This weekend (Feb. 28-March 1), Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica presents Diamonds & Tapestries: The Embellished Grandma Sparrow & His Piddletractor Cirquestra. The dance and music performance, created by choreographer Carson Efird and composer Joe Westerlund, is a “frolic through a sonic soundscape” and includes musical contributions from four CalArts alumni.
The music portion is a live performance of Westerlund’s full-length debut album, Grandma Sparrow & His Piddletractor Orchestra, and incorporates his fascination with collage, improvisation, humor and the convergence of atonal and popular melodies. The music takes the form of “a psychedelic children’s song-cycle for adults” and is accompanied visually by Efird’s “romps and rollicks.”
The performance includes improvisational collaborations with Los Angeles-based CalArts alums, saxophonists Casey Anderson (Music MFA 09) and Casey Butler (Music MFA 09), bassist Brendan Carn (Music MFA 09) and guitarist Joshua Gerowitz (Music MFA 10).
Watch a live performance of Westerlund’s The Farewell Bolero or a video from his 2011 recording session.