DAVID MOSS – TAKE ME AWAY

On September 3, 1988, the American percussionist and voice virtuoso David Moss (b. 1949) visited Odense, Denmark, with the current version of his Dense Band: Tom Cora (cello), John King (guitar), Jean Chaine (bass), and David Moss (drums, vocal). At that time, Moss was a leading figure of the so-called “downtown improv” or “noise” scene in New York, combining elements of rock, jazz, avant-garde and improvisation in a new musical mix designed to transport the listener to a different place. I sat down with Moss for a conversation about musical influences, conventions, and drumming and vocal techniques – sometimes interrupted by stunningly sharp demonstrations of rhythmic voice/drum patterns. In the film, excerpts from the interview provide a context for a selection of tunes from the concert. An event that was a topic of conversation for a long time among the good people of Odense. A film by Lars Movin (1989, 30 min.). Photo of David Moss in Amsterdam, May 1, 1988, by Per Henriksen.