Join us as Shakuhachi master, Cornelius Boots, joins RDL+ for an evening of exploration in the sounds of bamboo. In the first set Cornelius will be presenting his solo material for Shakuhachi and Taimu flutes. In the second set, Cornelius will join RDL+ for an adventure deep into the sonic universe with improvised sojourns to the unknown as well as original compositions by RDL+ that strive to showcase the full range of this ancient Zen instrument.
A monthly series curated by RDL+, Bay Area Bridges celebrates the Bay Area, with Oakland as its hub, and brings together the most interesting and ground-breaking voices that need to be heard and reckoned with. Shows include music written and presented by RDL+ as well as other innovative artists, and will break new ground in modern music.
CORNELIUS BOOTS
Award-winning composer Cornelius Boots is in full-blooded collaboration with the deceptively simple, yet devilishly difficult shakuhachi flute of Zen Buddhism. He is also a specialist in Taimu, its baritone brother. The result is a rich and inspired collision of classic rock, blues, heavy metal, and Zen Buddhist nature hymns from monasteries.
After a 30-year career of high-caliber jazz, classical, rock and experimental music activities, Boots has positioned himself at the crossroads of personal expression and divine revelation. He is the Dio of Bamboo, the Danzig of Zen. You might also think of him as a Pied Piper for the nerdy, strange and enlightened. Take a peek at his music stand and be surprised to discover Western notation next to Japanese kinko notation, and occasionally a blend of the two for his students.
Cornelius is known for his pioneering work with the world’s only bass clarinet quartet, Edmund Welles. Studying shakuhachi since 2001, in 2013 he achieved shihan (master) rank in the dynamic Zen lineage of Watazumido from Michael Chikuzen Gould. Boots received the name Shinzen (深禅 = depth Zen). A graduate of Jacob’s School of Music (B.M. Clarinet Performance, B.S. Audio Recording and M.M. Jazz Studies), Boots has performed and lectured internationally, released over a dozen albums and published scores and instructional materials.
RDL+
With their 2014 debut album, Más P’alla Va, RDL+ is building an original sound that embodies the members’ collective ideas, inspirations, and histories. RDL+ is Ruthie Dineen on keys, Doug Lee on bass, Steve Weems on drums, Luis Salcedo on guitar, plus(+) the Bay Area's best up-and-coming musicians. The group focuses on writing and playing original compositions, while taking both lyrical and open improvisations on the pieces. While maintaining an aesthetic stemming from traditional jazz, the group experiments with odd meters, timbre, form, and melodic ideas. Nonetheless, the exploratory nature of the group is always rooted in the essence of the composed or arranged pieces.
Ruthie Dineen, piano
Doug Lee, bass
Steve Weems, drums
Luis Salcedo, guitar
DOORS AT 6:30PM, SHOW AT 7PM
$10-15 Sliding Scale