
Dmitri Matheny's THE SNOWCAT is inspired by the ancient Asian parable of The Oxherder,
in which a herdboy's quest to find his missing ox is likened to an individual's journey through life.
With origins in India, the parable became popular in medieval Japan and was
depicted on 13th century handscrolls as the 'Ten Bulls' or 'Ten Oxherding Pictures.'
The scrolls traditionally divide the hero's journey into ten stages,
each accompanied by a circularly framed image and a simple verse.
Rendered in the graphic style of Japanese narrative illustration,
the story is as accessible and visually compelling
as a modern comic book.
As in the ancient parable, the hero of THE SNOWCAT
finds her companion and returns home to appreciate the beauty of nature,
play music and have fun with friends.
She maintains hope, optimism and determination in the face of adversity,
discovers the gentle power of sitting quietly, and embodies the spirit of sharing
and gratitude that makes the holidays such a magical time.
Join us for the Arizona premiere of
Dmitri Matheny's THE SNOWCAT
A cool cat tale for the whole family
December 6 @ ASU Kerr Cultural Center Scottsdale
December 13 @ Chandler Center for the Arts
Holly Pyle vocals
Dmitri Matheny flugelhorn/storyteller
Andrew Gross saxophones
Nick Manson keyboard
T-Bone Sistrunk bass
Dom Moio drums
“In this spellbinding performance, jazz flugelhornist and composer Dmitri Matheny and his band
weave a magical, musical tale of a little girl searching for her missing white cat on a chilly afternoon.
Based on a medieval Japanese parable, The SnowCat reveals the spirit of sharing and gratitude
that makes the holiday season such a wonderful time of year.”
—Town & Country