The Eternal Pulse @ The Forum Theatre, June 2011
“Young showed amazing oral dexterity throughout the performance and prodiuced pure, true vocals. It’s a testament to her that, despite there being no lyrics, the performance was incredibly engaging and accessible.”
RACHEL ROSS: Also performing on the night was Bell Award-winner Lisa Young, one of Australia’s leading jazz vocalists. She was joined by Stephen Magnusson (guitar), Ben Robertson (double bass) and Dave Beck (drums) for the world premiere of her song cycle, The External Pulse.
Young has travelled to India many times to study konnakol – south Indian vocal percussion, or “the language of the rhythms of India,” as Lisa described it.
The first song, ‘Internal Pulse’ (available to listen to on Lisa’s website) was an animated, joyous performance, and set a lovely tone for the rest of the set.
Young showed amazing oral dexterity throughout the performance and prodiuced pure, true vocals. It’s a testament to her that, despite there being no lyrics, the performance was incredibly engaging and accessible.
Magnusson’s guitar playing was beautiful and Dave Beck helped keep it all together with the incredibly complex rhythms and use of subdivisions. The fourth song, “The Turning” showcased Ben Robertson’s study in India, with sliding bass and the use of the bow, while the sixth and final song, ‘The External Pulse’, had complex changing rhythms with exciting vocalisations and changes in dynamics.
Source: Arts Hub
