Music for Two Pianos - Don Preston/Ben Dowling

May 27, 2008; San Pedro, CA - Pianists Don Preston and Ben Dowling joined in a duet performance for two pianos, gongs and synthesizer at Alva's Performance Gallery this past Saturday night. In an evening of experimental music of text and concept based improvisation, the repertoire also included original works by the two artists - along with improvisations based on works of Bud Powell, Bela Bartok and Igor Stravinsky.

Preston, famed member of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention, seated in a circle of Hamburg Steinway grand, multiple gongs and Korg KaossPad synthesizer exemplified his mastery of the form by leading the two musicians through multiple excursions into eclectic sonic frontiers. Dowling, seated at a New York Steinway facing Preston, was clearly up to the challenge with his scorching piano technique, lyrical touch and harmonic sophistication - making for an evening both fascinating and enjoyable.

While it may be familiar to afficianados of contemporary classical music, the use of poems, quotations and biographies as source for creative inspiration seemed unfamiliar to the sold-out crowd at the gorgeous Alva Performance space. With a comfortable repartee, the duo demonstrated high level virtuosity and chance taking with an easy and inclusive self-deprecating humor. In short, this collaboration worked beautifully for performer and audience alike.

Commenting on the generational differences of the duo, Preston related, "This is going to be an unusual evening. We're a couple of generations apart. I'm coming from some jazz influences that I had as a young man that are quite different from the jazz influences that Ben had when he was a young man. That makes for me anyhow an extremely interesting evening. Even though we come from different backgrounds, we still really kind of think alike."

Here are two excerpts from the concert. Don is thinking of releasing the whole project, but this is a nice little taste...

• Concerto for Orchestra - Bartok :: Music for Two Pianos: Don Preston/Ben Dowling
• Six Great Men :: Music for Two Pianos: Don Preston/Ben Dowling