Bitches Brew in Mixed Reality

A mixed reality audiovisual experience where the music drives every visual change.
Recorded on November 28th, 2021 and performed live as part of my bachelor’s degree recital, this was the culmination of years of developing Portraits of Change in Unity.

Description

This performance was part of my mixed-reality recital, using a VR pass-through prototype built with the Valve Index and ZED Mini stereoscopic camera. Since 2019, I have been developing Portraits of Change as a way to enhance live music through VR/AR rather than simply stream concerts remotely.

Why Bitches Brew

Miles Davis’s Bitches Brew was chosen for its immense influence in jazz and rock, and for pioneering fusion. We approached rehearsals differently than other songs- the form was loose, harmonic structure open, and the performance played with a sense of discovery and unease.

I paired the music with visuals of space and cosmology, attempting to tell the story of the origins of the universe. The performance begins in chaos and gradually forms into equilibrium, with cascading melodies and harmonies emerging through improvisation.

Performers

• Trumpet: Thomas Graves
• Keys: Tony Szajowski
• Electronic Drums: Michael Manzanares
• Upright Bass: Jay Martinez
• Electric Bass: Jordan Barney
• Electric Guitar: Thaddeus Zimmerman
• Tenor Sax: Connor Thomas
• Bassoon: DJ Henson

Music composed by Miles Davis
Arranged by pure chaos and group improvisation.