6/13 | Jonah Parzen-Johnson / Tar Pet / Lovely Socialite @ Bright Red Studios

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We had a wonderful show last night @ Bright Red Studios!  Thanks to all who came out!

∮ Lovely Socialite explored a quartet free-improv set with Pat on cello, Abe on vibes, Mike on assorted home-made percussion and drum set, & BCG on gaohu, pipa, bass & cajon.  So much open, quiet space.  We were able to explore individual solo moments all around, as well as every duo pairing within the larger quartet.  Very rewarding, as most Socialite sextet improvs exist in a wall-of-sound-madness!  I was grateful to explore sparcer orchestrations for such an open ear’d audience. (new album due out by early fall!)

∯ Taralie of Spires That In The Sunset Rise, known as Tar Pet when solo – gave us a really deep set.  My favorite two pieces were in the middle.  One was a layering of melodic cello drones that bubbled forth minute changes, all playing against one another to create a long landscape.  Once the scene was set, she switched to sax and blew an elegy to Ornette Coleman, who passed away this week.  I think we all knew what it was about, because Taralie was so excellent and clear in her delivery of the meditation.  What a way to send-up Ornette! [peace, respect]

…oh yeah, DISTORTED CELLO DRONES!!!.  < that’s all I need to say on the one that followed.

∰ The touring musician of the night, Jonah Parzen-Johnson (Brooklyn, NYC), treated us to his carefully crafted ‘bari-sax + electronics’ compositions.  Inbetween pieces, he would share introspections and wonderments de jour.  Anything his soul was searching at the moment.  A lot of it about how we interact with each other, but all of it posed in the form of (yet) unanswered questions.  Much appreciation for the insight into his being and process.  Jonah is on tour for his new album “Remember When Things Were Better Tomorrow”, which you should buy right now!  He’s halfway through a 5 week tour, help support his final leg with a purchase of his well developed music!


 

6/8-6/12 | Silk Road Ensemble’s ‘Global Musician Workshop’

GMW_logoI’m thrilled to be attending this upcoming week-long workshop.  After many years of admiring the passion and music of Yo-Yo Ma & Silk Road Ensemble – I can’t wait to learn, learn, learn, learn from them up close!  May the geek-out commence! ~ BCG

Yo-Yo Ma & Silk Road Ensemble presents:

SILKROAD’S GLOBAL MUSICIAN WORKSHOP 2015

directed by cellist Mike Block

June 8th-12th

A Laboratory Where Tradition Meets Innovation


Some info on the project from the Silk Road Ensemble website:

“The mission of Silkroad’s Global Musician Workshop (GMW) is to foster a community of globally minded musicians engaged in learning from one another’s traditions and incorporating them into their own artistic voices. In addition to Yo-Yo Ma’s participation in select activities, the artist-faculty will teach styles of music from across the world. GMW is directed by Silk Road Ensemble cellist Mike Block.

GMW will be taught by an all-star faculty representing a unique range of backgrounds, including Sarah Jarosz (American folk), Sandeep Das (Indian tabla), Kaoru Watanabe (Japanese flutes), Hadi Eldebek (Arabic oud), Shane Shanahan (world percussion), Jayme Stone(American banjo), Balla Kouyate (Malian balafon), Edward Perez (Afro-Latin bass), Hanneke Cassel (Celtic fiddle), and Mike Block (multi-style strings).

GMW is open to participants over 18 years of age, from any musical background. University/conservatory students as well as professional performers/teachers with backgrounds in Western classical, jazz, world, or folk styles will be accepted.“


5/22, 6/05 | Charlie Painter Trio @ Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Fri, 5/22 & Fri, 6/05 | 6-9pm @ Ruth’s Chris Steak House [Madison / Middleton]

THE CHARLIE PAINTER TRIO

feat. Charlie Painter – guitar / BC Grimm – bass / M. Koszewski – drums

CP and Friends


 

Off To Japan! Visiting Huckleberry (Tokyo) & Emilio (Sapporo)!

WAA!! Leaving today for Japan!!!!

Lexa & I (BCG) are leaving for Japan!  It’ll be our very first time there & I can’t wait to see my two best buds, AJ & Emilio!

As most of you dear readers know, our very dear AJ “Huckleberry” Grimm has been teaching in Tokyo since November, 2014.  We’ll tool around his favorite hotspots in Tokyo, check out the bamboo forests of Kyoto and old seats of government at Kamakura!  Sounds like we’ll be able to meet up with keyboard extraordinaire, Nana while we’re in the Nagoya area!  Halfway through the trip, we’ll shoot up north to Sapporo, Hokkaido (of the beer company fame) to visit Emilio, my roommate & best bud from college!  We’ll be playing a show there, thanks to Emilio – check it out!! >>

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Sunday, 5/10 | Sapporro, Japan

お疲れ様です!5月10日のタイムテーブル出来ました!問題あるかどうかを確認して下さい!

あとは、セッションにもぜひ出て欲しいんですけど、どうでしょうか?

と、狭い場所なので取り置きがあれば人数教えて欲しいです!

  • 5月10日 (日)
  • 「Music from Around the World vol.2」
  • タイムテーブル:
  • 18:30-open
  • 19:00-19:20 パレメケロン
  • 19:25-19:45 springman
  • 19:50-20:15 Mar T
  • 20:20-20:45 BC Grimm
  • 20:50-21:15 ポライ・ボゥ
  • 21:20-21:45トタニハジメ
  • 22:00~ セッション 宜しくお願いします!