Joanna Newsom with the CSO
September 8th, 2008
Going to see the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is a grand occasion. Dress to impress and get ready for some serious music. Medievil mistress and hapist, Joanna Newsom, blanketed the CSO with her fairly dust the night of August 22, transcending the grandeur scale of the venue. Her most recent album Ys featured orchestral arrangements by Van Dyke Parks famous for his work with Brian Wilson.
From her first notes the goose bumps were flowing. Her calm demeanor and timely piercing squeak, teetered to a balance that is freshing and mesmerizing. She is an anomaly, a diete of the harp. The first of two coalescent sets, was shared with the CSO and conductor Ryan Francesconi (he would later join her on guitar for the second set). It was amazing how natural the performance sounded. Van Dykes arrangements are truly genius, making this set one of the most interesting I have experienced in years.
Percussionist Neal Morgan’s minimal drum set complimented Newsom’s polyrhythms perfectly. During the stripped down second set, the technical genius of the music came to light, covering tunes from her debut album, The Milk-Eyed Mender. Highlights included my personal favorites, “Book of Right On” and “Sprout and the Bean”. In total contrast from Ys, The Milk-Eyed Mender consists mainly of the duet of Newsom and her harp. The additions of guitar, violin and percussion were welcomed, adding color to these already vivid tunes.
Joanna Newsom is an aquired tasted, kind of like blue cheese. I happen to like both. Take a taste, I think you might like her. Check out some of her tracks on Last.fm.