MUSIC

The Cornudas Mountain Foundation and Nameless Sound present: John Butcher and Joe McPhee at The Hill of James Magee in the vast West Texas Desert Cornudas, Texas.

The Cornudas Mountain Foundation and Nameless Sound present a rare site-specific event in the vast West Texas desert. British and American saxophonists John Butcher (pictured) and Joe McPhee will perform solo sets for an intimate audience at “The Hill”, a monumental (yet very personal) work of art, isolated on remote private land 70 miles East of El Paso.

30 years in the making (and still in progress), “The Hill” is the life work of James Magee. Complex and monumental, The Hill consists of 4 buildings (40 feet long, 20 feet wide and 17 feet in height), three of which house installations by Magee. Crafted of irregularly-cut shale rock, each building is entered through a majestic iron portal, 8 feet wide and the full height of the building. The Hill sits in a gently rolling landscape with mesmerizing views of snow-capped mountains and limitless West Texas skies.

Having done much of the work himself or with one assistant, The Hill has been an impressively solitary endeavor for Magee. In its three decades, only a handful of people have ever visited the site.

For more information, questions or reservations, please go to www.namelesssound.org  or call 713-928-5653 For information about The Hill and The Cornudas Mountain Foundation: www.mageehill.org  

To view some of the only photos of The Hill: www.granta.com/Online-Only/Jim-Magees-Hill  

Nameless Sound is Houston’s most vital presenter of cutting-edge creative music, free improvisation, avant-garde jazz, electro-acoustic improvisation, new music and uncategorizable sound-making. This season opens with three Nameless Sound premieres, representing a wide range of world-class artists.

British saxophonist John Butcher and American saxophonist/trumpet player Joe McPhee are two of the premiere international names in improvised music.

Known as a foremost virtuoso of the saxophone’s extended techniques, John Butcher’s solos are a study in subtle detail, nuanced acoustics, brilliant overtones, and powerful abstraction. He has shown a particular interest (and ability) in the exploration of site-specific acoustics. A strongly expressive musician, legendary saxophonist/trumpeter Joe McPhee (pictured) draws deeply from the well of blues, spirituals, and jazz, while always forging innovative ground and remaining a steadfast individualist. With roots in the revolutionary avant-garde of the 1960’s, McPhee is one of the music’s most inspirational artists, keeping it alive and on the cutting-edge.

Links:
http://www.joemcphee.com
http://www.johnbutcher.org.uk