Member Since: 03/04/2007
Band Website: www.stefanlakatos.de
Band Members:
Stefan Lakatos is heir to Moondog's percussion instruments and playing style -- in 1986 he was publicly designated by the composer as "the leading exponent of the Moondog method of drum playing."
Stefan Lakatos, Swedish artist and musician, became a close friend of Moondog's in 1980 and has devoted much of his time since then to the cultivation and propagation of Moondog's music, and in particular to the use of the unique percussion instrument known as the Trimba. Moondog himself taught Stefan Lakatos his method of drum playing. They worked together on various projects, which included extensive private consultations in Sweden. Through this friendship Lakatos acquired a detailed understanding of Moondog's life and work. In 2008, in connection with Stefan Lakatos' performances at the Moondog Rising Festival in New York, Dr. Robert Scotto observed that Lakatos “recreates the original sound and subtle characteristics of this challenging music, conducting the ensembles from the Trimba rather than the podium -- and thus introducing new generations to the work of Moondog as only he can do.†Indeed a year earlier, in 2007, Stefan Lakatos had even brought Moondog's music back into the hallowed precincts of Carnegie Hall.
“Stefan Lakatos is the leading exponent of the Moondog method of drum playing", wrote Moondog in his liner notes to the first Bracelli string ensemble CD of 1986.
The Trimba
The Trimba is a unique percussion instrument invented by Moondog himself and designed -- in the search for new sounds -- for use in his own compositions. The characteristic and, by now, renowned Trimba percussion sonority has formed a part of the thumbprint of Moondog..s music since as far back as the late 1940s.
The instrument consists of two triangular wooden tubes, with one or two cymbals attached directly to the wood. This combination brings forth the characteristic echoing sound that is heard when the drum is struck on the rim. A maraca and a clave are used as mallets.
Moondog also created his own rhythmic patterns, often in odd meters such as 5/4 or 7/8 -- these among the so-called "Snaketime" rhythms. Such basic patterns can then be applied as a foundation for rendition of many of his compositions."In December 1980 I brought Moondog over to Sweden for the first time, I invited him on his first trip to the land of the Vikings, it was like a pilgrimage to him, visiting the old kings grave..s in Uppsala. We spent the x-mas night together, taking long walks in the snow, under a full moon. It was a very cold winter, 1980, and Moondog wore a special winter cap he had made himself from square pieces of white lamb wool. His beard was embellished with ice, and so was mine. He also taught me how to make the cap". - Stefan Lakatos A short time after, Moondog made Stefan become the Moondog Managarm representative in Sweden, organizing concerts and gathering musicians together for recordings and other projects. He also taught him a lot about his music and how to play the trimbas, of course."Moondog - the Viking on 6th Avenue", is the authorized biography by Robert Scotto, with a preface by Philip Glass, you can find it on Process Media Press Inc. You can also listen to Rober Scotto..s radio show on Moondog: at http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/23161Through their friendship, Stefan Lakatos has a unique perspective on Louis Hardin alias Moondog, who survived thirty cold winters on the streets of New York dressed up as a Viking. Despite of his handicap, and under difficult circumstances, Moondog stubbornly struggled as a free artist, committed to his own ideas of life and music, regardless to the world around him. He was a true artist who wrote a most beautiful and peculiar music that still amazes listeners and musicians all over the world.
Influences: Mainly Moondog.Other influences: Frank Zappa, Samuel Beckett, Bertil Pettersson, Harry Lorayne, Mauricio Kagel, Ravi Shankar, Daddy Lasse O´, Jethro Tull, Gong, Fugs, Sun Ra, Zap Mama, Björk, Joseph Haydn, Montaigne, Voltaire, Mozart, Beethoven, Spike Jones, Doo Wop, Dr John and John Ashbery, Harlan Ellison, Robert Crumb, Haruki Murakami, Paul Auster, Ivor Cutler... and many more to come.
Sounds Like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akm8uVqe8pk
Record Label: LASKA rec./Roof Music/TraceLabel/Countryandeastern
Type of Label: Indie