Friday, December 5th, 2014 concert 7:30 PM, doors 7:00PM |
The Stage at KDHX 3524 Washington Ave. 63103 (map) |
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An internationally renowned musician, composer and innovator, Roscoe Mitchell began his distinguished career in the spirited 1960s of Chicago. In Mitchell’s own opinion, his work is a product of his heritage in the fertile art communities of the AACM (Association for Advancement of Creative Musicians) and The Art Ensemble of Chicago. Both organizations spawned large networks of musicians and inspired radical approaches to performance and musical thought, thus informing his own practice for over five decades. Primarily known for his saxophone playing, Mitchell’s multi-instrumental palette also includes various flutes, woodwinds and a broad range of percussion.Mitchell’s monumental 1966 album, Sound, introduced new ways of freely improvising and composing and has long been cited as an essential building block of the “free-jazz” vernacular. Now at the age 73, Mitchell has recorded works on over 83 albums and has written over 250 compositions. Throughout his composed works Mitchell expresses ideas that embrace a broad span of musics from energetic free jazz to traditional music methodologies to complex compositions for chamber groups. Longstanding collaborations have continued with a coterie of diverse musicians: Muhal Richard Abrams, Anthony Braxton, Lester Bowie and Pauline Oliveros. Mitchell has been named Darius Milhaud Chair of Composition at Mills College in Oakland, California, where he currently lives and works.NYC pianist and ECM recording artist, Craig Taborn, has remained a ubiquitous presence on the jazz scene for the past two decades, performing with young jazz musicians and seasoned veterans as well as experimental rock and techno artists. His pianistic approach alludes to the explorations of Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Cecil Taylor and expands further upon these models through his alternate use of Spartan subtlety and dense, hypnotic chord structuring. With regard to his performance sensibilities, Taborn explains that this takes shape by “listening to the really subtle details of instrumental sound, because you don’t just have to rest on notes and rhythms. You can rest on overtones and undertones and other nuances of sound to draw from. When you listen to silence, it’s really rich with possibility, and we start from that place.” At any given time his ongoing band/collaboration-list is over twenty names, which now include Tim Berne, Lotte Anker, Gerald Cleaver, William Parker and Vijay Iyer.
Please note that tickets for this show are $25 (regular) and $15 (student/struggling music supporter). Special Free Artist Talks!On Thursday DEC 4 at 7:30PM, NMC will sponsor a free talk and Q&A with Roscoe Mitchell at the Tavern of Fine Arts. The talk will be hosted by Dennis Owsley (host of KWMU’s Jazz Unlimited) and Paul Steinbeck of Washington University. More details here. On Friday DEC 5 at 2:00 PM, Roscoe Mitchell will present a guest lecture at Washington University to discuss the evolution of one of his best-known compositions. Mitchell’s talk “NONAAH: From Solo to Full Orchestra” will take place in Wash U’s Music Classroom Building, Room 102, 6500 Forsyth Blvd at Wallace Dr. The event is free and open to the public. Special thanks to Piano Distributors and Jackson Pianos |
Past Events
ELI KESZLER / RASHAD BECKER (solo performances)
Presented by New Music Circle and The Luminary
Saturday, November 8, 2014 concert 7:30 PM, doors 7:00PM |
The Luminary 2701 Cherokee St. 63118 (map) |
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NYC based drummer and sound artist, Eli Keszler, engages in a frictional push-and-pull of percussive sound through instrumental means which are both traditional and experimental. His oeuvre is multi-faceted, consisting of musical scores informed by his print making/drawing practices as well as his construction of resonating piano wire installations (most recently an installation on the Manhattan Bridge commissioned by NPR Radio). His hyper-percussive improvisations are ripe with detailed and pointillistic attacks that build momentum to form frenzied sonic clusters, drawing inspiration from the spontaneity of Han Bennik’s percussion work as well as the harmonic density of Colin Nancorrow’s compositions. With full length albums on the vinyl-art label PAN and the legendary avant-garde jazz label ESP-Disk, Keszler’s releases have received “album of the year” awards from the Boston Globe and Wire Magazine. After studying composition with Anthony Coleman and Ran Blake, Eli Keslzer toured extensively, performing both solo as well as in collaboration with such diverse artists as Christian Wolff, Phill Niblock, Tony Conrad, Joe McPhee, Jandek, Roscoe Mitchell and Keith Fullerton Whitman.Berlin electronic musician, Rashad Becker, utilizes real-time synthesis and sampling techniques that set into motion intricate sonic worlds that recall the complexities of human speech and various exotic aural phenomena, and warrant comparisons to the detailed sonics of pioneers like Tod Dockstader, and the GRM school of electronic music. Oscillating pitches conjoin, multiply and dissolve in unlikely configurations, creating a complex ecosystem of sound. Also, Becker’s work as a vinyl cutting and mastering engineer at Berlin’s Dubplates Mastering Studio (where he has overseen thousands of mastering jobs) has endowed him with a unique insider’s perspective on the practice and aesthetics of modern day electronic music and production.
After years of performing, Becker’s sole release came out on PAN in 2013, aptly titled Traditional Musics of Notional Species. Pitchfork described Becker’s LP as an album that “breathes in pointed, often hilarious detail. [Becker’s] sounds actually sound like things.” Artist Residency (Nov 6th – 8th) If you are interested in attending any of these talks please contact nmc.jeremy@gmail.com. Thursday, November 6th: Friday, November 7th: Saturday, November 8th: |
Thumbscrew
Friday, September 12, 2014 concert 7:30 PM doors 7:00PM |
Joe’s Cafe 6014 Kingsbury Ave., 63122 (map) (SW corner of Kingsbury and Des Peres) |
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Under the title Thumbscrew, three foremost voices of NYC’s new jazz scene have come together to explore the crossroads of improvisation and composition. Comprised of Mary Halvorson (guitar), Michael Formanek (bass), and Tomas Fujiwara (drums), Thumbscrew functions as a vehicle to navigate both the modal complexities of jazz composition as well as the challenges of collective spontaneity. Thumbscrew’s sound originates from the interconnecting bonds its members have forged, playing in many and various formats over the years, such as composer/cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum’s large groups as well as Anthony Braxton’s experimental/compositional ensembles. Their 2014 self-titled release on Cunieform Records was described as “exploring open, undulating grooves through a frequent tightening and loosening of their interplay along serpentine lines” by Dusted Magazine.Known for her unmistakable tone and approach to guitar playing, Mary Halvorson has been described by NPR Music as “A guitarist who sounds like no other, Halvorson can astound and confound, with craggy phrasing, strange pitch-bends and pedal effects galore”.
A definite inspiration for bassist Michael Formanek’s creativity and versatility would be the broad generational range of distinguished musicians with whom he has performed, from Stan Getz and Freddie Hubbard throughout the ‘70’s-‘80’s, to Tim Berne and Marty Ehrlich during the ‘90’s and beyond. Drummer Tomas Fujiwara works with rhythm as a pliable substance, resulting in a versatility that allows him to be continually active in collaborations with many different emerging voices, such as Matana Roberts and Matt Mitchell. |
Check out this interview with Mary Halvorson!
Buy tickets for Thumbscrew Trio
New Music Circle Showcase
Ingrid Laubrock + Tom Rainey (duo)
Tyler Damon/Chris Trull/Kevin Harris (trio)
Nathan Cook (solo)
Tuesday, May 20, 2014 concert 7:00 PM, doors 6:30PM |
William A Kerr Foundation 21 O’Fallon St (map) St. Louis, MO 63102 |
NMC will host a special community outreach event on the evening prior to this showcase — Please see below for information. | |
This year’s annual NMC Showcase concert will see three separate sets by local, regional, and touring musicians. Performances include: touring duo Ingrid Laubrock and Tom Rainey, a collaborative trio of Tyler Damon/Kevin Harris/Chris Trull, and a solo performance by Nathan Cook.
Ingrid Laubrock / Tom Rainey (NYC) Performing last year in a NMC concert featuring pianist Kris Davis, Laubrock/Rainey will make a return to STL amidst a United States tour. Given Tom Rainey’s voluminous recording credits and the artistic caliber of the musicians with whom he has performed (Tim Berne, Craig Taborn, among others), he could easily be placed on the A-list of drummers closely identified with the New York City modern creative jazz scene, from the late ’80s onward. Ingrid Laubrock’s saxophone phrasings swiftly range from pensive melodiousness to the tough muscularity of free-jazz. She is at once capable of recalling the fierce tones of Albert Ayler and the spontaneous tonal sequences of Eric Dolphy. Tyler Damon / Chris Trull / Kevin Harris (Bloomington, IN/ St. Louis) Drummer Tyler Damon (Bloomington, Indiana) will also make a return to St. Louis after playing a concert last summer at the St. Louis Art Museum in a power-house trio with Darin Gray and Mars Williams. Tyler has been described by Darin Gray as “the up-and-coming young drummer in the midwest, and a voice that will be active for years to come.” This showcase will see Damon pairing with guitarist Chris Trull and electronic musician Kevin Harris. As a member of local experimental-rock groups such as Yowie and Grand Ulena, Chris Trull’s razor sharp guitar intonations employ unique tunings and scalings with mathematical dexterity. Whether curating this years sound-installation series at CAM, building elaborate audio/visual systems, or performing in countless collaborations and solo performances, Kevin Harris has remained a gem of the the St. Louis experimental community. Nathan Cook (St. Louis) St. Louis sound-artist and label proprietor Nathan Cook will round out this event with a performance combining electronic, acoustic, and playback sounds. Since arriving in St. Louis in 2008, Cook has become one of St. Louis’s most prolific artists on the underground experimental scene, consistently performing and collaborating with other artists, composing sound installations (as featured currently at Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis) and releasing two volumes to date on his Close-Far label of cassette compilations that exclusively feature local experimental acts. Plus, Free Workshop! NMC will host a special community outreach event on the evening prior to this showcase. Ingrid Laubrock and Tom Rainey will collaborate in two short improvised sets with a variety of St. Louis’s diverse music community, and partake in a Q+A session. Confirmed local names include Dave Stone (saxophone), Mabel Suen (guitar/saxophone), and Alex Cunningham (violin). |
International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) with Claire Chase
Friday, April 4th, 2014 concert 7:30 PM doors 7:00 PM |
The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts 3716 Washington Boulevard (map) St. Louis, MO 63108 |
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The International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), described by the New York Times as “one of the most accomplished and adventurous groups in new music,” is dedicated to reshaping the way music is created and experienced. ICE functions as performer, presenter, and educator, advancing the music of our time by developing innovative new works and new strategies for audience engagement. ICE redefines concert music as it brings together new work and new listeners in the 21st century. Since its founding in 2001, ICE has premiered over 500 compositions – the majority of these new works by emerging composers – in venues ranging from alternative spaces to concert halls around the world.
A 2012 MacArthur Fellow, Claire Chase is a soloist, collaborative artist, and arts entrepreneur. Over the past decade Chase has presented the world premieres of over 100 new works for flute, many of them tailor-made for her. In 2013 Chase released Density, for which The Washington Post praised her as “One of the most electrifying flutists on the planet.” ICE presents a performance inspired by the current Pulitzer exhibition, Art of Its Own Making, which “explores the autonomous object as something simultaneously enduring and ephemeral, synchronic, and diachronic.” The performance will include the following works:
Buy tickets for ICE International Contemporary Ensemble This event is made possible by The Phoebe Dent Weil Charitable Foundation
A Special artist talk and Q+A with Claire Chase will take place at the Regional Arts Commission (6128 Delmar Blvd. 63112) on Thursday, April 3rd, from 6:30pm-7:30pm. |