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Darcy James Argue To Present Anti-Social Music + Secret Society At Galapagos Art Space

(January 24, 2012)

Photo by Ines Kaiser

On Friday, March 9th, Darcy James Argue and his acclaimed big band Secret Society will return to Brooklyn’s Galapagos Art Space, where they celebrated the release of their GRAMMY® nominated 2009 debut, Infernal Machines (New Amsterdam Records), for a special double-bill with the new music collective Anti-Social Music.

The music will begin at 7:00 p.m. with Anti-Social Music (ASM) performing archival music from 11tet, a now-defunct jazz composers workshop from the late 1990′s, as well as new works written for ASM by Kamala Sankaram, Dan Lasaga and Pat Muchmore. The group’s members include Franz Nicolay (Hold Steady), Peter Hess (Balkan Beat Box), Jean Cook (Jon Langford, Ida), Ed RosenBerg (jerseyband) and John Wriggle (Ex Caminos).

Secret Society will follow with a set featuring Vijay Iyer’s “Three Fragments” and David T. Little’s “Conspiracy Theory”, two pieces commissioned by the band and premiered at the Ecstatic Music Festival in February 2011, as well as a suite of original music from the score of Brooklyn Babylon and other selections from the ensemble’s growing catalog.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Advance tickets are available online for $20.

Learn more about Anti-Social Music and Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society at http://antisocialmusic.org and http://www.secretsocietymusic.org

Eric Hofbauer’s Busy February To Include Solo Show At AS220

(January 24, 2012)

Photo: Marcus Stern

On Saturday, February 18th, Boston-based guitarist Eric Hofbauer will headline a night of jazz concerts at the non-profit community arts space AS220 in Providence. Hofbauer, who teaches at the nearby University of Rhode Island, will join three local bands on a bill that includes many of his current and former students.

This solo set is one of five New England dates Hofbauer will be a part of next month, each featuring him in a different context. He can also be heard with Karayorgis/Hofbauer/William/Gray at The Lily Pad on February 3rd, Charlie Kohlhase’s Explorer’s Club at Longy School of Music on February 4th, BOLT (featuring Jorrit Dijkstra and Eric Rosenthal) at Third Life Studio on February 11th, and Esther Viola and First Worst Thirst at Outpost 186 on February 24th.

Thanks to a recent string of innovative recordings, Hofbauer is steadily earning an international reputation as “an original if not maverick exponent of the guitar” (Kevin Le Gendre, BBC). Critics have described his music as “intriguingly original” (Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes), ”deft and inventive” (Brian Marley, The Wire), “accomplished and smart” (Philip McNally, Cadence) and “as unassumingly compelling as anything out there” (Nic Jones, AllAboutJazz.com).

Learn more about Eric Hofbauer at http://erichofbauer.com

Darius Jones Coming To Baltimore’s The Windup Space February 12th

(January 23, 2012)

Photo: John Sharpe

On Sunday, February 12th at 8:00 p.m., New York-based alto saxophonist/composer Darius Jones will be the featured artist at Creative Differences’ monthly 2nd Sunday Series at The Windup Space in Baltimore.

Jones, an AUM Fidelity recording artist, has created new arrangements of material from his first two releases, Man’ish Boy (A Raw & Beautiful Thing) and Big Gurl (Smell My Dream), specifically to perform on this night with local musicians Dave Ballou (trumpet), John Dierker (reeds), Lafayette Gilchrist (piano), Michael Formanek (bass) and Eric Kennedy (drums).

Since delivering “one of the great jazz debuts of the past decade” (Britt Robson, eMusic.com) in 2009, Jones has been called “a singular talent” (Brian Morton, Jazz Journal), “a hot commodity in the Gotham jazz scene” (Dusted), “one of the most impressive and unique voices of our time” (Troy Collins, AllAboutJazz.com) and “a skilled composer, a hugely soulful saxophonist, and an assured leader” (François Couture, AllMusic.com).

Time Out New York‘s Steve Dollar adds, “A powerhouse saxophonist with an unusually focused perspective, Darius Jones has ambitiously framed his personal story within the bigger picture of African-American musical history. It’s one of the reasons his performances have such a passionate narrative force, as if every solo conjured holy ghosts and prodigal sons, each with its own story to tell. The drama comes through loud and clear, as the stocky Virginia native has a lot of preacher blood in his veins.”

Jones, who is profiled in the February issue of DownBeat, earned his second consecutive nomination for Up & Coming Artist of the Year at the 2011 Jazz Journalists Association Awards, and Big Gurl appeared on a variety of best-of-the-year lists, including a Top 20 finish in the prestigious Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll. Book of Mæ’bul (Another Kind of Sunrise), his third release as a bandleader, and the latest chapter of his ongoing Man’ish Boy series, will hit the streets in April.

Learn more about Darius Jones at http://dariusjonesmusic.com

Josh Sinton To Celebrate New CD + Play With Satoshi Takeishi In February

(January 23, 2012)

Photo: Bryan Murray

Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist/composer Josh Sinton will perform two notable New York shows in early February.

On Wednesday the 8th at 8:00 p.m., Sinton will celebrate the release of his latest recording, Pine Barren (Engine), with a special solo performance at Barbès in Brooklyn. He’ll present the title book of original music heard on the record, which brings together three smaller suites, on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet.

The same compositions can be heard on a complementary release featuring his quintet holus-bolus, with Jon Irabagon (tenor saxophone), Jonathan Goldberger (guitar), Peter Bitenc (bass) and Mike Pride (drums), coming later this year on Prom Night Records.

On Sunday the 12th at 7:00 p.m., Sinton will bring his newly acquired amplified contrabass clarinet to The Local 269 for his first-ever set of improvised duets with drummer Satoshi Takeishi.

Both events have a $10 cover.

Learn more about Josh Sinton and his various musical projects at http://joshsinton.com

Myra Melford To Debut New Music At Northampton Center For The Arts

(January 17, 2012)

On Friday, February 10th at 7:30 p.m., pianist/composer Myra Melford will perform at the Northampton Center for the Arts in Northampton, Massachusetts as part of the three-week series, A World Of Piano, curated by WMUA 91.1 FM’s Glenn Siegel.

Ms. Melford, who will be fresh off a West Coast CD release tour with the all-star collective Trio M earlier that week, is planning to debut a collection of new solo piano pieces based on the drawings of the celebrated Sacramento-based artist Don Reich (1931-2010) as part of a set that will also include other original music and pieces by Ornette Coleman and Andrew Hill.

“Myra Melford lately seems to have entered a phase where she can do no wrong,” writes esteemed jazz journalist Francis Davis in his introduction to this year’s Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll. Recent media coverage has described her as “one of the most exciting musicians working in any genre” (Ehren Gresehover, At Length), “a very accomplished composer” (Jez Nelson, BBC 3′s Jazz on 3), “a visionary bandleader” (Andrew Gilbert, Berkeleyside) and “a crafty original whose playing is filled with muscle, brains and poetic spark” (Time Out New York).

“Like her mentor, Henry Threadgill,” adds Point of Departure‘s Troy Collins, “Melford has a talent for effortlessly interweaving seemingly incongruous elements into cohesive multi-layered compositions, yielding a singular aesthetic that blurs the line between the written and improvised. As lyrical, adventurous and conceptually expansive as the work of contemporaries like Tim Berne, Dave Douglas and Marty Ehrlich, Melford’s compositions are among the most compelling of her generation.”

When not performing as a solo pianist or leading her own groups Be Bread and Snowy Egret, she currently co-leads a variety of ensembles, including Trio M with bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Matt Wilson and a duo with clarinetist Ben Goldberg. Since 2004, she has also served on the faculty of the University of California Berkeley, where she develops and teaches courses about contemporary improvised music. Learn more at http://myramelford.com

Tonight: Fay Victor With Patricia Nicholson + Other Dimensions In Music

(January 16, 2012)

Photo: Gulnara Khamatova

Vocalist/composer Fay Victor will perform with two groups, Patricia Nicholson’s Last Call and Other Dimensions in Music, at tonight’s edition of the weekly Evolving Music series at the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Education Center in New York.

This will be Ms. Victor’s first performance with Ms. Nicholson’s ensemble, while her ongoing Calypso-themed collaboration with the eminent free jazz collective Other Dimensions in Music continues to earn international attention.

Their 2011 recording, Kaiso Stories (Silkheart Records), was included on best-of-the-year lists published by Dusted, Free Jazz, The Jazz Journalists Association, The New York City Jazz Record and the Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll, and inspired reviewers to call it “a wonderful combination” (Lawrence Joseph, Montreal Mirror), “gloriously potent” (Jerome Wilson, Cadence) and ”a roaring success” (Ed Hazell, Point of Departure).

“Roots tributes seldom get as fascinating or as cultishly seductive as Kaiso Stories,” adds JazzTimes contributor Lloyd Sachs. “Having emerged as a vocal artist with a real vision, Victor rises to a higher level of inspiration here.”

Learn more about Fay Victor at http://www.fayvictor.com

Tonight: Michael Musillami Trio + 4 At The Hotchkiss School

(January 13, 2012)

Tonight at 7:00 p.m., veteran jazz guitarist and composer Michael Musillami will celebrate the forthcoming release of his latest record, Mettle (Playscape Recordings), with a free concert at The Hotchkiss School‘s Esther Eastman Music Center in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Musillami, who directs the Hotchkiss Jazz Ensemble (aka Right Brain Logic), will perform with his new septet, the Michael Musillami Trio + 4, an augmented version of his longstanding trio with bassist Joe Fonda and drummer George Schuller that’s celebrating its 10th anniversary as a working unit in 2012. They’ll be joined by special guests Russ Johnson (trumpet), Ned Rothenberg (alto saxophone and clarinet), Jeff Lederer (tenor saxophone and clarinet) and Peter Madsen (piano).

The group will play selections from Mettle, which officially hits the streets on February 7th, as well as other original material specially arranged for this combination of musicians. That includes a new piece called “Of The Brave”, which Right Brain Logic performed at their concert in early December under Musillami’s direction. Saxophonist Charles Tokarz, who also teaches at Hotchkiss, will join Musillami’s group for the composition’s official debut.

Owen McNally previews both the performance and the record in his feature for the Hartford Courant.

Learn more at http://michaelmusillami.com and http://playscape-recordings.com

Announcing Our 2012 Exclusive Client Roster

(January 12, 2012)

After a quick detour to New York for APAP|NYC and Winter Jazzfest last week, we’re now officially up and running with our newly expanded client roster for 2012. It is our great pleasure to be serving as the exclusive media contact for these nine musicians and two labels throughout our 10th anniversary year.

Please click on the following links to visit each client’s page on our site for additional information.

AUM Fidelity
Darcy James Argue
Eric Hofbauer
Fay Victor
James Falzone
Jason Stein
Jon Irabagon
Josh Sinton
Mary Halvorson
Myra Melford
Playscape Recordings

For those not familiar with our roster system, this is the third consecutive year we’ll be working with a small group of clients to help them promote all of their performing and recording activities on a per-year basis. This is intended to be a more organic alternative to the traditional one-off system in which individual events or recordings are promoted outside the larger context of one’s overall career. In cases where a venue or label already has a publicity infrastructure in place, we will augment that promotion as appropriate by collaborating with those existing contacts. In short, if at any point you have any questions or requests related to the 11 clients listed above, please direct them to us and we’ll be happy to help.

In the meantime, thank you for your continued support of independent creative improvised music and we look forward to being in touch with you about all the exciting projects our clients are a part of in 2012.

James Falzone’s KLANG To Play Twice Before Next Recording Session

(January 12, 2012)

Photo: Michael Jackson

Chicago-based clarinetist/composer James Falzone and his working quartet KLANG will play two local concerts before heading into the studio at Electrical Audio to record their fourth release, tentatively titled Brooklyn Lines, on February 9th. The band, which features Jason Adasiewicz (vibraphone), Jason Roebke (bass) and Tim Daisy (drums), will be presenting all new music composed by Falzone, including pieces commissioned through the 2010 Kickstarter campaign for its previous release, Other Doors (Allos Documents).

Tuesday, February 7th at 9:00 p.m.
KLANG
Jerry’s Wicker Park
1938 W. Division Street in Chicago, IL
http://jerryssandwiches.com

Wednesday, February 8th at 9:30 p.m.
KLANG
The Hideout
1354 W. Wabansia Avenue in Chicago, IL
http://www.hideoutchicago.com/event/86769/

Critics have called KLANG’s music “thoughtful and stylish” (Ben Ratliff, New York Times), “so unmistakably right” (Brian Morton, Point of Departure), “adventurous yet accessible” (Troy Collins, AllAboutJazz.com), “distinct, challenging and pleasurable” (Mark Holston, Jazziz) and “an impressive combination of practiced virtuosity and spontaneous creativity” (The New York City Jazz Record). “The level of rapport is extraordinary,” adds Cadence reviewer Stuart Kremsky, “and the malleability of each player’s role in the ensemble provides a broader range of instrumental color than you might expect. Great stuff, with more to discover in the music each time around.”

Founded in January 2006 as a one-off ensemble for a now defunct local concert series, KLANG has since become one of Chicago’s most recognizable bands. Made up of four of the city’s busiest bandleader/composers, the group has performed music ranging from original compositions to its innovative tribute to fellow Chicagoan and jazz legend Benny Goodman at prominent venues, series and festivals across the Midwest. The success of its 2011 recording, Other Doors, helped earn Falzone a nomination for Clarinetist Of The Year at the Jazz Journalists Awards, as well as profiles in DownBeat and a half dozen other publications this year.

Learn more about James Falzone and KLANG at http://allosmusica.org

Best Of 2011 Lists

(January 12, 2012)

Congratulations to our clients on being recognized by the following 2011 polls and year-end lists!

Darcy James Argue

DownBeat Critics’ Poll: Rising Star Composer (#1)

DownBeat Critics’ Poll: Rising Star Big Band (#2)

DownBeat Readers’ Poll: Big Band (#2)

JazzTimes Readers’ Poll: Best Big Band (#3)

100 Composers Under 40
—NPR in conjunction with WQXR 

Top 10 concerts/gigs in Ottawa
—Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen 

Top 10 Concerts Of The Year (Brooklyn Babylon)
—David R. Adler, New York City Jazz Record

Noteworthy Live Shows This Year (Brooklyn Babylon)
—Ralph A. Miriello, Jazz Journalists Association

AUM Fidelity

Darius Jones

Musicians Of The Year
—The New York City Jazz Record

Darius Jones & Matthew Shipp, Cosmic Lieder (AUM066)

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Francis Davis, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Steve Dollar, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Ed Hazell, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Tim Niland, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top Albums For 2011
—S. Victor Aaron, Something Else!

Top 10 New Releases For 2011
—Tim Niland, Music and More 

Top 10 of 2011
—Stanley Zappa, Free Jazz 

Top 30 of 2011
—Andrew Forbes, THIS IS OUR MUSIC.

2011’s Ten Best New Releases
—Alain Drouot, Jazz Journalists Association

Albums of the Year: Honorable Mentions
—The New York City Jazz Record 

Top 10 Concerts of the Year
—Andrey Henkin, The New York City Jazz Record

Farmers By Nature, Out Of This World’s Distortions (AUM067)

Top 5 Albums of 2011
—Kevin Le Gendre, BBC 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—David Fricke, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—John Sharpe, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top Ten New Releases of 2011
—Kevin Le Gendre, Jazzwise 

Top Ten New Releases of 2011
—Daniel Spicer, Jazzwise 

Best New Jazz/Improvised Music Albums of 2011
—Steve Holtje, Culture Catch

Albums of the Year: Honorable Mentions
—The New York City Jazz Record 

Best Releases of 2011
—John Sharpe, AllAboutJazz.com 

David S. Ware/Cooper-Moore/WilliamParker/Muhammad Ali, Planetary Unknown (AUM068)

Jazz & Improv A-Z
—The Wire 

Record Of The Year (#34)
—Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Clifford Allen, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Larry Birnbaum, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Troy Collins, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Steve Dollar, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—David Fricke, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Aiden Levy, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Chris Monsen, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Bret Saunders, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top Ten New Releases of 2011
— Daniel Spicer, Jazzwise 

Top 10 Satisfying CDs of 2011
—Bret Saunders, Denver Post

Top 10 Albums of 2011
—Lawrence Joseph, Montreal Mirror

Best New Jazz/Improvised Music Albums of 2011
—Steve Holtje, Culture Catch

Top 10 of 2011
—Stanley Zappa, Free Jazz 

Best New Releases of 2011
—Troy Collins, AllAboutJazz.com 

Best New Releases of 2011
—Clifford Allen, Ni Kantu 

Top 10 New Releases For 2011
—Tim Niland, Music and More 

Best of 2011
—Antonio Terzo, Jazz Journalists Association 

Favorite 20 + 3 for 2011
—John Braithwaite, CKUT 90.3 FM

Albums of the Year: Honorable Mentions
—The New York City Jazz Record 

Darius Jones Trio, Big Gurl (AUM069)

Albums of the Year
—The New York City Jazz Record 

Record Of The Year (#19)
—Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Larry Birnbaum, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Troy Collins, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Steve Dollar, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Laurence Donohue-Greene, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Alain Drouot, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Tad Hendrickson, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Lyn Horton, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Chris Monsen, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—John Sharpe, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Jeff Stockton, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top Jazz Albums of 2011
—Shaun Brady, Philadelphia City Paper 

Best New Releases of 2011
—Troy Collins, AllAboutJazz.com 

Best Releases of 2011
—John Sharpe, AllAboutJazz.com 

Top 10 of 2011
—Guy Peters, Free Jazz 

Top 10 of 2011
—Tony Verstraete, Free Jazz 

Top 10 of 2011
—Lyn Horton, The Paradigm For Beauty

Top 10 New Releases
—Laurence Donohue-Greene, Jazz Journalists Association

Top 10 New Releases
—Shaun Brady, Jazz Journalists Association

Top 10 for 2011
—Tad Hendrickson, Jazz Journalists Association

Best of 2011: New Releases
—Luke Stewart, Jazz Journalists Association

Favorite 20 + 3 for 2011
—John Braithwaite, CKUT 90.3 FM

David S. Ware, Organica (AUM070)

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Larry Birnbaum, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top Jazz Albums of 2011
—Shaun Brady, Philadelphia City Paper 

Best of 2011: Jazz
—Bill Meyer, Dusted 

Best New Jazz/Improvised Music Albums of 2011
—Steve Holtje, Culture Catch

Top 30 of 2011
—Andrew Forbes, THIS IS OUR MUSIC.

Top 10 New Releases
—Shaun Brady, Jazz Journalists Association

James Falzone

DownBeat Critics’ Poll: Rising Star Clarinet (#4)

Great Arts Events I Was At 2011
—Janis Hashe, Chattanooga Pulse

KLANG, Other Doors (Allos Documents)

The year’s best jazz CDs
—Neil Tesser, Examiner.com 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Lyn Horton, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Derek Taylor, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Favorite 20 + 3 for 2011
—John Braithwaite, CKUT 90.3 FM

Albums of the Year: Honorable Mentions
—The New York City Jazz Record

Best of 2011
—Antonio Terzo, Jazz Journalists Association

Top 13 of 2011
—Neil Tesser, Jazz Journalists Association

Mary Halvorson

DownBeat Critics’ Poll: Rising Star Guitar (#1)

Best Guitarist 2011
—Village Voice, Best of New York

100 Composers Under 40
—NPR in conjunction with WQXR 

Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone, Departure Of Reason (Thirsty Ear)

My favorite albums of 2011
—Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader 

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Lyn Horton, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Top Albums for 2011
—Mark Saleski, Something Else!

Top 10 of 2011
—Lyn Horton, The Paradigm For Beauty

Weasel Walter/Mary Halvorson/Peter Evans, Electric Fruit (Thirsty Ear)

Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Alain Drouot, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

2011’s Ten Best New Releases
—Alain Drouot, Jazz Journalists Association

Fay Victor

Other Dimensions In Music featuring Fay Victor, Kaiso Stories (Silkheart)

Vocal Releases of the Year
—The New York City Jazz Record 

Best Vocal Album (#6)
—Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Record Of The Year (#40)
—Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Vocal Release of the Year
—John Szwed, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Vocal Release of the Year + Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Laurence Donohue-Greene, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Vocal Release of the Year + Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Ed Hazell, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Vocal Release of the Year + Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Robert Iannapollo, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Vocal Release of the Year + Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Chris Monsen, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Vocal Release of the Year + Top 10 New Releases of 2011
—Derek Taylor, Rhapsody Jazz Critics’ Poll 

Albums of the Year
—Laurence Donohue-Greene, The New York City Jazz Record

Best of 2011
—Derek Taylor, Dusted

Vocal releases of 2011
—John Szwed, Jazz Journalists Association 

Top 10 New Releases + Vocal releases of 2011
—Laurence Donohue-Greene, Jazz Journalists Association 

Top 10 of 2011
—Guy Peters, Free Jazz

Top 10 of 2011
—Stanley Zappa, Free Jazz

Favourites for 2011
—CKUT 90.3 FM 

Favorite 20 + 3 for 2011
—John Braithwaite, CKUT 90.3 FM