Ever since the premature departure of Kurt Cobain, you’ve had the thought swirling in your head: how can one transform Cobain’s –and Nirvana’s- angst anthem, “Smells like teen spirit” into a modern classical arrangement that will assure the piece’s inclusion in the pantheon of classical greats?
We know the task sounds daunting, after all, your zeal for collecting your favorite bands’ cd’s and mp3s doesn’t equate to classical compositional prowess. Fear not. The Ford Amphitheatre’s JAM Sessions are here to help with their very first installment on June 2nd: From Nirvana to Beethoven.
But what are the JAM Sessions exactly? Well, let’s just say they are so cool and so community driven that we at socal.com couldn’t resist the invitation to sponsor the series. JAM Sessions attempts to invite the entire community to participate in close and personal encounters with visiting performers scheduled to appear at the Ford during its regular summer season.
Example, JAM Session #1, scheduled for June 2nd at 7pm and titled “From Nirvana to Beethoven” will be conducted by composer Mark Governor, from the upcoming Ford concert “Notes from the Edge” and he’ll be assisted by members of his All-Star String Quartet and by vocalist Kathy Fisher. With their help, your rock-to-classical conversion should go a lot smoother than if you attempted it all on your own.
By the way, during JAM Session #1, Governor & Co will also make over into a classical piece the revered Elvis Costello’s “What’s so funny about peace, love & understanding”. Take these two re-arranged songs home and serenade your mother who’ll utter in sheer joy: “Mathew, you’ve finally listened to mother and left behind all that awful grunge music you used to love”. Let her believe she’s right.
Conductor Mark Governor is an eclectic composer with a style that is both lyrical and rhythmically driving. His music seems to be an exciting and contemporary blend of classic orchestration with cutting edge alternative rock, dance, electronica & ethnic influences. He’s composed scores for over 20 feature films and over 25 TV specials and documentaries.
What else can you expect from the JAM Sessions? Let me quote their press materials directly: “Spin and pop n’ lock with hip hop artists, create a classical arrangement of a pop tune or do the Bollywood bhangra as part of the Ford Amphitheatre’s first ever J.A.M. Sessions series. Everyone is welcomed to these seven free –yes, you read correctly, FREE- evening events where participants channel their creative energies in the casual, relaxed setting at the Ford. J.A.M. Sessions, presented by the Ford Theatre Foundation start June 2 and run through September 15. “
