Frank Orrall. Photo courtesy of Poi Dog Pondering________
In 2005, the Chicago-based musical collective known as Poi Dog Pondering ( PDP ) teamed with the Chicago Sinfonietta to put a unique twist of some of Antonín Dvorak's compositions. This year ( on June 4 and 10 ) , the two groups will again combine their talents—but this time, they are going to perform selections from Georges Bizet's Carmen in a reinterpretation called Carmen Remixed. Frank Orrall, PDP's longtime leader, recently talked with Windy City Times about everything from the upcoming show to his own group's longevity.
Windy City Times: How did the idea to do Dvorak germinate?
Frank Orrall: Maestro [ Paul ] Freeman's office called us and wanted to collaborate on something. They knew that we had done a lot of orchestration on recent records. We thought that we'd do some Poi Dog songs, but they wanted to do something completely new. I had done a dance-club edit of [ Dvorak's ] New World Symphony, and played it for him. He liked it, and we developed it more and more. ( I was driving and heard a piece come on the radio, and I liked a particular passage. ) We took some movements, chopped them up and spliced them.
WCT: I understand that there's also going to be some type of video. What's that going to be like?
FO: I don't know yet. [ Laughs ] We're wrapping up the music now, because Carmen is a whole bunch of songs, whereas last time we did one long piece.
WCT: A lot of people loved your collaboration from a couple of years ago. However, are you ever afraid of potentially offending purists or traditionalists?
FO: No, not at all. I've gotten positive feedback, and I couldn't be bothered if someone was offended by it. Carmen's been done many times, and even Carmen itself keeps evolving.
WCT: Do you ever read critics' reviews?
FO: Sometimes yes, sometimes no. [ Laughs ] I was really pleased with the feedback we got from the last show. I wasn't sure how people would react, so it was nice. We're 'delighting' in the show, and I think people sense that.
WCT: What other composers are you looking to perform?
FO: Our first impulsive pick was Stravinsky's Firebird, so if it comes around again, we'll see. But the first one was sorta picked for us. However, with this one, I listened to a lot more classical music. I never really collected it before. I'm still pretty green, but I learned a lot more this time.
WCT: Is there a genre left for you to tackle? You've worked in so many musical categories. Or is it now about fusion? What keeps you going?
FO: Fusion is really fun and exciting.
WCT: Let's not do country-rap, though.
FO: [ Laughs loudly ] I think Kid Rock might've done it, though.
WCT: I can't believe that it's been over two decades since you formed PDP. Does it feel like it at all?
FO: No, it doesn't. But that first cassette was made in '84 and our first record came out in '88. However, it's approaching the 25th year mark of there being an entity called Poi Dog.
WCT: What's been the biggest change for PDP?
FO: Hmmm ... I don't know. We're constantly changing, whether it's our line-up, our musical direction or where we play.
WCT: And you moved to Chicago from Hawaii, and formed your own record company after being dropped by Columbia. Those are pretty major changes.
FO: Yeah, those are pretty major.
WCT: [ PDP has ] a new CD coming out soon. What can you tell me about that?
FO: It's more like a rock-and-soul record. We're going for a Stones-y/Tyrone Davis [ sound ] mixed with Velvet Underground. [ Laughs ] But it still sounds like Poi.
WCT: What's on your iPod right now?
FO: I'm going through a retro phase right now; before, it was a long Brazilian phase. Lately, I've been listening to '60s [ acts ] like Paul Revere and the Raiders; Youngbloods; and Mitch Ryder.
WCT: If you were in charge of the music industry, what would you change?
FO: [ Pauses ] Actually, [ what I like ] is that it's a lot easier to sell records now. Before, you had to get a record contract and a distributor; now, you can just upload music. There's not much that I would change.
The Chicago Sinfonietta and Poi Dog Pondering will perform June 4 at the Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan, at 7:30 p.m., and on June 10 at Dominican University, 7900 W. Division, River Forest, at 2:30 p.m. Prices are $25-$38 ( at Dominican ) and $25-$90 ( at the Center ) . Call 312-236-3681, ext. 2, or see www.chicagosinfonietta.org .
