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Jazz Meets Gamelan

Black House Improvisor's collective collaborating with the Indonesian percussion ensemble Gamelan Genta Kasturi
Alex Smith
/
KCUR
Black House Improvisor's collective collaborating with the Indonesian percussion ensemble Gamelan Genta Kasturi

 For the last two and a half years, the Black House Improviser’s Collectivehas made its home in an unoccupied floor of a downtown office building provided by theCharlotte Street Foundation.

There, the loose group of composers and improvisers meet in three sessions a year to create original music.

About a year ago, the Indonesian percussion ensemble Gamelan Genta Kasturialso moved into the space. Like the Odd Couple, these unlikely roommates have decided to find common ground and work together.

They are collaborating on a rare fusion of avant garde jazz with traditional Asian music.  KCUR's Alex Smith sat in on a rehearsal session, and to spoke members  about the process.

Friday, May 18th the groups perform together in a concert titled The Bell Tree.

 This story was produced for KC Currents, which airs Sundays at 5pm with a repeat Mondays at 8pm. To listen on your own schedule, subscribe to the KCCurrents podcast.

As a health care reporter, I aim to empower my audience to take steps to improve health care and make informed decisions as consumers and voters. I tell human stories augmented with research and data to explain how our health care system works and sometimes fails us. Email me at alexs@kcur.org.
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