Uwishunu.com

It’s hard to believe, but I still meet music fans in Philly who have never made it to Tritone for guitarist/composer Matt Davis’s montlhly series Philadelphia 2008. The series has been featured in the Daily News, City Paper, in a cover story in the Philly Weekly, and in the national jazz magazine Downbeat. So let me join the chorus and say that what Matt is doing every month at Trtione is beautiful, unique, and truly inspiring. Every month he picks a subject; interviews people in Philadelphia about that subject; composes original music based on the interviews for Aerial Photograph, his 9-to-12-piece ensemble made up of strings, winds, and a rhythm section; records the music for release on a limited-edition, hand-packaged CD; and performs the music at Tritone. In telling the stories of people of all walks of life and in presenting challenging, contemplative music in a bar, Matt is demonstrating the power of music to break down all barriers.

This month’s composition is entitled “City of Amends” and is based on conversations Matt had with Philadelphians recently released from prison. In Matt’s words, “Some of the people had been in jail for a long time – one for 14 years. Others had served shorter sentences of 6 months or a year or two. All of them had been changed by the experience and all seemed eager to move on to a new life. They were very hopeful for the future. This month I have tried to write music which reflects some of the many emotions these people spoke about.”

For more on Matt Davis, Aerial Photograph, and Philadelphia 2008, check out Martin Brown’s interview with Matt posted on Uwishunu in April.

Matt Davis’s Aerial Photograph, “City of Amends”, Thursday, August 28, 10 P.M.
Tritone, 1508 South St., Philadelphia, PA 19146
215-545-0475
www.tritonebar.com