Alex Boyd is no stranger to our blog archives; the photographer’s beautiful work has been linked here before. However, today his photostream caught my eye with this scan of an article written about “Die Hasenjagd,” a film he created while in school at the University of Glasgow.

“Die Hasenjagd,” released in September 2007, features a soundtrack from former Pumpkin Mike Garson, as well as a contribution of the Smashing Pumpkins’ “Le Deux Machina.” The article states that Boyd has contributed artwork for Garson’s solo releases, so the connection is clear.

The film’s content also intrigues me: it is based on a World War II event in northwestern Germany in which Allied forces bombed Celle in Lower Saxony. This resulted in the destruction of a train packed with concentration camp prisoners and their ensuing escape. As the article asserts, there are documented reports of local citizens’ arrests of these prisoners, oft ending in brutality.

According to the article, Boyd seeks to explore the persona and stereotype of the German soldier; to understand the conception of Germany at the time and its self-perpetuation throughout the 20th Century. He states that the film draws artistic inspiration from German art as well as the Smashing Pumpkins — his attempt at reconstructing his own personal perspective of the events in question. Boyd says:

Growing up in Britain, the only Germans I ever encountered were those in War films. They were the only German culture available to me, and I assimilated it without really understanding terrifying concepts like the Holocaust - I built up a false image of Germany… the film is shot in a similar fashion to that of The Smashing Pumpkins’ music video “Thirty-Three,” where the film is made up of thousands of still photographs. “That type of stop-start imagery appealed to me. It is dream-like and was almost surreal.”

Presumably, that surrealism always applies in retrospect, especially in historical events as caustic as this. Notwithstanding, this film has really piqued my interest. See gorgeous stills from the film here and please contribute a comment if you’ve seen this film or know where I can view it myself!

Here is a video of Boyd discussing his film on 07/07/07, coincidentally the original release date of Zeitgeist:

Netphoria.org poster Kahlo points us to a new album by former Pumpkin pianist and Corgan collaborator Mike Garson.

Conversations with My Family will appear in stores on April 8 on fledgling imprint Resonance Records, but limited-edition signed copies are available now through Garson’s site. And if you want to perform the new tunes yourself (good luck!), the sheet music may be available here (though at the moment, I can’t get the page to load).

A recent article in The Poly Post at the California State Polytechnic University reports on a master class that former Smashing Pumpkins touring pianist Mike Garson held:

“It was the coolest thing ever to jam with Michael Garson,” said Wayne Ingram, guitar player in Abstract Theory. “It was a piece of our song that he added to, when he said play that riff again I want to jam with that, that was pretty cool.”

Garson also helped Vanessa Estrada, a fourth-year music student, play her rendition of Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” on the piano.

“Playing with him was a little intimidating because I don’t know all the jazz he does of course,” said Estrada. “His skill is beyond anything I have ever seen or heard. It was a really great experience.”

Now, Mike Garson isn’t the only one in recent past to hold master classes for his adoring fans and music students. Jimmy Chamberlin also held a series of drum clinics in the UK prior to the Smashing Pumpkins reunion. Photos from a clinic with Jimmy at “Sound Attak” here and promotion for a drum clinic in the UK here. Did anyone out there on the internets attend these clinics?

To see an example of one of Garson’s classes, check out this video. If you’re a Garson fan (like me), it’s a pretty interesting glimpse into the mind of a jazz improvising genius: