Livestream
Nashville
Material: She played detective “Falacci” opposite Chris Noth in Law And Order: Criminal Intent, among countless other highly visible roles in film and TV, while simultaneously cultivating a music career. If the Lilith Fair took place today, indie singersongwriter Alicia Witt would be a perfect fit. Her songs are conceptually strong and, though personal, they reference universal feelings. In “Satellite,” a ballad lamenting relationship disappointment, we see someone who is on the periphery of their partner’s life: I’ve tried to break this orbit/I’m tired of waiting for it/the bright side to come back around/you don’t see me now/I won’t shine till I come down/I’m just another satellite in your sky. “Younger,” an appeal to stay connected to our true selves, shed burdens, and recapture more carefree times, is uplifting: Let’s run where it says there is no running/Let’s break our hearts open wide/tear down the static and the buzzing/ let’s leave this cage and lose our chains… Let’s take the world and discover all we used to know/ I wanna find a way to go under/like when we were younger. The song builds with the tagline paying off exactly as it should, marrying the music and lyrics in a joyful highpoint. Musicianship: By the age of seven, Alicia Witt was already a proficient classical pianist, with a command of the instrument and a skill that she utilizes to the fullest. Her warm, emotive sound and spot-on pitch is a voice that’s easy on the ears and still compelling.
ALICIA WITT
Performance: Using Stageit’s interactive format enabled Witt to take requests from fans, always prepared to play each request, keeping the audience thoroughly engaged. Stageit shows are usually scheduled in 30-minute segments, but often the platform keeps the stream rolling. As the set went into overtime, it abruptly ended halfway through Witt’s rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” a song that was a perfect match for her voice. Perhaps in
the future, she can plan around this inevitability, so songs are not shortchanged. Summary: A highly versatile artist, Alicia Witt’s prodigious acting career fuels her musical one. Her songs reflect someone who has done some soul searching and gained wisdom from the journey. With a soon-to-be-released new album, luckily, fans have more Alicia Witt songs to look forward to. – Ellen Woloshin over and under a primary melody is invigorating. And his ability to integrate seemingly random samples, with assorted waveforms and snippets is vividly cinematic and surreal.
BRIAN CHARETTE
Livestream
New York City
Contact: pinchbrian@aol.com Web: briancharette.com Material: Charette performs an intriguing mix of electronically derived sounds and textures. “Slasher” is a heavily syncopated piece that builds in sonic depth and intensity. It’s a colorful patchwork where Jimmy Smith sensibilities and Larry Fast-type visions converge. “Aligned Arpeggio” shifts from funky grooves to asymmetric rhythms. Sample-driven interludes 50 April 2021
musicconnection.com
along the way keep one on the edge of their seat. “Improvisation With Modular Synth” combines Ramsey Lewis and Herbie Hancocklike finesse atop a vibrant and percolating synth figure. “57 Chevy” has a glint of nostalgia, with a ripping bop-influenced melody. It’s a great blowing tune in a brisk modal kind of vein. Musicianship: While it is apparent this New York-based musician has a strong improvisational presence on organ and piano, he is a master at various other devices, as well. His facility for layering various soundscapes
Performance: Watching Charette work is like observing a mad scientist in his laboratory. Surrounded by banks of keyboards and mixing gear, he dives into each composition with a passion and verve that demands your complete attention. The tunes are multi-faceted and contain interesting segues and aural detours. While all the pieces are charted out to a certain extent, much of the set was primed for jazzy exploration and danceable grooves. There was even a portion in the show where the music became more ambient and Charette got into some yoga and tai chi moves. With the dense mix of bubbling analog and digital keyboards, the man and machine seemed to merge as one. Summary: Brian Charette is an award-winning jazz artist who has worked in all types of group configurations. From fusion to bop—he does it all. With electronica, however, this artist excels in the sense that he goes far beyond the common parameters of the genre. Most DJs and beat makers seem to rely on stale grooves and static ideas to numb their audience into submission. Charette, however, brings his considerable chops and sophisticated style to the fore and truly elevates the listener. It’s a complete experience for the body and mind. – Eric Harabadian
MARK SHIWOLICH
Contact: mail@aliciawittmusic.com Web: aliciawittmusic.com