The Center for the Arts presents
Friday, October 7
8:00PM, $18 member, $20 non-member
Terry Riley and Gyan Riley will play original compositions and improvisations, focusing on material from their 2011 release, Live, which draws inspiration from North Indian ragas, jazz, blues, and western classical music.
California Composer Terry Riley launched what is now known as the Minimalist movement with his revolutionary classic IN C in 1964. This seminal work Provided a new concept in musical form based on interlocking repetitive patterns. It’s impact was to change the course of 20th Century music and it’s influence has been heard in the works of prominent composers such as Steve Reich, Philip Glass and John Adams and in the music of Rock Groups such as The Who, The Soft Machine, Tangerine Dream, Curved Air and many others. Terry’s hypnotic, multi-layered, polymetric, brightly orchestrated eastern flavored improvisations and compositions set the stage for the prevailing interest in a new tonality.
“…one of the 1000 makers ofthe 20th Century.” – London Sunday Times
“…the greatest composer pianist since Prokofieff.” – Izvestia
Gyan Riley is a guitarist and composer whose diverse work embraces original compositions, contemporary classical repertoire, and improvisation. Riley’s style brings together elements of virtuosic classical guitar, Indian raga, jazz, flamenco, and American fingerpicking. Riley has performed throughout Europe, Canada, Latin America and the US, both as a soloist and in ensemble with various artists such as Zakir Hussain, Michael Manring, Mike Marshall, Dawn Upshaw, the San Francisco Symphony, the Falla Guitar Trio, and the World Guitar Ensemble. In January, Gyan gave acclaimed, sold-out performances of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra. Also in January, Gyan’s fourth recording of original compositions, entitled Stream of Gratitude, was released on Tzadik Records.
“…mind blowing chops…” – Acoustic Guitar magazine
“ . . . never less than enthralling.” – Oakland Magazine, July 2008
“. . . virtuosic meditation . . . . . . a gifted performer . . .” - The New York Times
” …virtuosic displays …like flamenco played with Buddhist pliability instead of Mediterranean bravura.” – The Village Voice
“There’s no way to pigeonhole the music of guitarist Gyan Riley and his trio. His music has a beauty all its own.” – SF Examiner
