Spark of Being

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More About

• Dave Douglas
• Bill Morrison
• Mary Shelley
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media
• Stereo Systems

Spark of Being, which premiered at Stanford University this past April, is an abstract retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, put together by the jazz trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas and the experimental filmmaker Bill Morrison. Douglas has drawn on everything from Balkan folk to Mary Lou Williams to make some of the most beautiful—sometimes loud and funky, too—jazz records of the past few decades. The acoustic-electric Keystone, which includes DJ Olive on turntables and laptop, showcases his wide-ranging interests. Bill Morrison is best known for making new creations, à la Dr. Frankenstein, out of old stuff, namely archival, often mesmerizingly damaged film. Rent his outstanding 2002 film Decasia to prepare for the show, or at least check out Spark of Being's enticing trailer on YouTube. Highly recommended.
Thu., Oct. 7, 8 p.m., 2010