Echoes of the Sublime
This collaboration between artist Kirby Fredendall and musician Will Fredendall (flute), along with his free jazz trio (Jonathan Paik, Piano and Alex Yoo, drums), explores the intersection of visual art and music in an innovative and dynamic form. The artwork, created on acid-washed tin, serves as a canvas for expression— both as a standalone piece and as a catalyst for the sonic interpretation that follows.
Observation is central to this project. Each viewer brings a unique perspective, interpreting the mood, colors, and forms differently. Likewise, the trio responds to these paintings in real time, translating the visual experience into music. Will Fredendall and his musicians engage with the artwork through free jazz, a genre known for its improvisational nature and emotional depth, forging a direct dialogue between sound and sight.
They approach the paintings as living, breathing entities—capturing shifts in mood, rhythm, and feeling, and transforming them into sonic expression. We are indebted to the generations of artists and musicians who came before us, each contributing to the evolution of their craft. But in a world that constantly changes, we ask: what can we offer that is fresh, that is uniquely ours? We believe the answer lies in shared, immediate observation. A response to art is never static; it evolves with each viewer and, in this case, with every note played, every moment of improvisation. In this fusion of visual and auditory expression, we explore how art and music interact, reflect, and respond to one another in ways both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Through this collaboration, Kirby Fredendall’s paintings become more than images—they become a conduit for exploring perception, a living experience interpreted not just through the eyes but also through the ears. In turn, Will Fredendall and his trio embody the freedom of jazz, responding instinctively to the energy and emotion of the artwork, highlighting the ever-changing interplay between sight, sound, and sensation.
arko-íris
WILL FREDENDALL & DIEGO MARTINEZ are young up-and-coming improvisers active in various east coast scenes, and they have been developing their musical language as a duo for years through countless private sessions. throughout both their times as students in boston, they have developed a profound love & appreciation for complete creative freedom through the medium of improvisation, which is something they are seeking to achieve with every new session.
this record is merely an example of the culmination, of sorts, of the innate faith these two have in one another as collaborators; the kind that both musicians feel manifests very rarely to this extent. these four improvisations involve various pre-determined parameters set by will & diego. from soaring melodic improvisations over ambient drones & harmonics to fleeting percussive attacks & explosive noisemaking, this collection of tracks serves as a first marker for the unspoken trust of the duo ARKO-IRIS.
Inspirations— Solo Flute Album
This is Will’s first solo flute album. Each track shares a story about the people in his life that have made him the person he is today.
