New Album out on Northern Spy Records
The Weather Up There
About
THE WEATHER UP THERE
Jeremy’s upcoming release The Weather Up There focuses on the life of Jeremy's younger brother Andrew, who died in a home invasion robbery in 2008. Working closely with Jeff Parker, Paul Bryan, and Josh Johnson, this new work confronts the tragedy of violence and examines the acute ripple effect on several people's lives through the lens of memory, response, and collage.
In his own words, Cunningham explains, “I wrote The Weather Up There to confront the loss of my brother Andrew to gun violence, who died in a home invasion robbery some 10 years ago. My brother was a kind soul, and I used those warm memories of him to illustrate his life as a counterpoint to the pieces that confront his tragic end. Recorded accounts from my family and friends appear throughout the album to show just how far the ripple effect of gun violence extends through a community.”
As part of his process, Cunningham wrote poems and collected a series of audio interviews from family members and close friends of his brother that detail their experience of loss and the effect gun violence has had upon their lives. Cunningham formed a drum choir for these compositions with close mentors and colleagues Mike Reed, Makaya McCraven, and Mikel Patrick Avery, in order to further deepen the textural and emotive impact of these deeply personal works. The collective improvisation of the drum choir is their response to the calls of personal stories and narrative accounts of these troubling events.
Recently, Cunningham traveled to Cincinnati with media artist Kim Alpert, who documented the scenery and locations referenced in The Weather Up There. Alpert will be performing as a member of the upcoming performances for this project to provide a visual counterpoint to the musical performance.
Photo by Alexa Vicius
About Jeremy Cunningham
Jeremy Cunningham is a drummer, composer, and improviser. Originally from Cincinnati, he moved to Chicago in 2009, where he currently performs and composes as an integral part of the city’s vibrant music scene. Cunningham has performed with an impressive roster of luminaries such as Von Freeman, Jeff Parker, Mike Allemana, Marquis Hill, Caroline Davis, Nick Mazzarella, Greg Ward, Will Miller, Lane Beckstrom, and Dave Rempis. He can be heard on Resavoir’s eponymous debut on International Anthem, Marquis Hill's albums New Gospel and Sounds of the City, Caroline Davis’s Live, Work, Play as well as on Nick Mazzarella’s Meridian Trio recording Triangulum.
Cunningham’s current projects include Resavoir, Rempis/Parker/HåkerFlaten/Cunningham, Trio Vibes, Lane Beckstrom, Nick Mazzarella’s Meridian Trio, Laurenzi/Cunningham Duo, Rempis/Cunningham Duo, the Matt Gold Trio, Chicago Drum Choir, and his own quartet featuring Jeff Parker, Josh Johnson, and Paul Bryan.
“I’ve had the pleasure of watching Jeremy grow into one of the most visionary composer/bandleaders on the scene today. It was truly an honor for me to work with him on The Weather Up There.”
“Jeremy Cunningham’s upcoming record is a testament to his commitment to sound,
feel and creativity that sets him apart from other drummers. I am inspired by his
vulnerable and honest approach to music both as a drummer and composer.”
