Theme

The modern composer’s toolbox is fuller than ever. For American pianist and composer ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny (1945-2020), making music was complete, utter bliss. His style could be described as eclectic, but above all, it is lively, vital music in which influences from jazz, blues, boogie-woogie, funk, avant-garde, experimental electronics and pop music flow together. Blue’ Gene Tyranny (real name Robert Sheff) is an extremely skilful and dexterous pianist. He was often invited to participate in projects by fellow composers Robert Ashley, Laurie Anderson and Peter Gordon. On a blue Monday, Tyranny was even a member of Iggy Pop & The Stooges. His own compositional repertoire is now being rediscovered. This month, a hefty CD box set was released with many of ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny’s archive recordings, selected by the composer himself. As a tribute to ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny, who passed away late last year, you will hear an overview of his work, with many piano and ensemble compositions and a section of his musical theatre story The Driver’s Son.

Playlist:

‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny:

1. ‘The World’s Greatest Piano Player’ (1982), for ensemble, on Antarctica: New Music From Antarctica, vol. 1. ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny (piano), David van Tieghem (percussion) and Bill Laswell (elektronics, bass). Antarctica Records ACR-6201 LP

2. ‘Tango for Band’ (1985), for big band, on ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny – Degrees Of Freedom Found. The Love of Life Orchestra conducted by Peter Gordon. Unseen Worlds UW35 CD-box

3. ‘That Then, Now This’ (1991), for piano and guitar, on ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny – Degrees Of Freedom Found. ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny (piano) + Larry Saltzman (guitar). Unseen Worlds UW35 CD-box

4. ’The 36 Chords From The Driver’s Son’ (2004), improvisation for one pianist, on ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny – Degrees Of Freedom Found. ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny (piano). Unseen Worlds UW35 CD-box

5. ‘The Driver’s Son, Scene V: The Desert’ (1989-1999), for voice, piano, synthesiser and percussion, on ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny – Degrees Of Freedom Found. ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny (piano); Jonathan Hart Makwaia (voice), Nurit Tilles (synthesiser) + Jeff Berman & Bill Ruyle (percussion). Unseen Worlds UW35 CD-box

6. ‘Driving Music’ (1991), for electronics, on ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny – Degrees Of Freedom Found. ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny (electronics). Unseen Worlds UW35 CD-box

7. ‘Harvey Milk (portrait)’ (1979), for tape and electronics, on ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny – Degrees Of Freedom Found. ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny (electronics). Unseen Worlds UW35 CD-box

8. ‘Barn Fever’ (1984), for piano and synthesiser, on ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny – Degrees Of Freedom Found. ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny (piano, synths). Unseen Worlds UW35 CD-box