Joanna MacGregor’s sonic explorations into the compositional complexities that bind primitive, classical and modern forms of music together have defied categorisation and left her without peer. It comes as no great surprise to learn of her deep respect for Moondog, the American composer whose perfectionism and wilfulness she clearly shares. Expanding snippets of his ‘street recordings’, reworking some of his betterknown compositions and paying particular attention to his lifelong fascination for writing in canon, MacGregor has made an evocative and varied tribute to the muchmissed master.
From the desert music of Single Foot, with its horse-hoof drumbeats, to the New York swing of Dog Trot and the dustbin banging of Rabbit Hop, MacGregor joyfully acknowledges the rhythmic pace and humour inherent in Moondog’s music. Elsewhere, the haunting Invocation and popular Bird’s Lament provide evidence of the scope of Moondog’s work. Accompanied by long-time collaborator and saxophonist Andy Sheppard and Indian flautist Shri Sriram, MacGregor has here highlighted why Moondog should be seen as one of the great composers, not just of the 20th Century, but of all time. As she recently stated, ‘He’s stricter and purer than Bach.’ We’ll have to take her word on that.
