Tag Archives: sax

5/5 | Audio for the Arts presents: HANGING HEARTS punk/jazz trio (Chi)

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This April, I had the fortunate luck of catching a thrilling late night set from Hanging Hearts punk/jazz trio in Detroit. Ben Willis and I were performing on a different side of town & stopped by afterwards to catch one of our favorite drummers, one of Wisconsin’s best, Devin Drobka. Devin, Chris & Cole of Hanging Hearts brought the house down with incredible energy, driving compositions, and excellent group communication. Even after a quite robust set, people were hungry for more. This in-studio concert will help Hanging Hearts prepare to go back into the studio this June to record their next album, produced by drummer Dave King of The Bad Plus.

Thr, 5/5 |  @ Audio for the Arts Studios
7 S. Blair St., Madison, WI
$10  Doors at 7:30p  /  Music at 8p

Recording Engineer & Host – Steve Gotcher

HANGING HEARTS (Chi) is:
Chris Weller – tenor saxophone
Cole DeGenova – keyboards/effects
Devin Drobka – drums/percussion
http://www.hangingheartsmusic.com/

Hanging Hearts is a Chicago-based jazz trio with rock energy dedicated to the fearless exploration of group improvisation. Described by critics as “hammering the walls between genres,” their music bridges the gap between jazz, rock, and experimental music. The band features Chris Weller on tenor saxophone, Cole DeGenova on keyboards, and Devin Drobka on drums. While Chris and Cole grew up in Chicago, playing professionally in jazz and blues clubs by the age of 15, the trio was completed at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where all three members graduated. The trio’s repertoire consists of their original compositions and free improvisations.

Members of the group have performed around the world and shared the stage with Joe Lovano, Jerry Bergonzi, Greg Osby, Tony Malaby, Tower of Power, Lettuce, Kurt Elling, Snarky Puppy, Lupe Fiasco, Greg Ward, Tim Daisy, and Dave Rempis, among others. Notable performances as a band include the Jazzinec Festival in Czech Republic and Nádasdy Castle in Sárvár, Hungary. Though they have been playing together for years, the group released their debut album in October ’14, with supporting US shows and European tour (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, & Romania).

 

3/18, 3/19 | Brennan Connors & Stray Passage record live album @ Audio For The Arts

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Brennan Connors & Stray Passage
TWO NIGHTS, LIVE IN-STUDIO
ALBUM RECORDING SESSIONS
@ Audio For The Arts Studios

March 18th & 19th, 2016
$10 cover, doors at 7:30pm
7 S Blair St # 1, Madison, WI 53703

“Their sets embrace plenty of sinuous melody and conversational interplay,
but can just as easily dive into minimalism and dissonance.” ~ Tone Madison

Brennan Connors & Stray PAssage

Experimental Jazz Trio Brennan Connors & Stray Passage has been performing in Madison for over three years, exciting listeners with their range of sonic capabilities.  Their improvised music is directly linked to the atmosphere in the room and energy of the audience.  Being that the listener is such a crucial element in shaping the band’s sound, it is only fitting that this album should be recorded in front of a live in-studio audience.  Attendees will experience a jazz trio that embraces free and structured improvisation, original compositions, groove based experiments, and sound exploration. The breadth of a performance ranges from focused minimalism to fiery high energy music, all while maintaining a sense of narrative organization and compelling ensemble interplay.

The group is led by Brennan Connors on tenor and soprano saxophones.  Geoff Brady provides orchestrated drum and percussion textures & Brian Grimm who rounds out the trio playing cello, contra-cello, and electric bass. On Friday, March 18th & 19th (Fri, Sat) – the trio will record two, live-concert performances which are open to the public.  The sessions will be hosted & recorded by master engineer Steve Gotcher at Audio for the Arts on 7 South Blair Street in Madison WI.  Stray Passage would be honored by the presence of anyone who wishes to experience the recording process.

Brennan Connors & Stray Passage
facebook event page
facebook band page
soundcloud

 

4/24 | Jack Wright & Bob Marsh @ Arts + Literature Laboratory

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4-24 SHOW POSTER 4.2

Sun, 4/24 | All Ages  $10  7pm  @ Arts + Literature Laboratory

2021 Winnebago St, Madison, Wisconsin 53704

JACK WRIGHT & BOB MARSH (TOUR)
sax + bass, electronics, sound suit

BC GRIMM & MICHAEL KOSZEWSKI (Mad) [of Lovely Socialite]
cello, Chinese string instruments + percussion

TONTINE ENSEMBLE (MILWAUKEE)
double bass, cello, viola, violin – through fx

JACK & BOB

These two have been playing together since they met in Detroit in 1986, their duo transforming over time as their music has developed. This despite moving far apart, and never more than at present; after fifteen years in the Bay Area Bob now lives in Pueblo CO and Jack is in Easton Pa, so their meetings are infrequent. They have toured on the East and West Coast and the Midwest, most recently connecting in the Bay Area, before that tours that took them from the east coast to Chicago. Their music has shifted from a huge web of notes and fast-shifting directions on conventional instruments to sound and space, with Bob playing electronics and distorted voice….yet still they are indelibly the same duo. And the best of friends.

A review of a 2012 performance in Philadelphia from Cadence Magazine: “Jack Wright (sax) and his longtime collaborator, Bob Marsh (cello, voicings) sat in cramped quarters with records stacked all around, low ceiling strung with Christmas lights, and frightful paintings lining the wall. The two explorers seemed to like the atmospheric space and quickly went about their business of quietly merging tones and thoughts. Marsh, who was on a rare trip to these parts from this California abode, used everything out of his cello case on his instrument except the kitchen sink, which he was unable to get down the steep stairs of the lair. Also of note was the sighting of Wright in real pants and not his ever-present shorts…” 

GRIMM & KOSZEWSKI

Michael Koszewski (percussion) & Brian Grimm (cello, Chinese string instruments) of Madison’s psychedelic Jazz/Rock outfit Lovely Socialite join forces as a duo. Both cut from the New Music cloth, they bring sensitivity, dynamics & chops to their explorations. Between Koszewski’s 5 years in Madison’s acclaimed Clocks in Motion Percussion ensemble & BC Grimm’s array of Chinese zithers, lutes & bowed strings – who knows what sonic orchestrations may come to pass.

Michael Koszewski and BC Grimm

TONTINE ENSEMBLE

Tontine Ensemble was founded in the spring of 2014 with the mission to perform improvisational and contemporary chamber works, as well as champion the compositions of Milwaukee composers. Its four current members first played together for a Blank Radio recording session and immediately began rehearsing regularly. Allen Russell, Molly Lieberman, Pat Reinholz, and Barry Paul Clark are all classically trained musicians who teach and regularly perform in a variety of styles around the Milwaukee area and beyond.

Tontine Ensemble has appeared as guest artists at Mike Neumeyer and Friends, Danceworks, Inc. (Paleontology of a Woman – 2014, Footsteps, Shadows & Whispers – 2015), Milwaukee Follies, Formations Series for New and Improvised Music, Alverno Presents (Prince Uncovered – 2015) and The Pre-Maturely Air Conditioned Arts Collective.  The ensemble has shared the stage with JOBS, Netmoiré, Lovely Socialite Mrs. Thomas W. Phipps, Geodes, Trench, Jonah Parzen-Johnson, and Jamison Williams.

Tontine Ensemble
http://tontineensemble.com/

7/30 | Brennan Connors & Stray Passage @ The Mason Lounge

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Thr, 7/30 | 8:30pm $0 @ The Mason Lounge

BRENNAN CONNORS & STRAY PASSAGE

For those of you who follow along with GrimmusiK (or have looked at the shows page on this website) you’ll notice that I play bass every Tuesday night from 9p-12 at The Mason Lounge with the Five Points Jazz Collective.  The Mason Lounge is one of my favorite bars in Madison, WI.  Brian, the owner, serves 15-or-so carefully selected craft beers on tap which thoroughly range the palette.  Every Tuesday, I eagerly await a rundown on the new kegs that have been tapped.

This week, we’re happy to have a special trio night with Brennan Connors & Stray Passage!  “Brennan Connors & Stray Passage is bringing it’s unique blend of free jazz, improvised music, and original compositions to the Mason. Come join us for a night of dynamic music running the gamut from fiery high energy sounds to focused minimalism. Brennan Connors on saxophones; Brian Grimm on cello and bass; Geoff Brady on drums and percussion.”

See you there!