I wanted to let you all know about a quite comprehensive and well written article on the subject of  Third Stream music by Jeff Kaliss (http://www.jeffkaliss.com/) which includes a nice description of my own endeavors (including a mention of the New Music Circle) and generally puts the style into historical perspective by outlining the personal concepts and goals of some of the pioneers in this field – Gunther Schuller, Charles Mingus, David Amram, MJQ, Miles Davis and others.

The article is in a magazine called CA-Modern (http://www.eichlernetwork.com/camodern.html). You can read it online or order a copy of the magazine, but I’d recommend the latter, because it’s a colorful and descriptive publication about lifestyles in California and modern architecture of the mid 20th century. Important, though, be sure to order the Summer 2010 edition, if you want to see the article.  Enjoy, and let me know what you think sometime.

Sorry that so much time has passed between Third Stream entries, but I’ve actually been quite busy composing the stuff. I’m most of the way though a big piece for sample sounds and “live” drummer, and I hope to be overdubbing the improvised drum part soon. When I get it down, I’ll post it on my MP3 Player page for you. Meanwhile, take a listen to the music already there and let me know what you think. (menu on the right, under Blogroll)

In addition, I’ve been writing music for a local St. Louis group with myself on flute, George Sams on trumpet & flugelhorn, Joshua Weinstein on acoustic bass and Bobo Shaw on drums – some really intense free playing, music by group members and one piece by Sam Rivers – in other words, lots of variety!   I’ll keep you in touch (promised)

Lately, I’ve been acquainting myself with two composer/performers who’s music, on the surface, would appear to be of contrasting nature, but examined more deeply, have much in common. That would be the music of Brent Heisinger (ostensibly a “classical” composer) and Taylor Eigsti (ostensibly a “jazz” pianist). In fact, Taylor’s music, while usually featuring improvised jazz solos, often displays an advanced compositional technique and some really fascinating orchestrations. I love the sound samples and videos on his main site: http://www.tayjazz.com/

Brent Heisinger is also a multifaceted musician who regards himself as a classical composer, yet who, on the other hand, has written a major work called Ekta for chamber orchestra, tabla and jazz trio, to be performed 5/15 & 5/16 in San José, CA, featuring pianist, Taylor Eigsti. Eigsti’s (‘Third Stream’?) piece, ReTrianon, will also be on the concert. If you go to Brent’s website, http://www.brentheisinger.com and click on “List of Works” you can purchase scores and listen to sound samples of each piece, Fanfare and Prayer and Reflections capturing my immediate attention.

Given the sum total of talent here with its implication of a broadly inclusive range of stylistic influences, this concert promises to be one of the more successful attempts at jazz/classical synthesis. To read more about this concert and get all the specifics, go to http://www.sfcv.org/preview/san-jose-chamber-orchestra/following-the-third-stream-home

I hope you’ll all join me this Sunday, 4/25, 8:30pm at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Ctr., 3301 Lemp Ave., to hear the fabulous return of saxophonist, Peter Brötzmann, along with percussionist, Hamid Drake. Brötzmann has been a leader in the European avant garde ever since the 1970s, playing in a style of high intensity free improv. that’s sure to keep you locked in and focused, right through to the last cymbal crash! For specific info. on this event, visit: http://www.lemp-arts.org/index.php?content=brotz and also visit Peter Brötzmann’s main site:  http://www.peterbroetzmann.com/index2.php See you there!

Here’s in praise of St. Louis’s own Arianna String Quartet! Tonight, at 8:00pm at the Touhill (See http://www.touhill.org/default.asp?touhill=51&objId=498 for full info.) they will be performing not only one of the most difficult works, but a work universally considered among the most significant and adventurous in the entire repertoire of string composition, the Béla Bartok String Quartet #4., which, along with his #5,  stands pointedly alone in the field as an ageless monolith of creativity and high technical experimentation. Only the Ravel quartet and the late Beethoven quartets come to mind as equally significant. I hope you’ll have time to rush over and hear this music tonight. You will be highly rewarded!

Several exciting new music events on the near horizon: First, cellist, Craig Hultgren will be returning to St. Louis to direct an extended work for cello, KYMA electronics (Rich O’Donnell), synthesizer & cello (Dr. Mabuse) and poetry (Anna Lum) at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand, this Saturday, 4/3, at 7:30pm. With his broad experience as both a schooled, symphony performer and a no holds barred, experimental practitioner of new music techniques, this promises to be a rewarding and entertaining evening. The music itself will serve partly as a vehicle for solo improvisation and partly as a dialog with poetry, narrative and electronic coloration. For more information on the event and Craig Hultgren, visit the New Music Circle website –  http://newmusiccircle.org/

Then on April 5th, at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center , 3301 Lemp Ave. , you’ll be treated to three performances all in one evening. At 8:30p, one of our most talented and versatile performers, Dave Stone, will play a short opening set of solo saxophones. Then at 9:00pm, I’ll be performing on flute with Dave Cheli’s group, Tribal Chicken – Dave on tenor sax, Chris Landers on guitar, Dominic Cheli on electronic keyboard and Kevin Cheli on drums and percussion. For this event we’ll be stretching out our improvisations over a more than usually expanded palette of textural, instrumental and tempo changes.   Hold on, though, it’s not over: At 10:30pm, the Wizards (http://www.myspace.com/wizards1974), led by keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist, Gerard Cox, will perform. Featuring the highly inventive sax and bass clarinet playing of Hasan Razzaq, this group blends gritty free improv. with colorful synthesizer sounds and well conceived changes of instrumentation. To learn more about the Lemp,visit: http://www.lemp-arts.org/

I wanted to tell you about two upcoming events for this week:On Thurs., 3/11, 7:00pm – 9:30pm guitarist, Matthew Von Doran’s trio (http://www.matthewvondoran.com/ ) will play at the Broadway Bean (7619 South Broadway). This is a small, intimate club with great acoustics and a continually rotating exhibit of art works on the wall. The trio, by the way, performs with comparable intimacy, and the highly interactive drumming of Steve Davis keeps the group sounding vibrant and intense. Between Dave Black performing with the Paul DeMarinis Sextet recently and Matthew’s trio, you realize how well endowed we are with great guitarists and great jazz ensembles.

Then on Saturday, 3/13, 7:30pm, the New Music Circle will present the music of John Tamm-Buckle at the Kranzberg Arts Ctr. (501 N. Grand). For this artist, you’ll find his process is just as fascinating as his final product, with melting ice sculptures, contact microphones, signal-processing functions and sound samples recorded in Antarctica. For more on this, visit the NMC website: http://newmusiccircle.org/, and for more on John Tamm-Buckle, visit his main site http://kvistrecords.com/artists/john-julius-tamm-buckle/.

I hope you’ll all come out with me this Friday to hear the Trinity Piano Trio. They are a really special group of players. Classically trained virtuosi, they are not content to limit themselves to the traditional repertoire, but seek out new works by young, actually living composers. Their upcoming concert should prove to be a perfect example with music by Beethoven, Martinu, Bartok, and a new piece by John Thomas, written specifically for the trio.

The personnel: Amanda Kirkpatrick – Piano; Manuela Kaymakanova – violin; Tracy Andreotti – cello;  Date: 3/5; Time: 8:00; Place: Washington University – Danforth Univ. Center (Goldberg Formal Lounge, 2nd floor)  Admission – Free

Our most  popular and consistently successful events in the New Music Circle season are often the film/video collaborations with “live’ improvised music. This Saturday, 2/27, at 7:30pm,  N.M.C. will present a full program of the video work of Van McElwee (http://www.vanmcelwee.com/index.php) at Winifred Moore Auditorium on the campus of Webster University, 470 E. Lockwood Ave. – Co-sponsored by the Webster Film Series. Two of the works have been conceived in 3D (3D glasses available at the door).       “Live” music for the videos will be performed by Rich O’Donnell and the Semi-Acoustic Noise Ensemble (SANE).

Admission prices for this event only:
$6 Regular admission, $5 for Seniors, students, Webster alumni
$4 Webster U staff/faculty, $Free Webster U students with a valid ID

If the triumph of last year’s video/ “live” music showcase at Webster University is any indication of what might be in store, then you’ll certainly not want to miss this exciting, upcoming event.  For more in information on the artists, visit: http://newmusiccircle.org/

Two great concerts coming up soon!: On Saturday, February 13^th, at 7:30pm, at the Webster University Community Music School Concert Hall, 535 Garden Ave., on the Webster University campus, The New Music Circle will welcome multi-instrumentalist Douglas Ewart…….and on Monday, February 15^th, at 7:00pm, The Paul DeMarinis Sextet will present a concert of all original music at the Winifred Moore Auditorinm, also on the Webster U. campus.

Douglas Ewart is a Rennaissance man if there ever was one! For a full biography and list of all his skills and interests, visit the New Music Circle website: http://www.newmusiccircle.org, or his home page: http://indra.com/~jbarnett/ewart/biography.html, but for abreviated blogging purposes, a short list might include composer, improviser, sculptor and multiple instrument designer and maker. By the way, he aslo PLAYS these instruments…and REALLY WELL!

At this event, Ewart will be collaborating with virtuoso keyboardist and synthesist, James Hagarty; percussionist, Rashu Aten and poet, Shirley LeFlore (I have a personal weakness for her verse.)

As for the members of the Paul DeMarinis Sextet, I have known them and composed music for most of them at various times over the years, so I can say without hesitation…….THEY’RE TOPS! Members include: Debby Lennon-vocals, Paul DeMarinis-soprano and tenor saxophones and bass clarinet, Dave Black-guitars, Nick Schlueter- piano, Ben Wheeler-bass and Kyle Honeycutt-drums.

In order for any musician to comprehend and execute Paul’s broad based and intricate

compositions, that musician must be technically skilled and versatile: Debby has no problem rising to this level, Dave can produce any guitar sound you ask of him and apply his technique to a wide range of genres, Ben plays frequently with the bow, weaving in and out of the texture, Nick can play straight ahead, free or modal, and his comping is SO imaginative..and Kyle backs it all up with strength and subtlety.

But you need to see this whole group in action.

So get on out there and make it to both of these events. It’ll be a big weekend and a big Monday!