AUDIO
These U Totem performances are 100% live in concert. The group featured Emily Hay (voice & flute), Sanjay Kumar (keyboards), Eric Johnson-Tamai (bassoon), David Kerman (drums) and I'm playing bass.
Let's open with the setting of a verse by D Kerman. "Imperfections" was the starting point for U Totem, though originally it appeared on an album by 5uu's.
Listen to "Imperfections" by U Totem (3:52)
September 23rd, 1989 COMA Day of Music, Long Beach, California
© 1989 All rights reserved - BMI
"One Nail Draws Another" was first released on the U Totem debut album. This version is from a concert at LACE we co-billed with Colorado's legendary Thinking Plague!
Listen to "One Nail Draws Another" by U Totem (14:49)
June 30th, 1990 Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions
© 1990 All rights reserved - BMI
Then, here are some recent compositional sketches. The first one features some serial and combinatorial shenanigans and the next is an example of polyrhythmic cut-outs, or form by erasure.
Listen to "A Famous Recluse" by James Grigsby (1:17)
© 2006 All rights reserved - no public performance please
Listen to "Bluebird Scans" by James Grigsby (4:11)
© 2006 All rights reserved - no public performance please
PRESS KIT
My Discography
A Concise History of the Motor Totemist Guild
What the critics said about my music
MUSICAL SCORES
These files are for study purposes only.
Narcotic Lollipop contains examples of rhythmic counterpoint, motivic cells, and stylistic hybrid.
View "Narcotic Lollipop" (54 pages)
from City of Mirrors, © 1999 All rights reserved - BMI
for flute, clarinet, tenor saxophone, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, piano, guitar, bass, xylophone/percussion, and drums
Yamatonadeshiko is an example of graphic notation.
View "Yamatonadeshiko" (16 pages)
from All America City, © 2000 All rights reserved - BMI
for electronics, guitar, piano, and bass
LINKS
GENE CARL - Dutch composer and pianist, who was back in town for one of the pivotal recording sessions that led to the forming of U TOTEM.
EMILY HAY - Voice and flute for U TOTEM, MOTOR TOTEMIST GUILD, plus her own solo and group projects.
DAVE KERMAN - Composer and drummer 5 UU's, MOTOR TOTEMIST GUILD, U TOTEM, plus a million other things.
CURT WILSON - Voice and engineer for 5 UU's, MOTOR TOTEMIST GUILD, U TOTEM, plus his own solo work.
ROD POOLE - Guitarist and engineer for U TOTEM, MOTOR TOTEMIST GUILD, plus his own solo and group projects.
MOTOKO HONDA - Pianist and composer featured in the latest Rotary Totem presentation.
RICH WEST - Drummer and composer featured in the latest Rotary Totem presentation.