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Volume CXXXIII, Number 14 |
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Behind the scenes with Philip Hamilton Group
ELAINE JOHANSON
STAFF WRITER
The Philip Hamilton Group came to the Pickard stage last Saturday bathed in red and blue light that complemented both the warm Latin rhythms and cool jazz base that characterizes this group.
In the spotlight was vocalist Philip Hamilton, in a white shirt with a drum strapped around his waist. Throughout the concert, he was clearly in control of the music, allowing for continuity throughout each song. The musicians were allowed to improvise within the limits of the music and Hamilton's discretionary ear.
Hamilton added new life to popular favorites "Fragile" and the Beatles' "Blackbird" while also playing many of his own compositions. Despite the bluesy air of his songs, they were infused with the spirit of warmer climates, much like his own history. Though raised in Boston and educated at Middlebury, Hamilton just returned from Brazil before the show.
His blues were also tinged with happiness, most notably in his song "This Woman Will Give Me the Blues," which was written about the woman he eventually married. For me, though, Hamilton shone the most when scatting, including a particularly wonderful improvisation on the word "Bowdoin."
"There was definitely a happy continuity through the pieces, though they experimented with Latin styles, improvisation, and unusual meters, including one in seven," said senior Laura Tatum.
In addition to Hamilton's beautiful vocals, I was incredibly impressed by the guitar player's range from jazz, to rock, to a surprising flamenco style.
"My favorite part was at the end when he turned up the house lights and made us sing and clap along," said Natalie Handel '04. "It was unconventional for a concert setting, and made me appreciate the music in a different way."
After the show, I helped the group break down the stage with several members from the Activities Board, which mainly consisted of coiling wires, unscrewing microphones, and putting drums in bags. The band was hungry after their performance and surprisingly normal-looking when removed from the colorful lighting by the theater department's Michael Schiff-Verre. I hitched a ride in the guitar player's minivan over to Smith Union, where they insisted I join them for pub snacks of mozzarella sticks and Thai spring rolls. Being a cheese fiend, I couldn't resist.
To my surprise, the Philip Hamilton Group is not a set group, but instead a fluid mix of musicians that Hamilton brings together based on his location. This particular concert featured Paul Bourgelais on guitar, Jeremy Hill on bass, and the wonderfully tall Shamou on percussion. Each does their own work-Shamou, for example, works at Bates College and in Portland with Bowdoin Dance lecturer Lisa Hicks.
They were friendly, especially after their successful show, and hungry, even though two only ate salad (but that could have been because I told them that the salads at the pub are most choice). The cheerful conversation that ensued, which happily included me, proved that at the end of the night they were just a bunch of guys doing what they loved, and not just the impressive group they appeared to be on stage.
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