British Group Partisans Interviewed at AAJ

Partisans has been gigging in cyberspace--playing a virtual nightclub in Second Life. Over 13 years and four acclaimed albums, Partisans has developed a strong reputation as one of the most exciting and innovative bands on the British jazz scene. One of the band's strengths is its willingness to keep up to date with technology and experiment with it whenever this might help to expand their work.

The night of Friday November 6, 2009 saw Partisans' debut gig in Second Life, the online virtual world, when their concert at London's Crypt in Camberwell was video-streamed into the Crypt's virtual venue. While the live audience enjoyed the band's set in the small club, in Second Life avatars with exotic names and appearances watched and “danced" as the gig was presented on four large screens. Did playing to a virtual audience as well as real people need any special preparation for the band?

AAJ Contributor Bruce Lindsay explores this question, as well as Partisans' history and latest release, By Proxy (Babel, 2009), in an insightful and informative interview with Siegel and Robson.

Check out Partisans: Blowing a Storm in Cyberspace at AAJ today!