JDR Abstract – Flying – releasing on October 5, 2025
A special recording featuring James Metcalfe and Ray Dillard from JMR Abstract with special guest Doug Romanow on multiple keyboards.
JDR Abstract – Flying
Recorded in about two hours, released more than 15 years later!
This set of movements was created by JMR Abstract with special guest Michael Gould. The original four individual parts were recorded between April and July of 2020. They comprised the 11th major work created in the Quarantine Series by JMR Abstract. The truth is, we didn’t have the technology or knowledge to create this final version at the time. The piece was created from a set of distinct instructions by Michael Mizma and Ray Dillard, but the combination of the video and elements was not something any of us really knew how to deal with at the time. Fast forward to now. Lots of learning has occurred to make it possible for us to finally realize this piece in the way it was conceived. Background videos were created by James Metcalfe. Special thanks to Michael Gould for his contributions to this piece. Enjoy.
A short footnote: The piece as a whole was created with NO knowledge of what each other was planning or played for each movement. The instruction set was all we had to work with for the individual performances. A true chance operation!
Ray hosts a virtual event featuring live performances with Cassandra Rutherford, video performances with James Metcalfe and a special video created by 13 year old Lucas Martin.
The original solo performance was performed live on a streamed Winter Solstice concert by Ray Dillard on December 20, 2020. That was video and audio captured by Bryn Epp in Calamity Royale Studio in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. The intent was to have James Metcalfe, and later Michael Mizma – JMR Abstract – each add parts to the original. This is the second stage of the development of this piece.
The original solo performance was performed live on a streamed Winter Solstice concert by Ray Dillard on December 20, 2020. That was video and audio captured by Bryn Epp in Calamity Royale Studio in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. The intent was to have James Metcalfe, and later Michael Mizma – JMR Abstract – each add parts to the original. This is the second stage of the development of this piece.
The original solo performance was performed live on a streamed Winter Solstice concert by Ray Dillard on December 20, 2020. That was video and audio captured by Bryn Epp in Calamity Royale Studio in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. The intent was to have James Metcalfe, and later Michael Mizma – JMR Abstract – each add parts to the original. This is the second stage of the development of this piece.
This video features the musical performers of JMR Abstract, with special guest Daniel Morphy. This was created very early in our extensive JMR Quarantine Project. The video was realized by James Metcalfe in July of 2020. With the audio having been recorded in early April of 2020, the full extent of what would become the Covid-19 pandemic was not understood. The music still displayed the inward looking that has come to be one of the most common shared aspects of this pandemic. Thanks to Daniel Morphy from Toronto, Canada for joining us on this piece – albeit a virtual “joining”
JMR Quarantine Sessions – Video: Street Funk #19
Here is our latest video, featuring JMR along with guest Anthony Sapp on bass. The photography of Susan Metcalfe highlighting amazing street art gives the video it’s amazing, colorful energy!
Our mascot, which normally travels to the location of our group recording sessions, is in residence at James Metcalfe’s studio. Here are some shots of it hard at work in some of James’ setups. Feel free to leave messages in the comments area for the mascot! Maybe you could even suggest a name, as we have not been able to come up with one that all three of us agree on.
