Since the mid-1960s, Jon Gibson has played a key role in
the development of American avant-garde music. No other
artist has performed in the world premieres of Terry Riley's
"In C," Steve Reich's "Drumming," and Philip Glass'
"Einstein on the Beach," three major works that changed
the course of musical history. While his expertise on
woodwind instruments made Gibson a go-to collaborator
in Reich's, Glass', and La Monte Young's ensembles, less
known are his remarkable contributions as a composer and
visual artist.
Visitations, Gibson's first release under his own name,
originally appeared on the Chatham Square imprint in
1973. Inspired by the books of Carlos Castaneda, Gibson
departs from the structured repetition of his minimalist
peers and takes the listener on an aural journey-spanning
organic field recordings, ambient flutes and synthesizers,
and free-flowing textures. Visitations' two side-long
tracks are at once solemn and unsettling, making this an astonishing
debut that firmly establishes Gibson as a pioneer
in his own right.
This first-time vinyl reissue is recommended for fans of
Cluster, Harold Budd and Phill Niblock.
