Transfigured New York: Interviews with Experimental Artists and Musicians, 1980-1990

by Brooke Wentz

Transfigured New York presents conversations with iconic, genre-bending artists who shaped the sounds of experimental movements like no wave, avant-jazz, and electronic music. As an undergrad in the 1980s, Brooke Wentz hosted the show Transfigured Night on Columbia University’s WKCR-FM, discussing art and ideas with avant-garde music luminaries. She unearths these candid interviews―heard before only when first broadcast―from cassettes and reel-to-reel tapes, letting readers today feel the excitement and creative energy of the 1980s New York underground scene.

Musicians and artists, now icons of their craft, tell their stories and share their thoughts about the creative process, capturing the ambition and energy that animated their work. Legends in the making like Bill Frisell, Philip Glass, and Laurie Anderson convey what it was like to be a struggling artist in 1980s New York, when the city was alive with possibilities. Others who were well known at the time, including John Cage, La Monte Young, and Ravi Shankar, advocate for their distinctive ideas about art and open up about their creative lives.

Featuring an astonishing range of interviewees―Morton Subotnick, Joan Tower, Steve Reich, Glenn Branca, Joan La Barbara, Living Colour, Arthur Russell, John Lurie, Eric Bogosian, Bill T. Jones, and many more― Transfigured New York provides new insight into the city’s cultural landscape in this era. It is a one-of-a-kind account of one of the most exhilarating and inventive periods for art and culture in New York City’s history.

Genres: Music, Art

400 pages, Hardcover

Published November 14, 2023

Reviews

[Soscha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transfigured New York is an absolute triumph that immerses readers in the vibrant and groundbreaking world of 1980s New York City. Prepare to be transported back to a time when creativity ran rampant and the experimental music scene flourished with unrestrained brilliance.

Brooke Wentz, a remarkable and visionary music enthusiast, blesses us with candid interviews that had been tucked away in forgotten corners of cassettes and reel-to-reel tapes. Now, these gems have been unearthed for our pleasure, allowing us to share in the electrifying energy and excitement of the underground scene that defined an era.

Within the pages of Transfigured New York, we are granted intimate access to conversations that took place during Brooke's groundbreaking show, Transfigured Night. Accompanied by avant-garde luminaries, Brooke fearlessly explored the realms of art and ideas, leaving no stone unturned.

The legends of contemporary music divulge their secrets and recount their journeys, weaving tales of perseverance, passion, and unyielding artistic ambition. From the likes of the incomparable Bill Frisell, the mastermind Philip Glass, to the visionary Laurie Anderson - these giants of creativity speak directly to our hearts, allowing us to experience the struggles they faced as budding artists in the vibrant tapestry of 1980s New York City.

But the allure does not stop there. Transfigured New York takes us even deeper into the illustrious minds of visionaries. The revered John Cage, the boundary-pushing La Monte Young, and the illustrious Ravi Shankar lay bare their souls, sharing their distinctive artistic perspectives and providing us with invaluable insight into their creative lives.

As we journey through the pages of this awe-inspiring book, a star-studded cast takes center stage. From Morton Subotnick to Joan Tower, Steve Reich to Glenn Branca, Joan La Barbara to Living Colour, and Arthur Russell to John Lurie - the breadth and depth of this remarkable array of interviewees is simply astounding. Each interview illuminates a unique facet of the explosive cultural tapestry that was the 1980s New York City art scene.

Transfigured New York is not just an account of a fleeting moment in history; it is a time machine that propels us directly into the heart of one of the most exhilarating and inventive periods for art and culture in the Big Apple. It captures the essence of a city teeming with endless possibilities, where dreams were forged and artistic legacies were born.

In the hands of Brooke Wentz, Transfigured New York becomes a literary beacon, guiding us through the labyrinth of avant-garde music and artistic expression. It paints a vivid, awe-inspiring portrait of a city and its people at their most electrifying. This book is an absolute must-read that will leave you both invigorated and inspired, forever changed by the extraordinary voices and stories it presents.

[AnnieM · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I am embarrassed to admit that when I started reading this book, I assumed the author was a man. Why? Because most music books and interviews from the 80's and 90's are written by men. So after getting over kicking myself for this mistake, I really enjoyed this book.. She was a DJ at Barnard/Columbia at the college radio station and had tapes (reel-to-reel and cassette) that were starting to decompose. She luckily worked with others to digitize these incredible interviews. The book takes the interviews and adds a brief background on each artist as well as a photo. There were some artists I have heard of (John Cage, La Monte Young (huge influence on John Cale and was part of the Fluxus art scene with Yoko Ono). There are others I have seen in concert - such as Bill Frisell, Ronald Shannon Jackson, and Vernon Reid (Living Colour). What is so compelling about these interviews is that the questions are insightful around their music and influences (I was impressed with the level of questions from a college kid -- I don't think mine would have been so intelligent). For those readers who love music and either know some of these artists or want to be exposed to new music, I highly recommend this read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Columbia University Press for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

[Bruna Manfre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brooke Wentz didn’t lie when she said her mission was to gradually guide listeners into the 80s New York underground scene. More than that, as a (somewhat) music journalist myself, Brooke made me want to do interviews again, talk about music, and understand the stories behind it.

The book itself is divided into nine different parts, each one collecting interviews within a certain theme. For example, in part VIII, she talks with international superstars such as Astor Piazzolla and Ravi Shankar, showing how New York’s scene inspired other musicians (and vice versa).

Trust me when I say there is SO MUCH to learn from these interviews, whether it’s finding out about musicians that inspired Daft Punk and Radiohead or reading about non-traditional instruments.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting something more and something different. I learned about the alternative and avantgard scene in the 80s
A perfect gift if you know someone interested in avantgard
Recommended
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine