Past Events

New Music Circle presents two special free events with Cooper-Moore on Thursday, October 24, 2013.

(1) Northside Project Workshop with Cooper-Moore

5pm – 6pm
at the Northside Workshop
(in conjunction with Old North Saint Louis Restoration Group)
1306  Saint Louis Ave., 63106 (map)
cost: FREE

*Additional information: https://www.facebook.com/ONSLRG

(2) Special performance by Cooper-Moore at Foam

7:30pm – 8:30pm
at Foam Coffee + Beer
3359 S. Jefferson Avenue., 63118 (map)
cost: FREE

As a composer, performer, instrument builder/designer, storyteller, teacher, mentor, and organizer, Cooper-Moore has been a major, if somewhat behind-the-scenes, catalyst in the world of creative music for over 30 years. As a child prodigy Cooper-Moore played piano in churches near his birthplace in the Piedmont region of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. His performance roots in the realm of avant jazz music date to the NYC Loft Jazz era in the early/mid-70s. His first fully committed jazz group was formed in 1970 with David S. Ware and drummer Marc Edwards. Sonny Rollins asked them to open for him at the Village Vanguard in 1973, and they did so with aplomb.  earned a B.A. in Music Education from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and later studied composition-arranging at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.

From 1981 to 1985, Cooper-Moore focused his energies on developing and implementing curriculums to teach children through music via the Head Start program. Returning to New York in 1985, he spent a great part of his creative time working and performing with theatre and dance productions, largely utilizing his hand-crafted instruments. It was not until the early 90s, when William Parker asked him to join his group In Order To Survive, that Cooper-Moore’s pianistic gifts were again regularly featured in the jazz context.

The New Music Circle will present a concert by In Order To Survive (featuring William Parker, Cooper-Moore, Hamid Drake, Rob Brown, and Lewis Barnes) onFriday, October 25th, at the Mad Art Gallery (2727 S. 12th Street).

For our season opener we are pleased to present St. Louis native Marty Ehrlich and the Rites Quartet. Plus KWMU Jazz Unlimited’sDennis Owsley will host a talk and discussion with Marty (see below for details).

Friday October 4, 2013 7:30 PM	Kranzberg Arts Center 501 N. Grand St. Louis, MO map
Marty Ehrlich — saxophone, clarinet James Zollar — Trumpet Michael Formanek — bass Michael Sarin — drums
Multi-instrumentalist Marty Ehrlich is celebrating 30 years as a significant composer, performer and educator on the international music scene. He began his musical career in Saint Louis while in high school with the now renowned Human Arts Ensemble. He graduated with honors from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1977, where his teachers included George Russell, Jaki Byard, Joseph Allard, and Gunther Schuller. Ehrlich has made 25 recordings of his compositions for ensembles ranging in size from duo to jazz orchestra. He has recorded a CD length work for 26 musicians entitled “The Long View”. He has performed and recorded with such acclaimed musicians as Muhal Richard Abrams, Anthony Braxton, John Carter, Julius Hemphill, and John Zorn. His honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship in Composition and Clarinetist of the Year from the Jazz Journalist Association. He serves as Associate Professor of Jazz and Contemporary Music at Hampshire College. This concert is part of the American Arts Experience St. Louis. Two related events: KWMU’s Jazz Unlimited host Dennis Owsley will host a free talk and discussion with Marty Ehrlich on Thursday October 3rd at 7PM at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63112 (across the street from the Pageant). Refreshments will be served. On the Jazz Unlimited program on Sunday September 29, Dennis Owsley will broadcast an in-depth interview with Marty as well as a selection of his music. The interview will air from 9PM to 10PM on KWMU (90.7FM).

Special Outdoor Concert at the St. Louis Art Museum

Friday, August 23, 2013 7:00 PM	St. Louis Art Museum (near the St. Louis statue) 1 Fine Arts Drive St. Louis, MO 63110
Darin Gray — bass Mars Williams — sax Tyler Damon — drums

New Music Circle at Open Studios STL
Saturday, June 22nd, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
At: William A Kerr Founation, 21 O’Fallon St., St. Louis MO, 63102 map
(free snacks and beverages will be served)

In exploration of sound, space, and group dynamics, New Music Circle brings together a wide assortment of St Louis’s most active experimental musicians, with focuses ranging from electronic to acoustic instruments, modern composition to sound art, and tonal to extended techniques. On June 22nd (from 7pm to 9pm), local musicians will perform a continuous and quietly improvised group sound throughout various spaces of the William A. Kerr Foundation building. Visitors will have a chance to hear and see the variety of new approaches, techniques, and technology utilized by local musicians, as well as an opportunity to explore the building.

Located only a few minutes north of the Arch, the William A. Kerr Foundation building is a LEED-compliant, 1894 bathhouse transformed to a community space and situated on the trail head of the North Riverfront Trail.

Confirmed participating musicians: Tracy Andreotti (cello), Joseph Raglani (modular synthesizer), John Tamm-Buckle (computer), Michael Williams (electronics), Connie Su (electronics), Ajay Khanna (guitar/computer), Nathan Cook (electronics), Laura Dempsey (electronics), Fred Tompkins (flute), Dave Stone (saxophone), Henry Claude (percussion), Gwenyth Merner (theremin/electronics), and Patrick Boland.(percussion).