Prog Rock Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Markus Reuter: The Perfect Touch

Markus Reuter is a master musician, inventive composer, producer and a great teacher.

"Whenever something is true and authentic, it translates. It will always translate. The beauty, your beauty will always come out through your art. It's impossible to break that connection." – Markus Reuter

I first met Markus in 2012 at the Three of a Perfect Pair music camp (Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto are the “pair” in question). Confession: I knew nothing about him or his music. When we were introduced, his wit, candor and passion about music came through immediately. In short, we fast became friends.

Then I heard him play. It was an experience unlikely to forget. To begin, he plays a U8 Touch Guitar: an instrument he developed by first playing the Chapman Stick and the Warr Guitar. The music that comes forth is so jawdroppingly good that it takes a moment for the senses to reconcile what is heard with what is seen. I jokingly refer to this phenomenon as a “music concussion”, but that’s not far from the truth. This video of The Crimson ProjeKCt in concert might illustrate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1Y4Hrx2ToM

Besides the aforementioned Crimson ProjeKCt, Markus is also a member of Stick Men with Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto and Centrozoon with Bernhard Wöstheinrich and Tobias Reber.

It is very difficult to pinpoint Markus’ style as a composer because his work keeps expanding into unlikely (for the stereotypical electric guitarist) areas such as the orchestral Todmorden 513 and string quartets: Heartland Bleeds. Simply put, whatever musical endevaour he undertakes, he does so with immense focus, technique and most of all – passion.

His latest album, Truce, may be his most personal. Listen and find out why:

mark_reuter_extended_interview.mp3

Markus Reuter extended interview.

Available on https://markus-reuter-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/truce

Joel Cummins of Umphrey's McGee Talks New Woodlands Festival, Piano Workouts & Debussy

“It’s a place that’s kind of our second home at this point.” That’s what pianist Joel Cummins says about Charleston, SC, the location of a new music festival, the Woodlands Festival. The event is being put together by Joel’s band, Umphrey’s McGee themselves, for its inagural run this November 7th, 8th and 9th. He says the location looks to be on a beautiful 6000-acre nature preserve, and, says talent will abound with a lineup that has the likes of Big Something, The Empire Strikes Brass, Zach Deputy, and of course, Umphrey’s McGee. You can still find tickets, including single-day passes here.

Joel is clearly passionate about Charleston and the Woodlands festival as you’ll hear in the interview. He also discusses his love of Claude Debussy piano pieces (as well as Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin), which he often features on his solo piano shows. “I think it’s just so important to pass that on to listeners,” he says. Joel also discusses how Impressionist music like Debussy’s that fits into the what the Umphrey’s sound is. Umphrey’s even quotes Mozart and Grieg in their songs “Der Bluten Kat” and “Thin Air” respectively as discussed below.

Joel also talks about his new book, The Realist’s Guide to a Successful Music Career, which is about… a realist’s guide to a successful music career. It features discussions with some of the greats of music: Huey Lewis, Susan Tedeschi, Victor Wooten, Ivan Neville, Taylor Hicks, Chuck Leavell (music director for the Rolling Stones), and more. You can purchase a copy online here. He’s also a pretty cool guy, so check out the interview below…

Trey Gunn: In Rare Company

“Trey Gunn is a beast.” ~ Robert Fripp

What an interconnected world we live in. When I saw that Trey Gunn, a well-known figure in progressive music circles, had a new album, I reached out via his website. Fully expecting a publicist’s reply, Trey himself cheerfully agreed to a chat about his new work.

Who is Trey Gunn?

Gunn’s membership alone in King Crimson should inform you of his musical pedigree. He and others like Markus Reuter are raising the bar, redefining contemporary music and creating a performance practice for “touch guitars.” Besides, look at that Warr guitar (pictured above) and ask yourself how many of us could play, let alone make worthwhile or substantial music with that stringed mammoth. That alone puts him in rare company.

Gunn’s new album is The Waters, They Are Rising. There’s one cover, Bob Dylan’s Not Dark Yet, done with tasteful electronics (sung by the sultry Dylan Nichole Bandy) and the rest of the album are originals – some of which are live performances. Overall, it’s a thoughtful, without being ponderous, electronic landscape without the usual textural density.

"I try to be in rare company or otherwise you could go elsewhere and get what I do. The style of playing (Warr guitar) and the music both go together."

Trey and I had an informative conversation about his musical journey, working with Robert Fripp and David Sylvian, playing touch style instruments such as the Warr Guitar and his new album.

I knew before interviewing Trey that he is a great player, but his humble and thoughtful nature certainly came through.

Trey Gunn interview:

mixdown_of_trey_gunn_part_two.mp3

Part Two

Music used:

Trey Gunn: Dziban, Hard Winds Redux

Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists: Eye of the Needle, Guitar Craft Theme I: Invocation

David Sylvian/ Robert Fripp – God’s Monkey, Damage

King Crimson – sex sleep eat drink dream

Trey Gunn – Not Dark Yet, The Seven Who Were Saved