Considered one of the most controversial and progressive composers of the 1970s and 80s, Julius Eastman’s music bonds minimalism, jazz, and pop to create a joyous mesmerizing experience. Building on the traditions of his minimalist contemporaries, such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass, his music has drive and propulsion, but is considered to be more influenced by organic harmonic changes than strict structures.
Those who knew him as a strong vocal African-American queer artist say he left a deep impression on New York and that this late revitalization of his work will become a pillar in the development of contemporary music.
In this performance of Eastman’s Femenine, the Harlem Chamber Players and Talea Ensemble pay tribute to Eastman’s work as an important statement to the community and commitment to solidifying Eastman’s place in the canon.
