Dave Kerman joins Aranis

Dave Kerman (drummer for 5UU's, Present, Ahvak, Thinking Plague) will join the Belgian chamber music group Aranis in 2010, playing on their forthcoming fourth album and touring with them in Europe.

http://www.generalrubric.com/dkerman/main.html

http://www.aranis.be/eng/group/index.html

The first performance of this line-up will be in De Singel (Antewerpen) the 27th of March 2010.

Wow!

Henry Plainview wrote: But their lack of drums was what made them so good. :(

I won't say much as "good" than "unique" or "original".
But I remember, when talking to bassist Joris after the show at Le Triton this last summer, that he said he enjoyed bands like Univers Zero.
Does that mean that Aranis is planning to evolve to a "chamber rock" direction à la UZ / Présent? We'll see.

I would say good, because they were forced to express rhythm in a different way because they coudn't just have somebody bang on a drum, and that made them better. We don't really need more bands that sound like Univers Zero. I'll still give it a chance, and I'm not saying they have to make Aranis I and II again, but a drummer was the last direction I wanted them to evolve into, even though I like Ahvak.

Well, just a little aside: I think the first concert with the new Aranis line-up went exceedingly well.  For those who doubt drums might be worthwhile - please understand that Joris is ALWAYS trying something new, and that the understanding is that I am a guest musician for the current programme, which just happens to incorporate drums.

They confessed to me that they had auditioned several "drummers" who showed up not having memorized the music, and just started bashing away. Not to blow my own horn too much, but I took the job responsibly, and worked for many weeks to both memorize Joris' complex percussive rhythms, and to extrapolate upon them (with his blessings) when I felt it necessary. To boot, I play with Aranis using chopsticks instead of drumsticks, and by all accounts the drums were not overbearing in the live setting.

So, we'll see how this goes. I too must confess that I would feel terrible to "spoil" such a unique approach. But this program is, as I said before, just the current phase of Aranis, and the next one will probably be very different again.

On a personal note, I will say that I have never before worked with such a marvelous group of young people. Besides being utter virtuosos on their respective instruments, and absolutely committed, they are the kindest, warmest, most generous, and classiest group of musicians I've ever worked with. Please listen to the album with an open mind when it's released in October, as they deserve the benefit of the doubt, to be sure.

Bests,

Dave K

I haven't heard any Aranis yet, but I certainly will soon. Great to hear Mr. Kerman's input on the collaboration, though!

Dave Kerman wrote: Well, just a little aside: I think the first concert with the new Aranis line-up went exceedingly well.  For those who doubt drums might be worthwhile - please understand that Joris is ALWAYS trying something new, and that the understanding is that I am a guest musician for the current programme, which just happens to incorporate drums. They confessed to me that they had auditioned several "drummers" who showed up not having memorized the music, and just started bashing away. Not to blow my own horn too much, but I took the job responsibly, and worked for many weeks to both memorize Joris' complex percussive rhythms, and to extrapolate upon them (with his blessings) when I felt it necessary. To boot, I play with Aranis using chopsticks instead of drumsticks, and by all accounts the drums were not overbearing in the live setting. So, we'll see how this goes. I too must confess that I would feel terrible to "spoil" such a unique approach. But this program is, as I said before, just the current phase of Aranis, and the next one will probably be very different again. On a personal note, I will say that I have never before worked with such a marvelous group of young people. Besides being utter virtuosos on their respective instruments, and absolutely committed, they are the kindest, warmest, most generous, and classiest group of musicians I've ever worked with. Please listen to the album with an open mind when it's released in October, as they deserve the benefit of the doubt, to be sure. Bests, Dave K

And in Canada (Québec, in fact).