ROBERT DICK INTERVIEW

“A flutist whose technical resources and imagination seem limitless.” Allan Kozinn, New York Times
Robert Dick’s contributions to the development of the flute and its music are profound. With equally deep roots in classical music old and new, free improvisation and new jazz, he is known as the flute’s visionary.  On April 18, at Roulette, Robert Dick teams up with visual improviser Joshue Ott and electronic musician Billy Gomberg for Dog or God – an immersive, improvised experience, unabashedly journeying from maelstrom to serenity via spontaneous emotional ports of call.

ROULETTE: Tell us as about the work you’ll be doing at Roulette.
ROBERT DICK: Dog or God “originated” when I saw Joshue Ott do his superDraw live video improvisations with the American Composers Orchestra a couple of years ago.  The music on that program didn’t do to much for me, but I was blown away by Joshue’s work and thought that I’d have to make contact with him.  Some months later, we found ourselves having a drink together at a party for the parents in our kids’ preschool — and discovered we live just a block apart.  So we began to improvise — some of our earliest work is up on YouTube:

It became clear that a third voice would round out the group.  First we worked with Morgan Packard, but Morgan moved away from NYC.  Joshue introduced me to Billy Gomberg and we hit it off!   Thus Dog or God came to be.

At Roulette on April 18, Billy has to be away and Ezekial Honig will pinch hit for him on electronics.  We’ve been rehearsing — Zeke sounds great!!!!!

R: Are there working artists today with whose work you identify, or rather, who do you consider to be your peers?
RD: Oh boy!  Are there ever.  Everyone making art today are peers.

R: What are some defining characteristics of the musical scene you would fit yourself into? What elements of your scene differentiate it from what has come before, or what is happening now?
RD: I identify with fellow musicians who feel free of predefined roles for the instruments they use.  Music is made by people, not instruments.  And many of us work in a way that presumes that any person, at any time, can take any musical role — and that they can do so using the instrument(s) of their choice.

R: What was the last music you listened to?
RD: Last thing in my head was Jimi Hendrix’s recording of “All Along the Watchtower”.  Last thing on my CD player was JEGOG: the Bamboo Gamelan of Bali.

R: Chocolate, Vanilla or Rocky Road?
RD: Chocolate and Vanilla.

R: What is music?
RD: The communication of emotion and ideas between people (and other beings) through sound.

R: Do you consider yourself more a composer or a performer?
RD: For myself, I don’t see or feel a difference.

R: Is there an event or experience that led you to start in experimental media?
RD: No single event.  Rather a gradual evolutionary process.

R: Who do you see as instrumental in your development as an artist?
RD: Many, many people.  To name a few: Robert Morris, Steve Lacy, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Dolphy.

R: What is interesting to you about your own work?
RD: It keeps me going!  Others can comment on it and analyze it.

T: Do you do other things aside from music?
RD: Not for money.  My two kids keep me very busy.  Sebastian is 4 and Leonie is 2.

R: Other thoughts?
RD: Hope lots of folks will want to see and hear Dog or God.   We’re in it for the long haul and I think this is truly special group.