Aaron Novik: a story of science fiction and seduction interview by Evan Rehill The night before I do this interview, I go to see Graham Connah giving a rare performance at community music center. When I arrive, fifteen minutes late, the floor and balcony are already filled to capacity. I am not prepared for the psychedelic bandstand paintings, nor the neon styrofoam cloud hovering beside Connah's grand piano. A stuffed monkey waves out at the audience. At one point I count 22 musicians on stage to help Connah pull off his Sun Ra/Zappa-esque whirlwinded big band orchestrations. Of the 7 choir group members, I count 4 who are redheads. At one point a trombone player sounds off from the back of the room. Both the audience and stage musicians look uncertain on whether he's supposed to be there or not. Regardless he becomes part of the show. At the same time a clarinet player wearing a sailor's cap and Metallica t-shirt descends from the stage to solo while wandering amongst the crowd. This is Aaron Novik, leader of Gubbish, The Maccabeats (whose last performance following a chanukah puppet show has become near legend), collaborator in Telepathy and a million other projects. The following afternoon I meet Novik at Adobe Books, where salon superstar Gravity Goldberg is holding court behind the desk. Novik is quick to assure me that he does not consider himself a "jazz" musician. We talk for half an hour about last night's show, pornography, herbal ecstacy. Novik asks when I'm going to start recording. This is all good stuff," he says. "Were rolling." (the whole interview, coming soon! I have to do this by hand you know!) more->