Gerry Hemingway - Solo Work

In recent years my solo work has shifted from purely acoustic work, sometimes with tape to a mixture of acoustic and electro-acoustic material, the latter performed on a midi-triggered sampler. My interest in using electronics is to further expand the sound world I have developed on my acoustic instrument. The electronics emanate from speakers situated directly behind the acoustic drums, resulting in an intentional blurring between what is acoustic and what is coming from the sampler.

My repertoire seeks a unified approach within a diverse field of form and content. A program might contain a setting of a poem by Andrew Levy, an electronic work created solely from samples of Bluethroat birds, a version of Bud Powell's "Reets & I", an extended work that concentrates on the continual textural transformation of a powerful rhythmic drone, or "Radio Show" which strings together a series of vignettes for acoustic drums and a collage of archival radio footage.

People have often commented upon seeing one of my solo performances that the experience is as engrossing visually as it is musically. One performance I did in a small church in Southern Germany had lots of families with younger children. The children in particular, could enjoy the magic of how the world of sound I so enjoy creating is somehow produced right in front of their eyes.

Some of you may be aware of the solo records (that's actual vinyl, remember magnetic needles?) that were released in the '80s. The first was "Solo Works" released on my own Auricle Records in 1980 (still in print and available through this site) and later "Tubworks" which was released on Sound Aspects in 1988 (now available as a remastered CDR from this site). There are also two Cds, each comprised of works from between 1983 and 1995, one purely acoustic and the other solely of electro-acoustic work. (see Recordings)

In 2004 I will be working on a new recording of more recent solo material that will most likely be released on Auricle Records. Stay tune for details.

Some observations by others:

"Hemingway is an extrodinary and highly original drummer. Using mallets or his hands more frequently than sticks, and prefering arcs of rhythm to a continous beat, he shapes his solo pieces with concern for dynamic balance and thematic continuity. While Hemingway is not averse to employing unconventional techniques, in his hands the uncommon effect never becomes an end in itself."

Bob Blumenthal, Boston Globe (2/97)

"Like the Aivilik Eskimos, who are able to determine place and direction by sound rather than sight, Hemingway has adapted "abstract" techniques of tape manipulation to create non-programmatic sound images (i.e., not imitations of visual images) that suggest the vagaries of Nature, the three dimensionality of sculpture and a belief in ghosts. The special perspective Hemingway brings to this music, compared to that of other electronic composers, may be his experience with spontaneous creativity, and an ear trained to illuminate and elaborate upon the inner workings of sound and construction. Though not as flashy as some music in this genre, Hemingway's pieces are subtle , and seductive."

Art Lange, Fanfare (10/96)

"....Gerry Hemingway, now undoubtedly one of the most stimulating percussionists on the planet."

Andy Hamilton, Jazz Review (6/01)