Collaborations PT. 1 The Interdimensional Duo & DECOR
Over the years I've been fortunate to meet so many amazing artists along my often meandering path. I wanted to take some time with this multi-part series to bring some of the stories behind those collaborations into the light. Many of these projects are still ongoing or have branched into new territory. There are some pretty good road stories that go along with the creative process, so here we go......
Izzytime (Israel Heller), is a violin extraordinaire that I have had the pleasure of creating with for many years. We met in Cleveland (2006) while attending conservatory and started playing improvised shows at a local jazz club called Night Town. We took this sound around random bars in the area eventually finding the cafe Algebra, a favorite room where the owner encouraged our playing and kept us well caffeinated. A shared interest in non-traditional forms, indeterminate sounds, and at times a complete disregard of tonal centers kept things interesting and forged a signature sound for us a duo. Also, and perhaps most importantly, the complete admiration we both have for James Horner's orchestral score for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. With the aid of free bar tabs and a regular patron's love of high-end scotch we were cured of any inhibitions in performing real-time sonic experiments in front of an audience, especially one that may have been under the impression we were a traditional jazz or classical duo. This was the foundation of what would become DECOR.
Living room rehearsal 2025
In LA, under the supervision of Mark Vogel and engineer Chris James, we put these improvisations down on DECOR's debut record "Collage". The writing and performing of this record marked an intense period of focus and inspiration, often found in the food, music, film and generous happy hours across LA and Santa Monica. It was during these sessions that we formed the story of the Interdimensional Duo, which goes a little like this:
“Thousands of years ago, upon a developed planet near the 11th dimension, two hapless musicians participated in a state-run experiment in inter-dimensional travel. The course of the experiment was that through combined frequencies of a performance said musicians would be able to bend time in a way as to allow the transfer of personnel from one spacial plane to another. The initial tests proved this to be feasible, but upon application the performers were brought into this present time without the ability to return to their own. The pieces that so affected space in their own world do not work the same here. For years they attempted to re-bridge the time gap , continuously searching amongst the available frequencies here for a path of return. Until the right dissonance is found they remain trapped”
DECOR Collage album cover by Sean Petrilak
Later, I would learn that for years Izzy had been working on a sci-fi project in the background. A truly monumental creation that is at the core of his Dark Journeys series. The Interdimensional duo were woven into this tale as characters who inadvertently aid in the saving of the known universe, if only so they don't have to do it themselves. Tired travelers in search of a way to their home dimension, along the way finding refuge and respite in the Starfish Bar.
Our paths diverged for a time to pursue other projects but this work is still at the heart of our sound as a duo. You can catch us performing in the music for the Dark Journey's podcast as well as a growing number of live shows featuring our solo works and combined ensemble. Keep an eye out, as we will be between the Pacific Northwest and Southern California throughout the spring and summer and then off to Europe in October of this year.