[NewMusic] underwhelmed @ Mills

[David Slusser]

On the way out of tonight's improvisation
concert by Mills music faculty, I asked an
old acquaintance for an opinion.  "For all
the wisdom that apparently was on stage,
it could have been more in evidence" was
the reply, or words to that effect.  "They're
just green", I said, meaning as a performing
ensemble.  I enjoyed it overall - there were
some lovely moments, and resourcefulness
and restraint were well in evidence; except
for restraint in ensemble population.  We
got the trusty all-star performance instead
of the kind their students are turning in
around here: ones with more respectful
space.  My colleague swore some of the
players never laid out.  I countered that I
had made note that most did - just not
long or often enough.  My basic formula is:
layout for whatever fraction of the group
you are.  If it's a trio, lay out for a third of
the total (projected) time.  If it's a quartet,
lay out for a quarter.  If it's above five, you
need to lay out for an even longer percentage
- or you'll never get it down to passing duos
and trios.  This was a septet, and (Winnant
surprisingly excepted) no one got close to
laying out a 7th of the time (14%).  These
people have to relax and trust each other
more.