John Dikeman - saxophone

Marta Warelis - piano

Aaron Lumley - bass

Sun Mi Hong - drums

Old Adam On Turtle Island is a new program composed by John Dikeman for this quartet. It draws influences from sacred musics stemming from both western Christian traditions as well as native American song, specifically Chippewa and Ojibwe traditions. Old Adam refers to the concept of original sin in some Christian theologies and Turtle Island refers to Mishee Mackinakong which is a part of the creation story of the Ojibwe – after a great flood a turtle raises it’s back out of the water and thus begins the recreation of life on earth. This relationship also acknowledges the genocide of Native Americans and Christianity’s role in that history and speaks to religion as a means of control throughout history. Musically, the compositions reflect all of this in a fractured way. The compositions act as both uplifting and potentially transcendent elements as well as oppressing forces.

The original lineup includes Frank Rosaly on drums, however for this performance we are very pleased to have Sun Mi Hong joining the ensemble.

Photo Cristina Marx