The air was temperate and the morning still felt crisp when The Cosmic Tones Research Trio took The Woods Stage at 11AM on Friday at Pickathon. Incense, dust, and the smell of the Pacific Northwest permeated the atmosphere. Many festivalgoers sat quietly around the stage – some stretched out on blankets and chairs while others swung in nearby hammocks – the mood was introspective and meditative as the trio started playing. Looking around, the audience seemed collectively and astutely tuned in to the sounds being reverberated into nature by The Cosmic Tones Research Trio. The musicians seemed to absorb the offerings and mutual energy that this unique music experience was providing through their impassioned set. This wasn’t just a band playing for an audience, this was an intentional sharing of space, music, and community between the musicians and the music enthusiasts.
I couldn’t really distinguish the ends and beginnings of songs at this performance. It felt very much like a journey full of sonic surprises, improvisational twists, and avid bursts of aural, instrumental and vocal sounds. Roman Norfleet seemed to embody the spiritual forest energy using his voice and saxophone as his guide. Harlan Silverman cradled the cello and seamlessly wove together the natural rhythm of nature alongside the cello’s rich, layered and textured hum. All while Kennedy Verrett thoughtfully played the keyboard, sprinkling and tinkling the magic of vibration with each note. A thin stream of incense smoke poured gently down the corner of the stage flailing and dancing alongside the cool, late morning breeze in and out of sync with the performance.
It was just as mesmerizing to watch the musicians really sink into their element out in the forest at The Woods Stage as it was to listen to and contemplate the music itself. When the performance concluded, the energy of the crowd was reminiscent to that of taking a deep breath in – the kind that fills your lungs to the brim just to mindfully and intentionally let all the air out. We were left to an aura of united gratitude and a cleansing of the spiritual palette. The perfect start to the day, the weekend, and the festival itself.