It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home Visitor Center gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Riley, IN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“best people at there”
“Great staff!! Caring people!”
“I think it’s one of the best companies there’s always someone ready and willing to go help people with great attitudes! Anyone that wants to live at home but needs a little extra help should definitely get someone from this company at your home to help out!”
“Working for Always Best Care has been very rewarding for me to help others in need. Whatever my questions may be or any help I need as a health care provider for my client they have always came through with help.”
“Very compassionate caregivers!”
“Great staff. Well trained and kind people.”
“The Beache’s Family are great people and I would trust my mom’s well- bean in their hands”
“Natalia has experience taking care of people with Alzheimer and I would be very trust my dad’s safety if they taking care of him.”
“They offer a wide range of services with professional, organized individuals willing to help care for members of your family.”
“Exceptional staff and very caring. I know my loved ones are taken care of which gives me a peace of mind. Definitely recommend!”
“Mr. and Mrs. Beach are the owners of this location, and they are some of the most caring and dedicated people I have ever met. They truly want to help people get the best care for their loved ones. My grandmother would have loved to have care like this.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Riley Park Splash Pad with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Sullivan's Steakhouse or visit Riley Home Museum, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Riley, IN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Riley, IN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Riley, IN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Despite what many have considered a lackluster past two seasons at USC under Lincoln Riley, the Trojans’ football program has been scorching hot on the recruiting trail in 2026.As June kicks off, SC’s class is almost entirely filled — with 27 prospects to be exact — and it ranks No. 1 not just i...
Despite what many have considered a lackluster past two seasons at USC under Lincoln Riley, the Trojans’ football program has been scorching hot on the recruiting trail in 2026.
As June kicks off, SC’s class is almost entirely filled — with 27 prospects to be exact — and it ranks No. 1 not just in the Big Ten but nationally. That’s ahead of traditional powerhouses like Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, and LSU. Whether they’ll hold onto that lead through Signing Day depends on who else they land, and who their competitors bring in. But one thing is clear: Riley and his staff are recruiting at an elite level.
And according to On3 VP of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong, there is no program more equipped to handle recruiting in the name, image and likeness era than the Trojans.
“There’s a lot of excitement around this program,” he said Monday during On3’s Wiltfong Whiparound show. “And in the NIL era, USC is as powerful as any program in the country right now.”
The most recent example of that is five-star tight end Mark Bowman, who committed to USC late last month over offers from Georgia, Texas, Ohio State, and more. The Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei product has been compared to ex-UGA star Brock Bowers and is the country’s No. 1 tight end.
USC had been considered a top contender for him, but the ramped-up pursuit and NIL offering pushed them to the top and got Bowman to commit before he took any other official visits.
“We haven’t gotten confirmation from any USC source or from Mark Bowman, but we’re told the NIL opportunity at USC could provide Bowman an opportunity to earn $8-10 million by the time he leaves USC after three years,” WeAreSC.com publisher Scott Schrader wrote after the Trojans landed Bowman.
In addition to Bowman, they’ve landed commitments from borderline five-star Elbert Hill, top-60 prospect Keenyi Pepe and four other top-100 recruits in this class. And that doesn’t include five-star cornerback RJ Sermons, who was committed for the class of 2026 but recently reclassified up to 2025.
With their 27 current commitments, the Trojans have eclipsed — and nearly doubled — the number of blue-chip (four- and five-star) pledges that they had a year ago. And Riley and Co. are still in on some more top targets as they look to build a massive class.
What that looks like down the road in a year or two once they’ve made their way to campus will be determined then, but the Trojans are no doubt turning heads with the changes they’ve made.
“It is so different with USC now. It has changed a lot over the last year and since they made changes,” Bowman told On3’s Chad Simmons before he committed. “They have been recruiting much harder the last few months. It is every day with USC now, and that has changed things for me with them. I like what the staff is doing, their energy and they are close to home, too.”
247Sports Embed ResourceJAYLEN WELLS NEVER played under David Riley, but as the former Washington State sharpshooter was going through the draft process last spring, he got to know the Cougar head basketball man who had just taken over after Kyle Smith left for Stanford. Riley went on to go 19-15/8-10 in an up-and-down ...
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JAYLEN WELLS NEVER played under David Riley, but as the former Washington State sharpshooter was going through the draft process last spring, he got to know the Cougar head basketball man who had just taken over after Kyle Smith left for Stanford. Riley went on to go 19-15/8-10 in an up-and-down first season, but Wells tells Cougfan.com that all of his interactions and impressions of Riley were extremely positive.
"He's a smart coach and he loves the game," Wells said. "That's the first thing I learned about him. And I feel he's really good at adapting to whatever he has.
"He's passionate. I went to a practice and I keep repeating it, just how passionate he was. But there was just a different energy in there throughout every coach. He was in there showing them how to do the drills. That's probably just how young he is and just how hungry he is."
[See video above as Wells comments on how much he keeps up with WSU and his old teammates]
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REST ASSURED COUGAR FANS, a meteoric rise to the heights of the NBA hasn't changed Jaylen Wells. In a weekend phone conversation from his parents' home in Sacramento the Washington State product is as unpretentious and gracious as ever.
"Definitely did not expect to have this big of a role so early," Wells said of his 74 starts and the 25.9 minutes he averaged in 79 regular-season games his rookie season with the Memphis Grizzlies.
"Even the Grizzlies GM and head coach said themselves, they expected me to be in the G-League the whole year. I took the spot, I fought for the spot, and I earned it. So they were willing to give it to me. Shout out to them, because they allowed a rookie to take that role."
Seventy hours after his interview with Cougfan.com, Wells was named to the NBA All-Rookie first team, becoming the first second-round draft pick to earn such plaudits since 2020, and the second-ever Coug, along with Klay Thompson in 2012, so named.
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The NC Dinos' scouting of foreign players has proven accurate once again. Logan Allen, who was signed as a potential ace, has been showcasing dominant performances, overcoming early-season concerns to confirm his status as a top starter.Logan pitched a stellar game against the SSG Landers at Changwon NC Park on the 4th, throwing 7 innings, 102 pitches, allowing 3 hits, 2 walks, striking out 5, and giving up 1 run. However, with the batters remaining silent, the team lost 0-4, and Logan suffered his 8th loss of the season.Logan ...
The NC Dinos' scouting of foreign players has proven accurate once again. Logan Allen, who was signed as a potential ace, has been showcasing dominant performances, overcoming early-season concerns to confirm his status as a top starter.
Logan pitched a stellar game against the SSG Landers at Changwon NC Park on the 4th, throwing 7 innings, 102 pitches, allowing 3 hits, 2 walks, striking out 5, and giving up 1 run. However, with the batters remaining silent, the team lost 0-4, and Logan suffered his 8th loss of the season.
Logan was unfortunate to lose despite his strong performance. He ranks 3rd for most losses this season. It feels like the batters are not providing enough support, and records show that Logan has received absolutely no run support, averaging only 2.44 runs per game, ranking the lowest at 4th place.
However, with his 7-inning scoreless pitching on that day, he lowered his earned run average from the 3s to the 2s. Currently, excluding wins, Logan's performance is top-notch. He has recorded 5 wins, 8 losses, and a 2.91 earned run average over 18 games with a total of 105? innings pitched. In the last 3 games, he has gone more than 7 innings each time, delivering an impressive 22 innings with only 2 runs (2 earned runs). On June 22 against KT, he threw 7 innings, allowing 3 hits, 4 walks, striking out 6 with no runs allowed, and on June 28 against Doosan, he threw 8 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, striking out 8 and giving up 1 run (scoreless).
During spring camp, the fastball velocity remained in the 130 km/h range, causing concern for manager Lee Ho-jun. The team selected Logan Allen over Riley Thompson as the projected ace, but at that time, Riley was performing much better and faster. In fact, Riley established a club record for most strikeouts and emerged as a top pitcher in the league.
Logan assured that he would raise his physical condition according to his own pace, putting manager Lee Ho-jun at ease. Indeed, when the regular season started, he increased his velocity to around 146 km/h. During the game against Doosan on the 28th of last month, his top speed reached 152 km/h, and in the match the day before (4th), he recorded a peak speed of 149 km/h. He is maximizing his ability to utilize a diverse array of 6 pitches including four-seam fastball, cutter, two-seam fastball, changeup, curveball, and slider. Worries have completely dissipated. Manager Lee Ho-jun reminisced, saying, 'When I saw him throwing 128 km/h, 130 km/h during spring camp, I thought it was a big problem. I felt I couldn't even tell anyone. The build-up was too slow.' He added, 'It seems he was right. He said that the hotter it gets, the faster he would throw, and he really is throwing faster as it gets hotter. This summer is likely going to get hotter, and who knows, he might hit 155 km/h.'
Logan has found his rhythm, and despite concerns about his lack of major league experience and control issues, Riley has been delivering impressive performances with 10 wins, 4 losses, a 2.99 earned run average, and 132 strikeouts over 17 games and 102? innings pitched. With proven pitcher Logan and the unrefined gem Riley collaborating, they are leading NC's starting rotation.
However, the team lacks a solid second punch besides Logan and Riley. The domestic starters are underperforming. Shin Min-hyuk, Mok Ji-hoon, and Kim Nok-won are taking turns in the starting rotation, but there are no reliable pitchers among them. Shin Min-hyuk needs to step up, but he has only managed 4 wins and 3 losses with a 4.65 earned run average over 15 games. His innings pitched, averaging less than 5 innings per game with a total of 71? innings, adds to the concern. Yet, NC is looking towards the second half of the season. The '132 billion ace' Koo Chang-mo is accelerating his return after completing military service. This year, he had a slow recovery after his shoulder was hit by a batted ball while serving, which delayed his build-up. However, he is steadily increasing his pitch count since his return, and he is close to rejoining the first team. In a Futures League game against the military team on the 28th of last month, he pitched 3 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, striking out 4 with no runs allowed, and on the 4th against LG, he pitched 4 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 walks, striking out 1, and giving up 2 runs. He has raised his pitch count to 57, with 40 strikes and 17 balls recorded. His velocity also reached 144 km/h.
In 2020, he dominated the first half of the season with a record of 9 wins, 1 hold, and a 1.74 earned run average (93? innings, 18 earned runs) along with 102 strikeouts. In the second half, he had to undergo rehabilitation due to a left elbow stress fracture, but the team secured the regular season championship, and in November, Koo returned to lead the team to the overall championship title in the Korean Series. Since then, Koo's career has not progressed smoothly. In 2021, the stress fracture site did not heal completely, leading him to undergo surgery for the stabilization of the fracture. Koo, who returned in May 2022, replicated his overwhelming performance from 2020, recording 11 wins, 5 losses, and a 2.10 earned run average with 108 strikeouts over 19 games and 111? innings pitched, instilling hope for a healthy future.
Ahead of the 2023 season, Koo signed a multi-year contract worth up to 13.2 billion won for 6+1 years, reflecting the team's expectations. However, during the 2023 season, he suffered a re-injury to his left elbow and had to undergo surgery once more. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation, preparing for a return in the second half of the year.
Manager Lee Ho-jun instructed Koo to determine his own return timing. He said, '(Koo) Chang-mo told the trainers, 'I am fully ready without any pain. I’m now going to the first team.' Until then, I decided to just forget about him in my head.' He continued, 'I told Chang-mo, 'It’s okay if you don’t pitch this year, so don’t even think about overdoing it.' I organized my thoughts that way too.'
If Koo Chang-mo returns in good health, an elite starter trio of Logan, Riley, and Koo will be formed. Everyone knows about Koo's powerful abilities. Even with an incomplete starting rotation, the team has managed a close-to-even record of 36 wins, 39 losses, and 5 ties. Though they are currently 8th, it is not yet time to give up on the season. NC is preparing for a major leap in the second half with Koo's return and the strength of the starter trio.
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Bang on a Can All-Stars, Gyan Riley, and Special GuestsTerry Riley 90th Birthday TributePioneer WorksMay 4, 2025BrooklynThis month, Terry Riley completes his ninetieth circuit around the sun. He is one of the great American musical artists, steeped in jazz (it’s how he made his living for a while) and rock, a truly essential figure in the mid-twentieth century California avant-garde—as not just a friend of and collaborator with La Monte Young but one of the founders of the San Francisco Tape Music Center—and...
Bang on a Can All-Stars, Gyan Riley, and Special GuestsTerry Riley 90th Birthday TributePioneer WorksMay 4, 2025Brooklyn
This month, Terry Riley completes his ninetieth circuit around the sun. He is one of the great American musical artists, steeped in jazz (it’s how he made his living for a while) and rock, a truly essential figure in the mid-twentieth century California avant-garde—as not just a friend of and collaborator with La Monte Young but one of the founders of the San Francisco Tape Music Center—and a sui generis syncretic musician who was part of many things but a member of nothing other than his own, personal genre.
Riley changed the course of modernism at the Tape Center in 1964 when he and an ensemble that included Steve Reich, Pauline Oliveros, and Morton Subotnick premiered his In C, and in that moment created minimalist music. For Riley, it was accidental—although Reich would go on, through the Center, to establish minimalist music as a genre—his score, with its fifty-three small cells of music meant to be played in order and with each repeated an indeterminate number of times, defines a substantial amount of minimalism as a way to make process music. But that wasn’t his goal, and as he’s explained, he was looking for a shamanic experience. Combine that with his fundamental tool of repetition, and that is the essence of his music making for the last sixty years. He connects to modernism, jazz, rock, Indian classical music, and other traditions, because he’s Terry Riley, global shaman.
The post-minimalist Bang on a Can organization’s 2025 Long Play Festival honored Riley with it’s concluding concert, with the Bang on a Can All-Stars, guitarist Gyan Riley (his son) and guest musicians playing In C, preceded by an arrangement of A Rainbow in Curved Air. This was a family affair; Riley couldn’t travel from his home in Japan but sent a video greeting, and Gyan arranged Rainbow.
That piece is known from Riley’s 1969 CBS LP of the same title. It’s a structured improvisation for keyboard, a dazzling example of his aesthetic and virtuosity. For an ensemble, it necessarily had to take on more structure, and—with the Gyan and the All-Stars’s instrumentation of reeds, cello, bass, keyboards, and drums—it had a punchy, riffing quality, a rock groove and direction. Surrounding the pleasure of hearing the music in such an extroverted, public way was the profound sense of Riley fitting into the world of music, here as a crypto- and superb prog-rock composer.
This didn’t please everyone. There was plenty of chatter in the audience about Pete Townshend. The Who’s guitarist was originally scheduled to play In C, but recent knee surgery meant that he had to cancel the engagement. Townshend was not going to be some arbitrary celebrity guest; the keyboard layers in The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and “Baba O’Riley,” easily their two most famous songs, come out Townshend hearing A Rainbow in Curved Air. One listen to Riley’s recording followed by Who’s Next make this unmistakable.
The talk, and the way many people left after Rainbow, had a lot to say about pop culture celebrity, boomer nostalgia (the age of the crowd was comparable to that observed earlier that afternoon in Carnegie Hall for a period performance practice concert of Handel’s opera Giluio Cesare in Egitto), and just plain musical curiosity: none of it good. It was a mystery just what it was that had either turned off these listeners or left them uncurious about a chance to hear one of the revolutionary musical works of the twentieth century. So much music fandom isn’t so much about the music itself as to a style that reflects the listener’s self-image back at them, so maybe the lack of a “rock star” there to play a certain, narrowly defined kind of rock—and not what the All-Stars and Gyan had just played—just wasn’t flattering enough to these people.
Those who stayed enjoyed a sonically resonant and unexpectedly emotionally rich performance that unfolded over about an hour—the pulse was far slower than in most recordings and performances, and in the strict sense slower than what Riley indicates in the score. But so much about the piece is built on interpretation, and the results were so marvelous that it was easy to accept.
The instrumentation was a key part of this. In C is for any number of players and instruments, and if something can make pitches it can be part of a performance. The All-Stars were augmented with percussionists Valentina Magaletti and Clara Warnaar, Krishna Bhatt playing sitar, Suphala at the tablas, and original All-Star guitarist Mark Stewart was there, along with composer Michael Harrison at a second keyboard and the great jazz flutist Nicole Mitchell. A lot of recordings of the piece, including the original 1968 Columbia album, have a jangly, bright quality, with more brass or orchestral instruments. This performance had a richer, darker quality, and when all the strings were in unison there was a tactile wall of overtones.
Interpretation is not just in the tempo, but things like phrasing and dynamics. The choices about those details, and how they’re used, add up to musicality, and his was a deeply interpreted and incredibly musical performance. There’s not a lot of space in the music for players to even choose variations in how to articulate notes and connect them, and there’s no dynamic markings. But these musicians found a way to work all that in. The dynamics created the kind of dramatic power usually heard in things like Beethoven symphonies; the textures would thin out as the musicians let smaller groups—cello/sitar/tabla or guitars/bass—play, and listened to them. They then rebuilt exhilarating bursts of emotion and satisfaction as everyone leapt in again. With everyone on the final cell, a repeated minor third, they brought the volume down then up again several times, waves of sonic beauty and expression. This was In C beyond what one had imagined was possible, and fitting for a musician for whom everything seems possible.
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