{"id":2870,"date":"2013-11-13T23:21:58","date_gmt":"2013-11-13T23:21:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joelasqo.com\/blog\/?p=2870"},"modified":"2015-05-27T09:19:56","modified_gmt":"2015-05-27T09:19:56","slug":"mspsynth-w-half-human-quartet-%e2%80%94-ritwik-banerji-%e0%a6%8b%e0%a6%a4%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%ac%e0%a6%bf%e0%a6%95-%e0%a6%ac%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%af%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%a8%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%b0%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%9c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joelasqo.com\/blog\/2013\/11\/13\/mspsynth-w-half-human-quartet-%e2%80%94-ritwik-banerji-%e0%a6%8b%e0%a6%a4%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%ac%e0%a6%bf%e0%a6%95-%e0%a6%ac%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%af%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%a8%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%b0%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%9c\/","title":{"rendered":"MSP\/Synth\/Bots w Half-Human Quartet \u2014 Ritwik Banerji (\u098b\u09a4\u09cd\u09ac\u09bf\u0995 \u09ac\u09cd\u09af\u09be\u09a8\u09be\u09b0\u09cd\u099c\u09c0), Joe Laso and AI improvising agents Maxine & Maxxareddu (Sun 17 Nov @ The Nunnery, SF, 2pm) + Set 2: Tom Bickley, with guest appearance by Nancy Beckman, 3pm"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Nunnery<\/p><\/div>\n

Note: We’ve switched sets since the original posting of this article, and are now on at 3pm<\/span><\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

We’re very excited to be part of the new series at The Nunnery<\/em><\/strong>, the recently-launched SF new music venue of instrument inventor Tom Nunn, specializing in experimental and invented instruments (additional show preview at\u00a0http:\/\/www.examiner.com\/article\/tom-nunn-opens-his-research-lab-to-the-public<\/a>).<\/p>\n

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Part of the Invented Instrument orchestra @ The Nunnery<\/p><\/div>\n

The series takes place in the depths of his secret new-instrument research lab, and the performance space is surrounded by Tom’s latest creations. Twice a month he opens the lab up for performances on a Sunday afternoon and a Monday evening, and we look forward to a matin\u00e9e performance there at 3pm, Sun 17 Nov<\/span><\/em><\/strong> (3016 25th St., San Francisco, CA 94110, between Florida and Alabama Streets, map<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/a>)<\/p>\n

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A flock of skatchboxes fly by at The Nunnery<\/p><\/div>\n

Tom Nunn (Bold Italic interview<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, <\/em><\/strong>bio<\/em><\/strong><\/a>)<\/em><\/strong>, has designed, built and performed with original musical instruments since 1976, and has built over 200 instruments, including his latest obsession, the visually arresting Skatchbox<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Tom Nunn playing his invented instrument, The Crab<\/p><\/div>\n

His instruments typically utilize commonly available materials, are sculptural in appearance, utilize contact microphones for amplification, and are designed specifically for improvisation with elements of ambiguity, unpredictability and nonlinearity.\u00a0 Tom has performed extensively throughout the San Francisco Bay Area\u00a0for over 30 years,\u00a0as well as in other parts of the U.S., Canada, Europe, and New Zealand, both as soloist and with other musicians.\u00a0 Tom also performs with T.D. Skatchit<\/a>, RTD3<\/em><\/strong>, Ghost in the House<\/em><\/strong>, Music for Hard Times<\/em><\/strong> (duo with Paul Winstanley<\/em><\/strong>) and has appeared on a number of recordings, including his solo CD, Identity<\/em><\/strong> (2007), T.D. Skatchit & Company<\/em><\/strong> (2009) and Skatch Migration<\/em><\/strong> (2010) (Edgetone Records).\u00a0 In 1998,\u00a0he published Wisdom of the Impulse: On the Nature of Musical Free Improvisation<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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\u00be of the Half-Human Quartet - (L \u2192 R): Joe Lasqo, Ritwik Banerji (\u098b\u09a4\u09cd\u09ac\u09bf\u0995 \u09ac\u09cd\u09af\u09be\u09a8\u09be\u09b0\u09cd\u099c\u09c0) & Maxxareddu, 25 Jul 2013 @ Outsound New Music Summit (Photo: PeterBKaars.com, http:\/\/www.peterbkaars.com)<\/p><\/div>\n

Following on our debut at the recent 12th Outsound New Music Summit festival, I\u2019m excited to once again play as a member of the Half-Human Quartet <\/em><\/strong>\u2014 AI improvising agents Maxine<\/em><\/strong> & Maxxareddu<\/em><\/strong>, as channeled by Ritwik Banerji (<\/em><\/strong>\u098b\u09a4\u09cd\u09ac\u09bf\u0995 <\/em><\/strong>\u09ac\u09cd\u09af\u09be\u09a8\u09be\u09b0\u09cd\u099c\u09c0)<\/em><\/strong><\/a> of Berkeley\u2019s CNMAT<\/a> & myself.<\/p>\n

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Ritwik Banerji (\u098b\u09a4\u09cd\u09ac\u09bf\u0995 \u09ac\u09cd\u09af\u09be\u09a8\u09be\u09b0\u09cd\u099c\u09c0, L) & Rob Frye (R) @ the Ivy Room, 26 Jan 2011<\/p><\/div>\n

One inspiration for what we and our non-human colleagues are going to do sonically is the following video from the Cornell AI lab showing two chatbots kitted out in machinima avatars going at it. They have quite an interesting discussion:<\/p>\n