folks), then went back up to campus for our cast party, where I played for another two hours on Phil's Loop Station, bumping all kinds of beats with Molly, Bennett, Evan and Phil that everyone danced to until the wee hours. Then a show on Sunday. Then a chill cast party at Bruce's house, then a mellow, really fun hang at Bora's friend's family's house for a nice way to wind down a great month in Ithaca. I'm looking forward to going back March 1st to get started on Jim Self's multi-genre dance performance.
Peace y'all, stay warm.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Ithaca Updates
The play, Beatbox Bard, is going excellent. We've been written up in all the local papers, ( i.e., http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/ENTERTAINMENT03/701250319/1082, http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17738072&BRD=1395&PAG=461&dept_id=216611&rfi=6). We got a review in the Ithaca Journal(http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070208/ENTERTAINMENT03/702080306/1082), thanks to all the local papers and journalists who have been interested in our show, and in beatboxing in general.
Have been having a great time chilling with Cornell students and faculty. Went to Ithaca College to perform for a Recording Techniques seminar, visited two local elementary schools and performed for over a couple hundred kids, got to sing/beatbox a medley of songs with Fall Creek Elementary, beatboxed for Jim Self's and Jumay (??)'s dance classes here at Cornell, improvising beats for an Explorations and an Advanced Modern class. Last night, Cornell beatboxer and Chem Major, Bennett Fox, had a party at his house, and bluegrass band, the Howling Brothers, showed up, and we jammed together, tearing the low basement roof off the sucka. All in all, Cornell's been a great haul. Two more shows tonight and tomorrow, then it's back to NYC for a gig with Sxip Shirey at Tonic, Feb. 13th. Then it's down south for a series of gigs. In addition to MMC 11, and Exploris Museum, I've been asked to appear on a panel about entreprenurialship at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. Looking forward to that, and to reconnecting with vocal artist, Lynn Book, an old teacher of mine. Then, I'm actually coming back to Ithaca, I've been asked to beatbox for Open Portal, a major dance presentation featuring a wide variety of styles, here at Cornell. So, I'm coming back to good ol Ithaca. More soon, stay in touch.
Peace.
Have been having a great time chilling with Cornell students and faculty. Went to Ithaca College to perform for a Recording Techniques seminar, visited two local elementary schools and performed for over a couple hundred kids, got to sing/beatbox a medley of songs with Fall Creek Elementary, beatboxed for Jim Self's and Jumay (??)'s dance classes here at Cornell, improvising beats for an Explorations and an Advanced Modern class. Last night, Cornell beatboxer and Chem Major, Bennett Fox, had a party at his house, and bluegrass band, the Howling Brothers, showed up, and we jammed together, tearing the low basement roof off the sucka. All in all, Cornell's been a great haul. Two more shows tonight and tomorrow, then it's back to NYC for a gig with Sxip Shirey at Tonic, Feb. 13th. Then it's down south for a series of gigs. In addition to MMC 11, and Exploris Museum, I've been asked to appear on a panel about entreprenurialship at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. Looking forward to that, and to reconnecting with vocal artist, Lynn Book, an old teacher of mine. Then, I'm actually coming back to Ithaca, I've been asked to beatbox for Open Portal, a major dance presentation featuring a wide variety of styles, here at Cornell. So, I'm coming back to good ol Ithaca. More soon, stay in touch.
Peace.
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