The Squid's Ear Magazine

Porter, Katie

Conversation No. 1 / Collecting Rocks from the Places We've Been

Porter, Katie : Conversation No. 1 / Collecting Rocks from the Places We've Been (Relative Pitch)

A deeply introspective solo endeavor from New York bass clarinetist Katie Porter, blending live playing with layers of previously recorded bass clarinet for a slow-moving, richly textured improvisation; the artist creates an intimate, deep-register conversation that unfolds with emotional subtlety and immersive soundscapes.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Katie Porter-bass clarinet, prerecorded bass clarinet


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UPC: 5904224874506

Label: Relative Pitch
Catalog ID: RPRSS048
Squidco Product Code: 36628

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2025
Country: USA
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded at ISSUE Project Room, in Brooklyn, New York, on February 12th and 14th, 2024, by Katie Porter and Bob Bellarue.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Conversation No. 1/ Collecting Rocks from the Places We've Been is a solo for bass clarinet which can be performed as a duo, trio, or maybe someday with many, many bass clarinets, or in collaboration with other artists. Katie Porter is interested in creating systems of music that she can exist in together, for herself and others, music that collapses and expands on itself, where we are free to choose the phrases, iterations, and lean into the occurrences of overlapping tones, vibrations, multi-phonics, and all those strange, spacial resulting extra harmonies."-Relative Pitch



This evocative solo release explores a compelling interplay between live saxophone and pre-recorded bass clarinet lines — both crafted by the same artist. The results are quietly mesmerizing: the music is unhurried yet immersive, blending contemplative tones with rich, resonant textures. Drawing on the distinct characteristics of the bass clarinet — its earthy, inky timbre and dynamic range — the recording unfolds like an intimate dialogue across time, where the reedist's presence converses with its echo in the lower register. The album embraces minimalism without sacrifice, offering subtle emotional impact and spaciousness that rewards patient listening. It's a captivating document of solo performance that carries both introspective depth and creative singularity.


Artist Biographies

"Katie Porter plays clarinet, bass clarinet, sings, writes songs and curates performances. She exists mainly in the experimental realm, but can sometimes be found elsewhere."

-Katie Porter Website (https://fromkp.wordpress.com/about/)
8/20/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. 0' 02:57

2. 2'57 03:01

3. 5'58 03:13

4. 9'11 03:02

5. 12'13 02:45

6. 14'59 02:50

7. 17'49 02:56

8. 20'45 03:01

9. 23'46 02:57

10. 26'43 02:59

11. 29'42 03:04

12. 32'46 02:54

13. 35'40 02:58

14. 38'38 03:01

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
Electro-Acoustic
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Recordings by or featuring Reed & Wind Players
Solo Artist Recordings
New in Improvised Music
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