Hungry for life? No, I’m thirsty for Niima Project recordings at Apaloosa Grill!
Niima Project is the new fully instrumental and wholly improvisational local super-group comprised of members of Kessel Run – guitarist Cam Canepa and drummer Kirk Larson – and members of Dandu – bassist Sean Dandurand and keyboardist Ben Weirich – bringing together a jamband conglomerate of uniquely creative proportions. Last Saturday, the band brought that creativity to the Apaloosa Grill stage for a night of off-the-cuff jams that left a memorable impact on those who were lucky enough to witness them.
The trick with improvisational music is keeping the listener engaged in something they have never heard before. For some, this is as simple as having a high technical prowess that will dazzle the music geeks in the room with complex lines or exotic scales. However, that’s usually not the most accessible avenue for the masses, so the real key to making unscripted music is to find a balance between high flair and intelligible melody. This is an area in which Niima Project excels often, through open dialogue and patient playing, taking segments and branching them out just far enough to get people locked-in but not so long as to leave them feeling lost. They have a clear knack for quickly synthesizing a penetrable melodic theme and letting it flourish clearly through their shimmering lens.
It is worth mentioning too that this was only the band’s fourth performance together, which is quite impressive considering the high-level at which they were communicating ideas on stage, and it’s also a testament to each member’s talent and reverence for each other. Communicative playing is respectful playing; as Lizzo would say, if one member is shining, “everybody gonna shine.” Niima Project, much like most team work in real life, succeeds when everyone is elevated. Whether it be the entire band providing a starry back-drop for Cam or Ben to provide an expansive solo, or their openness to quickly lock into a new groove suggested by Kirk or Sean, each provided highly dynamic moments that evolved segments to something more. Through the process, Niima Project finds their voice with confidence and speaks their truth with ease, suggesting fresh themes begging to be explored.
All music starts off as an improvisation – in a sense, fully improvised music is the most primal and transcendent forms of music one could make. It shows a new perspective on communication that isn’t often understood by everyone on a theoretical level but always felt on a personal level. Improvisation is music unbridled, fearless, and at its best when it is without ego. Niima Project is the exploration of all of this and more – a revue of sonic ideas, a celebration of collaboration, and the essence of what makes music great.
Niima Project | 2022-12-10 | Appaloosa Grill, Denver, CO
-= Set 1 =-
01. Track 1
02. Track 2
03. Track 3
04. Track 4
05. Track 5
06. Track 6
-= Set 2 =-
07. Track 7
08. Track 8
09. Track 9
10. Track 10
-= Set 3 =-
11. Track 11
12. Track 12
13. Track 13
-= Lineup =-
Kirk Larson (Kessel Run) on drums
Cam Cameran (Kessel Run / Legato) on guitar
Sean Dandurand (Dandu) on bass
Ben Weirich (Dandu) on keys
Thank you to Niima Project and Appaloosa Grill for being cool with taping/sharing shows. Go see live music and tip your bartenders/waiters! #spacetapes
ARCHIVE LINK: https://archive.org/details/np2022-12-10.ChurchAudioCA14.omnis.AUD.SBD.Matrix.FLAC16bit
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