FOR THE RECORD: JEREMY PHILLIPS ART OPENING WITH MUSIC BY JUPITER
December 6 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
“For the Record,” a new exhibition by Jeremey Phillips opens at Citizen Vinyl on Friday, December 6, 6-9 p.m. Jupiter, experimental music from Jeff Arnal, Kris Gruda, and John English, will also perform in celebration of their new, eponymous album.
Jeremy Phillips is an Asheville based artist and educator. He paints out of his River Arts District studio in Pink Dog Creative and is a Religion and Humanities Instructor at Haywood Community College.
From Jeremy: “I love vinyl records and all the accoutrements around them; the 12 inch square, the 12 inch circle, the cardboard covers with endless color and imagery, the spines with their tiny words, the familiarity of holding them and setting down the needle on the turntable, the liner notes and inner sheets with lyrics and more, the way the lined-up spines look on the shelf, the sepia inner sleeves of older records, the lovely aging and accidents that give the covers character and wear. Oh and the rich sound and occasional crackles are just fine too.
Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, commands a celestial presence, its immense mass dwarfing all other planets combined. It’s also the name of a quiet, unassuming community nestled in the Appalachian Mountains north of Asheville, North Carolina – a place that now serves as home to avant-garde guitarist and sound pioneer Kris Gruda. Renowned for his groundbreaking 2023 release Kris Gruda Plays for You on Palilalia Records, Gruda has long been a maverick on both electric and acoustic guitar, effortlessly blending tradition with bold experimentation.
Over the past five years, Gruda has collaborated with fellow guitarist and photographer John English, whose deep roots in the experimental music scene trace back to the vibrant Birmingham, Alabama scene of the 1990s. Now based in Black Mountain, NC, English’s lifelong commitment to improvisation was highlighted by a pivotal performance at the 1996 Birmingham Improv Festival with his project Phantom Limb. His dedication to pushing the boundaries of sound has only intensified over the years.
Completing this ensemble is percussionist Jeff Arnal, whose rich musical background includes studies under composer Stuart Saunders Smith and the legendary Milford Graves. Arnal has shared the stage with free jazz icon Charles Gayle in NYC and has performed across the United States and Europe, with highlights at festivals like Vision Festival and Big Ears, and venues such as deSingel and Exploratorium Berlin. His history of innovative collaborations with musicians and dancers, along with releases on labels such as Mahakala Music, Clean Feed, and Catalyst Sound, underscores his experimental ethos.
In January 2024, Gruda, English, and Arnal embarked on intensive rehearsals, and by spring, they emerged as Jupiter – a dynamic ensemble that melds their diverse backgrounds into a powerful sound. Their collaboration pushes the boundaries of avant-garde music, combining the expansive energy of amplified ensemble work with the subtle, intricate nuances of micro sounds and extended techniques. Jupiter’s music explores the possibilities that emerge when tradition and experimentation intersect, shaping a continuously evolving collective.
