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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“Very compassionate caregivers!”
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“Natalia has experience taking care of people with Alzheimer and I would be very ”
“They offer a wide range of services with professional, organized individuals willing to help care”
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“Mr. and Mrs. Beach are the owners of this location, and they are some of”
“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 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 J Ford's Black Angus 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.
Gian Piero Gasperini spent the best part of last summer lowballing Celtic with silly bids for Matt O’Riley, and never quite getting that the Celtic asking price of £25m had to be reached before the Hoops would look to do business…Brighton though got the message loud and clear and were delighted to capture the Danish international last August, paying the asking price with variou...
Brighton though got the message loud and clear and were delighted to capture the Danish international last August, paying the asking price with various options including a sell-on clause.
Matt though was injured inside ten minutes by a thuggish tackle from a Crawley Town journeyman in a League Cup tie and was thereafter sidelined for several months. The former Celtic Star did make an impact of sorts after that but has never really been happy with the situation at the Premier League club and now looks like he’s going to be on the move again this summer.
And with Gian Piero Gasperini now away from Atalanta and in situ in the Italian capital as the new Roma boss, he might just be able to get his way by bringing Matt O’Riley to Italian football at the second time of asking.
Italian outlet il Messaggero is reporting that Roma are interested in moving for O’Riley who is now regarded as not a crucial player for Brighton next season, perhaps as a result of the former Celt speaking out about not being particularly happy at being played out of position.
As reported previously on The Celtic Star Matt O’Riley said: “I am not completely happy, and I am just giving my opinion. It makes it difficult to show off when you play a position you are not completely happy with. I can play better for the team if I play the number 8 position, but I can play well in other positions.
“You can say it in a way that is not aggressive. If you are honest with another person, you don’t lose anything. The coach can always say he doesn’t agree.”
The Italian report states that Brighton are now ready to offload O’Riley and that could be music to the ears of Gian Piero Gasperini. His lowball tactics of course stand in the way of Celtic benefiting from a sell-on clause with Brighton likely to be looking at getting their money back on the deal and the former Atalanta man perhaps looking to justify his valuation from last summer which reached around £21m – eventually!
Like many players going into the season before the World Cup Finals, Matt O’Riley knows that he needs to be playing regularly and playing in his favoured position and if the new Roma boss can offer that then the deal with undoubtedly be attractive to the English born Dane, with the Irish sounding surname who made his name playing in Scotland for Celtic.
Caitlin Clark wasn't playing during the Indiana Fever's win over the Chicago Sky on Saturday night, but Dawn Staley still expected a big performance from the reigning Rookie of the Year.In their fourth game without Clark, , the Fever took care of business against the Sky, jumping out to a 29-point lead by the fourth quarter and going on to win, 79-52. Indiana led for the entire game and were buoyed by the efficient shooting nights of Kelsey Mitchell (17 points) and Natasha Howard (13 points).Prior to the Fever's win, Staley joi...
Caitlin Clark wasn't playing during the Indiana Fever's win over the Chicago Sky on Saturday night, but Dawn Staley still expected a big performance from the reigning Rookie of the Year.
In their fourth game without Clark, , the Fever took care of business against the Sky, jumping out to a 29-point lead by the fourth quarter and going on to win, 79-52. Indiana led for the entire game and were buoyed by the efficient shooting nights of Kelsey Mitchell (17 points) and Natasha Howard (13 points).
Prior to the Fever's win, Staley joined a WNBA pregame show to discuss the Fever-Sky matchup and was asked what she would be looking for during the game.
"I'm going to be locked in on Caitlin Clark as an assistant coach," Staley said. "The animated Caitlin Clark assistant coach. She's probably going to be saying, 'Get Aliyah [Boston] the ball.'"
Sure enough, as the Gamecocks coach predicted, Clark and to plays on the court during the Fever's victory.
Staley has the first-hand experience of going up against Clark twice in college, once in the 2023 semifinals when Iowa upset South Carolina and again in the 2024 national title game when South Carolina beat Iowa for the championship.
Staley has since admitted that 2023 Final Four loss to Iowa was the toughest loss of her coaching career. She also and offered her honest thoughts on what the Fever star could accomplish in the WNBA.
"I would say Caitlin Clark will go down as probably one of the best players to ever grace the league," Staley said. "And she's going to probably do it in half of the time that it it takes any other great player."
This article was originally published on as .
Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for exclusive competitions, offers and theatre ticket dealsI would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.Lisa Riley and Lottie Tomlinson hav...
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Lisa Riley and Lottie Tomlinson have spoken candidly about the loneliness of loss, and the different ways they’ve learned to carry it, in a new short film created in collaboration with bereavement charity Sue Ryder.
Both women have found that grief doesn’t vanish. It changes shape, lingers in quiet moments, and resurfaces without warning. The loss of their mothers remains a defining part of their lives — years later.
“It’s not something you ever get over,” said Emmerdale star Riley, 48, who lost her mum Cath to cancer in 2012. “There’s no rule book. No right or wrong. It just becomes part of you.”
Influencer Tomlinson, 26 — the sister of singer Louis Tomlinson — lost her mum Johannah in 2016, aged 18. Three years later, she endured another devastating loss when her younger sister Félicité died of an accidental drug overdose at the same age.
Instagram/Lottie Tomlinson
“Even with people around you, grief can still feel incredibly lonely,” Tomlinson says. “There are days when all you want is the person who’s gone. And nothing really fills that gap.”
In the short film, the pair reflect on the small but powerful things that bring comfort — from a handwritten card to a song lyric that transports them back to a happier time. But more than anything, they both stress the importance of opening up.
“I really believe in the power of talking,” Tomlinson says. “Bottling things up only makes it harder. Whether it’s a friend, family member or someone outside your circle, just offloading what you’re feeling can really help.”
Emmerdale star Riley, too, finds healing in shared stories and laughter. “My mum had this wicked sense of humour,” she smiles. “Keeping that spirit alive through memories, through music — that’s what works for me.”
Figures released alongside the film reveal that nearly 9 in 10 bereaved people feel alone in their grief, with many unsure where to turn for support.
“It’s heartbreaking, but it doesn’t surprise me,” Riley says. “Grief makes people uncomfortable. Often they say nothing at all. But just asking someone how they like to remember the person they’ve lost can open up so much.”
For both Riley and Tomlinson, the message is simple: there’s no right way to grieve — but nobody should feel they have to do it alone.
Sue Ryder offers a range of free grief support, including an online bereavement community and in-person Grief Kind Spaces. Search ‘Grief Deserves Better’ or visit sueryder.org/GriefDeservesBetter
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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.
Are Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley really done as teammates?Don't get your hopes up Illinois fans – both Jakucionis and Riley are still bound for the June 25 NBA Draft. But as Monday's draft lottery approaches and the selection order is settled, insiders can begin formulating a better idea were eligible players may go based on fit, need and the long-term plans of teams picking near their projected selection range.In fact, some have already gotten started.On Tuesday, ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo publish...
Are Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley really done as teammates?
Don't get your hopes up Illinois fans – both Jakucionis and Riley are still bound for the June 25 NBA Draft. But as Monday's draft lottery approaches and the selection order is settled, insiders can begin formulating a better idea were eligible players may go based on fit, need and the long-term plans of teams picking near their projected selection range.
In fact, some have already gotten started.
On Tuesday, ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo published their 2025 NBA Draft lottery odds and potential picks, which made news from the jump in that Riley was included at all. Widely projected to go in the late teens to early 20s in the first round of the draft, Riley was projected at No. 14 in ESPN's projections.
Granted, there are a lot of variables that must fall into place for these specific dominos to fall just so, but the most interesting part of the exercise (especially if you're an Illini fan) is that Givony and Woo predict both Jakucionis (No. 8) and Riley (No. 14) to go to the San Antonio Spurs.
"Jakucionis enters the NBA with the caliber of offensive creativity, intangibles and international background that have traditionally been attractive to the Spurs organization," Woo wrote of Jakucionis, an 18-year-old, 6-foot-6 guard from Lithuania.
"Adding shooting both on the perimeter and in the frontcourt likely will be a priority for the franchise long-term, with the likes of Jakucionis, [Kon] Knueppel, Riley and Carter Bryant (Arizona) all likely to get long looks with the 8th and 14th picks," wrote Givony.
Keep in mind, these projections assume not only that the Spurs wind up with the No. 8 and 14 picks (the second of which is conveyed to them by the Atlanta Hawks) and choose not to trade out of those spots, but also that the rest of the teams in the lottery land in the prescribed order and don't make moves out of their spots. We're gonna need to put in a quick phone call to NASA for the odds on that particular scenario falling into place.
But it would be interesting to see Jakucionis and Riley continue to grow side by side, especially as part of arguably the top developmental organization in the NBA. Jakucionis, in particular, is exactly the kind of player the Spurs have coveted over the years. We'll be watching to see in what order the ping pong balls are pulled during Monday's lottery proceedings.
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