Bushel is pleased to host a film screening of the 1925 silent epic Battleship Potemkin (Sergei Eisenstein dir.) with live music accompaniment by a four-member ensemble, led by composer and pianist Mihoko Suzuki in a second performance in the series Cine Sonica: Film Concert Live.

* SOLD OUT *
Some seats and standing room available at the door (cash or Venmo).

Doors at 7:40 pm; program at 8 pm.
$20 in advance (use the link above)
Seating is limited. Remaining seats and standing room will be made available sliding-scale at the door (cash or Venmo).

PERFORMERS:
Chris Stearns, Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Scott Williams, Double Bass
Timothy Cramer, Drums/Percussion/Vocal effects
Mihoko Suzuki, Keyboards

Directed by Sergei Eisenstein, the film dramatizes the mutiny that occurred in 1905 when the crew of the battleship Potemkin rebelled against their officers. The film’s most famous sequence occurs during the massacre on the Odessa Steps, showcasing Eisenstein’s mastery of rhythmic montage to create a powerful emotional impact without showing explicit violence. The film was banned in several countries, including France, England, Germany, and the United States, primarily because of its brutality and graphic imagery. Over the years, the film has been shown all over the world accompanied by multiple composers’ music.

As it was Eisenstein’s wish to have the soundtrack updated every 20 years, Ciné Sonica will commemorate its 100-year anniversary with this performance. Through their atonal approach and asymmetrical rhythmic structure with its deep focus on tone color and texture, the ensemble will aim to capture the film’s very essence, echoing today’s political climate yet sustaining hope in these uncertain times.

 

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Chris Stearns lives in New Kingston with his wife, Anya Pollara, and their three cats Zook, Jack and Layla. He’s been playing trumpet and flugelhorn for the past couple of years with the local band, “Lali and The Pops” with Alexandra Martin, Lisa Light, George Quinn and Jim Rauter. He also enjoys many other local collaborations, including playing free-style with Mihoko Suzuki, Tim Cramer, Scott Williams and Michael Suchorsky. Chris spent his “earlier years” playing in the NYC area with a number of Latin Bands and now plays with “Cuban Walt” Dominicus.

Scott Williams is a bass player, songwriter and multi instrumentalist. He has performed with various groups in NYC, including his own Buddy Scott Trio and the Audio Artists, in numerous venues. He has written music for MTV, and played on VH1, Comedy Central, and WFMU radio. He has composed and performed music for theatre productions, including New York’s Public Theatre. His music was featured in the MGM Motion Picture ‘A Guy Thing’, in which he also performed. Scott Williams currently fronts the band “Still Life with Dog”, and is also a painter whose work was most recently shown at 490 Gallery in Brooklyn, NY.

Timothy Cramer, at a young age, was heavily inspired by his late brother James to take up the drums borrowing his Ludwig 4 piece club kit, and to whom he dedicates this performance. Worked in various disciplines including architecture, interior design, exhibit design, set & sound design for theatre, dance & performance. Began audio recording business in Brooklyn in 1988 evolving into AV media design for TV spots, currently museum services & post-production company located in Upstate New York. Performance & sound installation history includes NYC venues such as Medicine Show Theatre, CBGB’s, The Joyce Theater, Tompkins Square Bandshell, PS. 122, and the Hypothetical Theatre. His IMDB page lists around 30 film scores/sound mixing for shorts & features.

Mihoko Suzuki has conceived and composed a diverse range of multidisciplinary works including music-theater, dance, film, and performance installation; “And the Hummingbird Says…”—a song cycle based on the life and philosophy of Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai; “Desert Widow”—a performance art video which has won an Accolade Award for Experimental Film; “Ode to Number 14”—Piano 4 Hands, featured in the 30th anniversary of NYFA Artist Fellowship Program. She is a recipient of NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship, LMCC Creative Engagement Grants, and New Music USA Project Grant. Received BM in composition at Manhattan School of Music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qlmtkQ1IjE