I’m very excited to announce the release of a new CD sum and difference, a collection of duets with laptop improviser Sam Pluta, also featuring duets between Sam Pluta and the incomparable trumpeter Peter Evans. Continuing our violin/computer work from the larger band Glissando bin Laden, Sam and I have been pushing each other to find new sounds, volumes, and speeds that are only possible in the context of duets.
The duets between Sam and Peter showcase the match between their modes of virtuosity – they are both extremely fast players who explore the boundary between tone and noise. However, the long line – the longest track on the album – takes a single melodic gesture and carries it through all of its sonic implications.
sum and difference is available on Carrier Records – streaming for free, downloadable for a donation, or available as an actual plastic disk for a bit more money. Please consider donating for mp3s; Carrier Records has been an extremely positive force in releasing and promoting challenging new music from young New York composers, and they need your support to stay alive.
Sam, Peter, and I will be playing a few shows in early March to promote the CD, in Brooklyn, DC, and Baltimore. At our CD release show in Brooklyn, a free CD is included in the price of admission. See my events calendar (to the right) for the details about these (and other) shows.
This fall has seen a really nice diversity of projects for me, and I thought I’d share some of them.
For those of you who have been following my work, you’ll know that I’ve been collaborating more and more with the excellent Pearl and the Beard, a Brooklyn indie-folk-pop trio. In the past I’ve played violin and accordion with them at NYC shows, and I contributed a couple of string arrangements to their debut album, God Bless Your Weary Soul, Amanda Richardson. This autumn, I engineered, produced, and mixed two songs on their brand new EP Black Vessel. Please check out this EP, which you can listen to for free online, or download for a very reasonable fee. This winter, I’ll be collaborating with them a bit on their new (as-of-yet-untitled) album, which will be produced by the virtuosic troubadour Franz Nicolay.
In early November, I had the lucky opportunity to perform (violin) in a new piece by Matt Marble – musical accompaniment for Rebecca Davis’ what I’m saying is born from the weather. It was an exciting ensemble, featuring a few of my favorite musicians (including Bob Jones on bass). We performed in the historic Judson Memorial Church, and Matt has graciously included some audio excerpts here.
Rounding out the season, I finished recording an album with Sam Pluta and Peter Evans. The album is just duets between Sam and me, and Sam and Peter. We’re really excited about the sounds on this album – they’re completely new to our ears. The album is due to be released early February on Carrier Records. For a taste of what to expect, check out some video that was shot at our recent concert at The Tank. In addition to the video below, we have a trio, and another duet.
Head over to the music page to hear a new piece. farewell (for Ruth Crawford) represents an exciting new direction for me – using video scores in order to represent music that just doesn’t work inside traditional rhythmic notation. I hope to post video examples soon, but in the mean time, you can still hear the recording.
The friendly folks over at NewMusicBox asked me to write an article about the Yellow Swans‘ final album, Going Places. These guys were friends and collaborators of mine in Portland, Oregon, and I was honored to put together some words.
I’ve taken up the accordion lately, and have been having a great time. I’ve been playing that and the violin at a lot of Pearl and the Beard‘s recent New York shows. They’re one of my favorite bands, so it’s a real honor to play with these musicians.
Tatters & Rags will be releasing our first single (on vinyl) this Spring. The release party is on May 8th at Glasslands Gallery. We will be rounding out the rest of May with an every-Wednesday residency at Pete’s Candy Store (shows on the 12th, 19th, and 26th). The show on May 12th will also feature a performance by Poo Poo Jim and Pee Pee Girl, my brand new project of (often inappropriate) songs with the incredibly talented Jocelyn Mackenzie of Pearl and the Beard.
In a turn of events that I’m sure would surprise my professors from college, I’ve made my second cameo appearance in a book from a university press. This time, my tattoo of John Cage’s infamous silent piece is featured in Kyle Gann’s new book, No Such Thing as Silence: John Cage’s 4’33
I’m really excited that Wesleyan press has released John Luther Adams‘ book about The Place Where You Go To Listen, the sound and light installation that I created with him in Alaska. For some more information about this project, check out my Projects page. This is a gorgeous book that includes essays and a journal by John, as well as an introductory essay by New Yorker critic Alex Ross.
. This autumn, I engineered, produced, and mixed two songs on their brand new EP 