Saxophonist Matana Roberts recounts her recent experience working with the late Merce Cunningham:
i had been staying away from the computer the last few days and wished i would have stayed away a day longer as i opened my inbox to come across an email from Merce Cunningham's amazing music coordinator Stephan Moore about Mr. Cunningham's passing. I got to work with Mr. Cunningham and his dancers last month surrounded by amazing art work at the DIA in upstate NY for three amazing performances. It was an incredible experience. He loved my saxophone sound so much that he gave me a kiss on the cheek at the end of the first rehearsal!!!!! it was so cute!!! and such an honor to work in the same room with him. Not to mention that because of him i got sit at a dinner table with some of my heroes bjork on my right, david berhman on my left and directly across from me, mustering up crazy awesome vibe, La Monte Young. I couldnt even talk to bjork--i was totally speechless-- she was really sweet and super talkative, and i could barely get out full intelligent sentences to Mr. Berhman and Mr. Young whose vibe was a little overwhelming at times, but still awesome... My biggest regret though is i had to leave that dinner early to get back to the city and there was no time to have a few more words with Mr. Cunningham. But i felt that the performance experience was so positive that I would most likey see him again. Aren't i pompous eh? I had so many questions for him that i couldn't wait to ask, but figured there would be time. ha. no time like the present i guess.
back to work.
xo
m
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