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Philip Hamilton's Voices


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Published: Mar 12, 2008

Sat., March 15, 7 and 9 p.m., $30, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St., 215-925-9914, paintedbride.org

Tatsuo Sakaki

(CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

Painted Bride's XL Music Series has, by nature, resulted in plenty of clutter. The series has collected large ensembles from around the world, from Balinese gamelan to klezmer to Afro-Caribbean jazz. But while the series' final installment may get crowded, the stage will remain remarkably naked — Philip Hamilton's Voices brings 16 musicians, no instruments and an orchestral range of sounds.

Hamilton's supple voice has graced contemporary jazz sessions with artists like Pat Metheny, Spyro Gyra and Donald Fagen, his pliant tone lending an all-in-one choral flavor. But this most versatile of instruments is also humankind's most ancient, so Hamilton and company have set out to create a variety show from the diaphragm. Intended to "do for the voice what Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk did for tap dancing or what Def Poetry Jam did for poetry," Voices explores the range of vocal sounds and unravels the tangled connections that bridge them — even if that means forcing Swiss yodelers and human beat boxers to acknowledge each others' existence. Imagine Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra taking off in a time machine fueled by vocal cords and breath (sounds like something Hanna Barbera would have conceived in the late '60s).

For this world-première performance, the ensemble will include "Human Orchestra" Kenny Muhammad, who worked with Hamilton on Rennie Harris' Facing Mekka. Bringing together a roster of vocalists from around the world, Hamilton promises to re-create the conditions behind the creation of so much of this music, whether it be devotees communing in church or street kids hanging out on Philly street corners — diverse people coming together, sharing their stories through song.