OCTOBER 2, 2008
MYRA MELFORD QUARTET: HAPPY WHISTLINGS
HENRY THREADGILL'S ZOOID + TALUJON PERCUSSION: FATE CUES

MYRA MELFORD is a composer-performer with a commitment to refreshing, often surprising uses of melody, harmony and ensemble playing. For this evening, Ms. Melford will present a collage of new compositions and improvisations inspired by the writing of Uruguayan journalist and author Eduardo Galeano. In his book "Genesis,"from the "Memory of Fire,"trilogy, he examines the vastly encompassing interpretation of the history of the Americas and the New World.

Featuring: Myra Melford//piano, Matana Roberts//saxophone, Mary Halvorson//guitar, Harris Eisenstadt//percussion.

http://www.myramelford.com

At the forefront of music for the past quarter of a century, HENRY THREADGILL incorporates his experiences with jazz, gospel, blues and marching bands freely in a mix with various types of world music. He views these folios as evolutionary and uses the past as a basis, rather than an ingredient, of their music. Fate Cues is both notated and improvised, written specifically for the collective ensembles. This piece is an exploration of how disparate elements can work together towards a larger dynamic for a source of inspiration.

Featuring: Zooid = Henry Threadgill//saxophone+flute, Stomu Takeishi//bass guitar, Liberty Ellman//acoustic guitar, Jose Davila//tuba, Elliot Kavee//drums Talujon Percussion = David Cossin, Dominic Donato, Michael Lipsey, Matt Ward.
Commissioned by Talujon with funds provided by the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust.

http://www.talujon.com

OCTOBER 16, 2008
PANSONORITY/LUMINANCE:
MUSIC OF EZRA SIMS & DANIEL ROTHMAN

Sean Carney//violin Christian Hebel//violin Liuh Wen Ting//viola Ted Mook//cello Gilad Harel//clarinet

The composers for this evening have several things in common. They write meticulously considered music, consciously keeping the past in mind, but always stepping away from their last piece. Neither composer is on the tip of anyone's tongue, but they are as well regarded as any similarly controversial artist. They are comfortable writing music that departs from the 12 note equal-tempered scale that dominates music today. EZRA SIMS, one of the pioneers in the field of microtonal composition, celebrates his 80th birthday with a special performance of two masterful pieces: String Quartet #5 and Clarinet Quintet. Composer DANIEL ROTHMANL presents his String Quartet and a work especially written for cellist Ted Mook.

http://www.ezrasims.com

Liuh Wen Ting//Viola Mari Kimura//Violin David Cerutti//Viola Troy Rinker//Bass Ralph Samuelson//Shakuhachi Ben Verdery//Guitar Elizabeth Brown//Flute, shakuhachi + theremin Thomas Buckner//Baritone

Composers ELIZABETH BROWN + FRANCES WHITE have different musical voices, yet share a deep spiritual, emotional and aesthetic connection. They draw inspiration from Asian culture, and have in common a love of natural and real world sound, both of which find their way into their instrumental and electronic music. This shared program will include three world premieres, and feature a variety of Eastern and Western instruments. The concert is part of the Daniel Pearl World Music Days celebration, and will be held at the The TimesCenter, designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano.

Elizabeth Brown - http://www.elizabethbrowncomposer.com/
Frances White - http://www.rosewhitemusic.com/

JB Floyd//Piano Raphael Mostel//Piano Thomas Buckner//Baritone

JB FLOYD is a masterful pianist in his own right, but this concert will feature his works for the Yamaha Disklavier™, a MIDI-powered player-piano, which enables Floyd to take his pianistic virtuosity to new compositional and improvisational heights. The program will include a piece with the setting of a new poem by Daniel Abdul-Hayy Moore. Working exclusively with acoustic and deliberately spare means, RAPHAEL MOSTEL has been described as one of New York's most original composers". Mostel will present a rare solo performance of intimate works for piano and spoken word, featuring previews of his "Letter to Benoit Mandelbrot" and "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Bela."
Featuring: Thomas Buckner//Baritone

JB Floyd - http://www.jbfloyd.com/
Raphael Mostel - http://www.mostel.com/

Strike Force = Bryan Carrott//Vibraphone, Eli Fountaine// Marimba, Wilson Moorman//Xylophone+timpani, Ray Mantilla //Conga drums+percussion, Thurman Barker//Drums. Douglas R. Ewart and Inventions = Reggie Nicholson// Marimba+Drums, Henry Grimes//Bass+Violin, Adegoke Steve Colson//Piano+Percussions, Craig Harris//Trombone+ Didjeridu+Percussions, Douglas R. Ewart//Reeds+Didjeridu +Percussions.

THURMAN BARKER's program will conclude a series of performances throughout the year celebrating his 60th birthday. The AACM percussionist leads his percussion quintet Strike Force for a set of fascinating new works.
Also a longtime AACM member, reedsman DOUGLAS R. EWARTbrings together his ensemble of New York and Midwest musicians, Inventions, to perform new works inspired by Mr. Ewart's recent experiences in Haiti and the memory of trumpeter Lester Bowie.

Thurman Barker - http://www.upteeproductions.com/
Douglas Ewart - http://www.bambooewart.net/

Sam Ashley Thomas Buckner Tom Hamilton Jacqueline Humbert Joan Jonas Joan La Barbara "Blue" Gene Tyranny

ROBERT ASHLEY brings his three most recent operas, Dust (1998), Celestial Excursions (2003) and Concrete (2007), to La Mama in radically new productions designed in collaboration with Metropolitan Opera lighting designer David Moodey. Although Ashley's roots are deep and true in the classical operatic tradition, the music has a famously new and compelling sound and the librettos have a poignant and uplifting message.

http://www.robertashley.org/

Joseph Kubera//piano Patricia Strange//violin David Behrman//strings & electronics John King//electric guitar Stephan Moore//live mix Thomas Buckner//baritone Ted Mook//cello

LARRY AUSTIN, noted composer of electronic and computer music and ANNEA LOCKWOOD known for combining natural and electroacoustic sounds will present new and recent multiphonic works, including the world premiere of Larry Austin's Redux Two for solo piano; and a collaboration between Annea Lockwood and Thomas Buckner, based upon poems by four of the detainees at the US Military Detention Center, Guantanamo Bay. The program will also include Austin's New York premiere of John explains.... based upon Richard Kostelanetz's interview with John Cage in 1966, plus two works written for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Austin's Beachcombers video, and Lockwood's Jitterbug for improvising musicians and aquatic insects.

Annea Lockwood - http://www.lovely.com/bios/lockwood.html
Larry Austin - http://cemi.music.unt.edu/larry_austin/

Baritone THOMAS BUCKNER presents a recital of new works including pieces by Stuart Saunders Smith, Tom Hamilton, Fred Ho and others.

http://www.thomasbuckner.com

San Francisco-based new music pianist TERESA MCCOLLOUGH has developed an international reputation for her dynamic and expressive playing. A leading interpreter and advocate for contemporary music, she has commissioned, premiered, and performed many new compositions by today's emerging and established composers. For this concert, she presents the world premiere of a new work for solo piano by distinguished composer ALVIN SINGLETON. In addition to works written expressly for her by American composers DAN BECKER, BELINDA REYNOLDS and others.

http://www.teresamccollough.com/

James Emery//Guitar John Lindberg//Bass Rob Thomas//Violin

This performance is a celebration of the remarkable 31 seasons that THE STRING TRIO OF NEW YORK has continually presented, creating unique performances and recordings for the violin-guitar-bass format. The concert will feature the music of co- founding members James Emery and John Lindberg. The program will serve as a retrospective, keying on important works created and performed over the breadth of the trio's long and distinguished tenure as a collective performing unit.

http://www.s3ny.org/