Matthew Hindson’s invigorating funky ensemble piece Comin’ Right Atcha thrilled and charmed the audience in a recent concert by Present Music in Milwaukee USA. Present Music is a leading new-music ensemble based in Milwaukee. The group works with composers to establish new music, its mission being to engage artists and audiences in imaginative and provocative experiences with new music. As part of their 30 year anniversary celebration, and providing an excellent example of their mission to engage with its audiences, Director, Kevin Stalheim sent e-mails containing a nominated list of compositions to fans of the group, asking recipients to cast their votes for pieces they would like to hear in an audience-choice concert. About 100 people responded. The result was a remarkably cohesive, fascinating evening of new and newish music. “It’s power-to-the-people time,” Stalheim declared at the start of “Choose” at Turner Hall Ballroom on 7th January 2012.
Amongst the featured chosen works was Matthew Hindson’s Comin’ Right Atcha written in 2002, a work inspired by the funk music of James Brown a foot-tapping piece combining compelling rhythms and an improvisatory feel, with the sounds of funk and lyrical jazz
'Perhaps the most engaging piece of the evening’
Elaine Schmidt, Journal Sentinel
‘The ostinato, the favourite device of a whole generation of post-Minimalist composers, meets funk in this funny and affectionate send-up of James Brown’s band and whatever else popped into Hindson’s head. A nervous, infectious hi-hat solo kicked off a sort of Cubist scattering of funk elements. James Brownian shouts blurted from trumpet...trombone...and clarinet...as everyone got funky with the violent syncopations and abrupt stops characteristic of Brown...a lonely, lovely, muted solo, and we wandered into Cubist Gershwin land and then to its neighboring country, Swing...amid a beautiful solo, quoted Tommy Dorsey in Sentimental Over You, which charmed laughter out of the audience…a furious [cello] solo à la Hendrix…[and a]pizzicati in a suspenseful transition..,eventually returned us to Funky Town for a big finish.
Tom Strini Third Coast Digest
'..[a few of the pieces] really delivered. Matthew Hindson’s Comin’ Right Atcha blends James Brown-style funk with Terry Riley-style Minimalism, letting fragments build and wane, and occasionally giving over to bass riffs that would make Bootsy Collins proud (even though they were courtesy of Andrew Raciti’s acoustic bass).’
Paul Kosidowski Culture Club
Matthew Hindson’s Comin’ Right Atcha riffed wonderfully on James Brown funk. It cooked. It would make a great dance score.
John Schneider Shepherd’s Express