Influences – Peter Gordon

Music

Versed in a legion of instruments and disciplines, New York native Peter Gordon, has fused a dizzying array of influences over the course of a long and storied career. Symphonies, operas and scores have been interspersed with work for theatre and dance, and such work has been admirably diversified by his involvement in some of discos most alluring and strange cult records; those special, coveted few made during the tenure of other NY luminaries such as Arthur Russell and Peter Zummo.

No doubt the movement between the usually mutually exclusively spheres of New York lofts and grand concert halls have informed and enriched his mercurial but playful work over the years, and his latest, ‘Symphony 5’ – performed with his long-standing ensemble, the Love of Life Orchestra – is another testament to the dual complexity and litheness of form that characterises his material.

The early life and education he experienced; a Virginian childhood, an adolescence spent in Munich, and later tutelage courtesy of Terry Riley and Robert Ashley, makes for equally fascinating territory (some of which Gordon alludes to here) and seems to have cultivated an authentic and discerning appreciation for everything from John Coltrane to Lou Reed, from Terry Riley to Chic.

Following a revivified presence in recent years initially galvanised by a DFA retrospective, and lately built upon by collaborations with Factory Floor and Archangel, Gordon has remained as singular as ever. Ahead of Foom’s release of ‘Symphony 5’, now seemed as good a time as any to pry into the records which have excited and enlightened him in equal measure.

Pre-order Symphony 5 here.

LISTEN

New Orleans Rascals 50th Anniversary / Tiger Rag : Bob Greene

Bob Greene worked with my father at Voice of America. He would come visit and play ragtime in our living room when I was a young child in Virginia. I would watch him intently as he would rhapsodize about Jelly Roll Morton. Soon after, he quit the VOA and devoted himself full time to music. This song, “Tiger Rag”, was my favorite song he played – I loved the low-note piano clusters.

New Orleans Rascals 50th Anniversary / Tiger Rag : Bob Greene

Bob Greene worked with my father at Voice of America. He would come visit and play ragtime in our living room when I was a young child in Virginia. I would watch him intently as he would rhapsodize about Jelly Roll Morton. Soon after, he quit the VOA and devoted himself full time to music. This song, “Tiger Rag”, was my favorite song he played – I loved the low-note piano clusters.
Acid Truth By Don Menza - Buddy Rich 1968 "Live At Caesar's Palace"

Don Menza, the composer, arranger and tenor sax soloist of this track, was my saxophone teacher. Though he’s the most virtuosic sax player I’ve ever known, Menza was always more focused on the tone.
Walk Don't Run '64 -- Ventures (In Hd)

As an young teenager, I loved instrumental bands – The Shadows and The Ventures in particular. I really like the boldness of the Venture’s of reworking their original hit.

And I liked how this was mixed.
Jr Walker & Allstars - Shotgun

Jr Walker had my favorite sax sound and attitude. I was introduced to Walker, and Motown in general, by trumpet player Marcellus Brown, who had just moved to Munich from Detroit with a great collection of Motown LP’s.
"I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" Blood, Sweat & Tears

Great arrangement on this – always had a sweet spot for Al Kooper’s organ and the horns and strings are great, including Fred Lipsius’ eloquent alto solo.
John Coltrane - Ascension (Full Album) (1080p)

I had been totally immersed in A LOVE SUPREME, but this opened a whole new direction of sound and texture.

Great players, not-so-great players, it was a community of music on record.
Frank Zappa/The Mothers Of Invention - Absolutely Free (Full Stereo Album) (1967)

I listened to this constantly- the detail, the social irreverence combined with musical homages.
Penderecki - Threnody (Animated Score)

Brilliant notation – it opened my ears to texture and scoring possibilities.
In C By Terry Riley - Original Recording - Part 1

Steve Bartek turned me on to this in high school – I was floored. I loved the composition rigor with the incessant pulse.

So formal, yet so free. I later went on to study with Terry Riley, which continued the influence to this day.
Donna Summer Love To Love You Baby Original Long Version (Disco 70s)

This is amazing in a club – the extended version suggested all sorts of possibilities for layering. I felt particularly attached to this since it came out of Munich, my home for the teenage years. I played in the Munich American High School jazz band with David King, the bass player; at a party in Berlin in 1968, Giorgio cornered my Dad (a writer) and had him parse the lyrics of “Yummy Yummy Yummy”.
Lou Reed - Street Hassle (Hq)

I was living in a storefront in the East Village, watching the endless parade of souls walking by my front gates. This was the soundtrack.
Robert Ashley - Isolde (Marie Isolde)

Bob Ashley was my teacher. Later, he asked me to be music producer for his television opera “Perfect Lives.” I was given free range as producer and spent hundreds of hours in the studio with Bob and “Blue” Gene Tyranny, experimenting and learning my craft. “The Lessons” is a signature mix, at Bob’s request.
Chic - Open Up

A killer track, cutting strings, instrumental, Chic rhythm section – what’s not to like.
Lcd Soundsystem - New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down

I am greatly indebted to James Murphy. Not only because he brought my music to the attention of a new audience, but more important, because he got me out to clubs and listening to dance music again. And this song says so much about my hometown.