Jonathan Leal

SFCV chats with the genre-crossing player whose sound lies somewhere between classical, jazz, rock, and Armenian folk music.

The lauded composer, multi-instrumentalist, and MacArthur Fellow talks about the diverse influences and ideas behind his latest recording.  

Even when revisiting her 2009 Steel Hammer for a film adaptation for Cal Performances, the composer likes to jump in at the deep end.

In concert, the layers and cumulative, syncretic power of Joachim’s music become clear.

The power trio braids strands of music, history, sociology, and culture into a spiritual whole that transcends easy categories.

Sutro Baths and the sea are the backdrop for a site-specific piece about water and life.