Phenobarbital Sessions by Abbey Rader & John McMinn

After spending a year making a documentary about my friend Abbey Rader, I wanted that collaboration to continue. I came to Abbey with the idea of composing an improvised score for my next film, a dramatic short titled Phenobarbital. Abbey accepted the challenge and recruited long-time collaborator John McMinn to sit in on the sessions. It’s a continuing thrill to witness the spontaneous and unexpected sounds that Abbey and John create together, and these sounds form the score to Phenobarbital. It’s a film about downward spirals, tension and crisis, and the unpredictable nature of their music sets the tone and carries the emotional weight of the film. I’m forever in awe of their musical instincts and thankful that these sessions are being preserved here in their entirety.

- Jorge Rubiera, Director, Phenobarbital

Abbey Rader is an avant-garde jazz drummer whose "free" approach is heavily influenced by Buddhism. Since the 60s, he's worked with Dave Liebman, John Handy, Billy Bang, Mal Waldron and many others.

abbeyrader.com
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