las cruces new mexico | form & concept

“I must be fearless in improvisation, fully committed and fully present,” says Las Cruces saxophonist Rhonda Taylor. “Otherwise the quality of the moment is diminished.” For a leap of faith like this, it helps to have a buddy. Enter Santa Fe soprano and theatre-maker Tara Khozein, who collaborates with Taylor on this evening of performance at form & concept. They will debut improvisational scores that incorporate instrumentals, vocals, and gestures.

“Tara and I have a sort of Venn diagram of skill sets,” Taylor says. “What I love about working and performing with her is how we both are able to push and pull the other one beyond her comfort zone, in what I believe is a very beautiful and unpredictable way.” The Tara + Rhonda Show 2018 is the duo’s second performance at form & concept, following last December’s The Tara + Rhonda Show: Fully Clothed and Highly Introverted. The gallery will ask for a sliding scale donation of $5-$25 at the door in support of the artists. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and the performance begins at 7:00 pm.

THE TARA & RHONDA SHOW! Fully Clothed and Highly Introverted makes its Santa Fe debut at form & concept tonight. Come to the gallery at 7 pm for an evening of improvisational performance with New Mexico musicians Tara Khozein and Rhonda Taylor. Make sure to bring a $5-$25 donation in support of the artists.

Khozein and Taylor have performed together once before, for the one-night sound exhibition Lyric Concrete at Radical Abacus in 2015. Here’s an excerpt from Alex De Vore’s write-up on the event for Santa Fe Reporter:

“Often in contemporary classical, it’ll just say that it’s for ‘voice’ or ‘female voice,’ and these newer compositions will focus on what they call extended techniques or mumbles and grumbles or things you could say that metal vocalists have been doing for years,” Khozein says, displaying her self-described crazy eyes. “I’ve been trying not to use the word ‘weird’ to describe this music, because that just seems a little apologetic.”

[…] Let’s get down to brass tacks here, you guys. What is the overall selling point, especially in a town where everyone hates what they don’t know? The selling point is that it’s important to experience some things that exist outside the norm. And while McKissick and Khozein readily admit that Lyric Concrete won’t be for everyone, they’ve both promised a tangible emotional response to the performances.

The same goes for Khozein and Taylor’s daring performance at form & concept tonight! Come hear how both artists have evolved since their last collaboration, and support performing arts in Santa Fe.

Learn more about this event.
RSVP on Facebook.