In Context: Real Enemies

Real Enemies, from Darcy James Argue, Isaac Butler, and Peter Nigrini, comes to BAM on November 18. Context is everything, so get even closer to the production with this curated selection of articles and videos related to the show. After you've attended the show, let us know what you thought below and by posting on social media using #RealEnemies.

BAM Blog Questionnaire: Lindsey Turteltaub of Real Enemies

When Real Enemies comes to the BAM Harvey Theater November 18—22, audiences will be dazzled by hundreds of pieces of found video footage by film designer Peter Nigrini perfectly synced to an original jazz score by Grammy-nominated Darcy James Argue and his 18-piece Secret Society. The remarkable part? Each cue is called live, and there's no click track. Below, stage manager Lindsey Turteltaub explains more.

A technical rehearsal for Real Enemies. Photo: Lindsey Turteltaub

Real Enemies—Shadow History

Real Enemies comes to the BAM Harvey Theater November 18—22, with music by Darcy James Argue, films by Peter Nigrini, and text and direction by Isaac Butler, who shares his thoughts here.

Darcy James Argue and his 18-piece band Secret Society. Photo: Noah Stern Weber

As of this writing, the Real Enemies team has just returned from developing the piece at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. People know Virginia Tech for many reasons—its unique limestone, football team, and engineering program are all legendary—but more recently, Tech and its environs have been in the news because of a spectacular act of violence. In late August, Vester Flanagan shot and killed two former colleagues on live television in the outskirts of Roanoke, less than 30 minutes from our hotel. Shortly thereafter, he released footage of the murder filmed from his own point of view, and then killed himself during a car chase with police.

November Staff Pick: Brooklyn Babylon

Photo: Brooklyn Babylon, by James Matthew Daniel

This month's pick: Brooklyn Babylon (Nov 9—12)
Picked by: Ross Marshall, Marketing Projects Assistant

1. Why Brooklyn Babylon?When I first browsed this year’s Next Wave Festival season line-up, Brooklyn Babylon was the show that I was immediately the most excited about. Darcy James Argue is integral to the New York jazz scene, which, collectively, is making a strong case that jazz is still alive and tremendously exciting. But thoroughly contemporary big band music paired with animation and live painting in support of an original story about futuristic Brooklyn? That really gets me going.

Photo: Brooklyn Babylon, by James Matthew
Daniel

2. What makes it unique?
When was the last time you saw someone painting on an enormous canvas in front of an audience? Zezelj’s work is bold and visceral, and live painting is perhaps the most suitable complement to live contemporary jazz. It’s a match made in heaven.

3. You might like this if you liked:
Imaginary City (So Percussion) and The Long Count (Bryce & Aaron Dessner), both at BAM in 2009; Ecstatic Music Festival artists like Clogs, Alarm Will Sound, Owen Pallett, Shara Worden, Nico Muhly, and others; Undead Jazz Fest and Winter Jazz Fest artists

4. Guilty-pleasure reason for seeing the show:
Infernal Machines by Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society was nominated for a Grammy for Best Large Ensemble Jazz Album. Also, Darcy once wrote a piece that features an electrified cajón and, as questionable as that may be to Latin percussionists and jazz purists alike, it sounds incredible. I want to hear more of that.

5. Final words:
Perhaps the most important element of this collaboration is the fact that both of these Brooklyn-based artists are rapidly emerging leaders in their respective scenes, and they will be on BAM’s stage together with this staggeringly ambitious work. I wouldn’t miss this show if I were you!

Brooklyn Babylon runs from Nov 9—12 at the BAM Harvey Theater.