Let's Go Swimming: A Tribute to Arthur Russell

The Kitchen; Thu May 15–17

More than 16 years after his death, the idiosyncratic composer, cellist and dance-music producer Arthur Russell is better known than ever. Tracey Thorn covered his “Get Around to It” on her 2007 solo album, and Jens Lekman just compiled a tribute EP featuring indie faves Taken by Trees and Joel Gibb (of Hidden Cameras). Russell’s oddball notions of disco can be heard in the grooves of modern dance acts like Zongamin, and Hercules and Love Affair. His song “This Is How We Walk on the Moon” even popped up in a British T-Mobile ad last year.

On records such as 1986’s World of Echo and the posthumous Another Thought, Russell married joyous pop to muted, inward reflection. But this “Buddhist bubblegum” (much of which has been reissued this decade by Audika) will make up just a fraction of this three-day program, which also offers a rare chance to hear his large ensemble instrumental pieces played live. On Friday, Russell colleague Bill Ruyle conducts “Tower of Meaning,” a minimalist work for brass and strings. Saturday will find Ruyle, trombonist Peter Zummo and bassist Ernie Brooks participating in “The Singing Tractors,” an ensemble trance work that incorporates improvisation.

Lekman, Zummo and Brooks also feature in the documentary Wild Combination, being screened for the first time in NYC on Thursday. Mixing Russell’s music—some of it unheard for decades—with perceptive reminiscences, performance clips and a profoundly moving love story, director Matt Wolf has created a cohesive film that mirrors Russell’s unchecked creativity and free spirit.