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
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
The good news is more young people are coming to our concerts. The bad news is most of them rarely look up from their phones and hand-held devices.
It saddens me to look out at them from the bandstand, to see them there in the audience, sitting in the darkness, looking not to the stage but downward, their expressionless faces illuminated by cold blue light.
I want so badly for them to experience—truly and without distraction—the gift of a soulfully crafted melody.
I want to share with them the thing I love most: the pure emotional power of instrumental music, without the need for lyrics, explication or visual spectacle.
Am I naive? In today's world, is it even possible?
"Music, for me, has always been a place where anything is possible--a refuge, a magical world where anyone can go, where all kinds of people can come together, and anything can happen. We are limited only by our imaginations."
There's no earthly way of knowing
Which direction we are going!
There's no knowing where we're rowing,
Or which way they river's flowing!
Is it raining? Is it snowing?
Is a hurricane a-blowing?
Bah! Not a speck of light is showing,
So the danger must be growing,
Are the fires of hell a-blowing?
Is the grizzly reaper mowing?
Yes! The danger must be growing,
For the rowers keep on rowing,
And they're certainly not showing
Any signs that they are slowing...
I went out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,
And moth-like stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.
When I had laid it on the floor
I went to blow the fire aflame,
But something rustled on the floor,
And some one called me by my name:
It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair
Who called me by my name and ran
And faded through the brightening air.
Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.
"I can tell you the license plate numbers of all six cars outside. I can tell you that our waitress is left-handed and the guy sitting up at the counter weighs two hundred fifteen pounds and knows how to handle himself. I know the best place to look for a gun is the cab of the gray truck outside, and at this altitude, I can run flat out for a half mile before my hands start shaking. Now why would I know that?" —Jason Bourne
"Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?" —Frank the Bunny
"You see things, and you say: why?
But I dream things that never were,
and I say: why not?" —George Bernard Shaw