Événement

Sam Amidon at The Stone Church w/ Sam Gendel

Sam Amidon is a singer and multi-instrumentalist originally hailing from Brattleboro, Vermont. His most recent album, The Following Mountain, was released in May of 2017 by Nonesuch Records. His sixth album overall, it is his a deeply personal synthesis of folk-based song form and experimental improvisation. It is his first album of entirely original songs and compositions, featuring appearances by Shahzad Ismaily, Leo Abrahams and legendary free-jazz drummer Milford Graves, known for his pioneering work in the 1960s with artists such as Albert Ayler and Sonny Sharrock.
Prior to The Following Mountain, Amidon has released five albums of radically reimagined folksongs on the Bedroom Community and Nonesuch labels. Called "part preservationist, part visionary" by the Boston Globe, Amidon's material for these albums consists primarily of reworkings of traditional American ballads, hymns and work songs, with the New York Times writing that Amidon "transforms all of the songs, changing their colors and loading them with trapdoors." The albums have been deeply collaborative in nature, inviting contributions from musicians such as composer Nico Muhly, guitarist Bill Frisell, and improviser Shahzad Ismaily among others. Along the way Amidon has recorded or performed as a guest artists with musicians such as pianist Jason Moran, indie rock band Bon Iver, and Glen Hansard. Amidon lives in London with his wife, singer and songwriter Beth Orton

The Following Mountain does more than reverse-engineer Amidons past approach of reimagining folk songs. It pushes through the known quantities and traditions of folk music and comes out the other side transformed. It is the destination, the culmination of Amidons musical conversations thus far.
-Aquarium Drunkard

Amidon is doing to folk what Arthur Russell did to disco and dance music: The components are taken context-free and mixed around. He can recognize the patterns of bluegrass or jazz or indie rock without being bound to them. The result is compelling
-Wondering Sound