Cloud machines

Inspecting the brenograph and the Art Deco restoration at the Smith theater in Geneva, NY, after leading a movement class at Hobart and William Smith colleges, as part of the ARTS Experience, a festival on inclusion in the arts.

Ruckus NYC Videos

Thanks Kevin, Victoria,  Zach, et al for the great videos from Last September's Ruckus NYC conference at Cooper Union.  During the day, there were great presentations about music, art, new media, publicity, time management, creative communities  and other issues germaine to being a working artist.  That night, we put on a concert, which featured wonderful performances from Kings, Sylvana Joyce and the Moment, Zach, Jody Redhage, and more!  Hannah and I played  Andy Akiho's "Karakurenai" and Osvaldo Golijov's Mariel. Check out the Ruckus NYC tumblr (I suppose it should be a "Tumblog") for videos from the conference, the youtube playlist for concert vids, and more information about all the great people involved.  I can't wait for the next one!

Pots in Brooklyn

A great video montage from Caroline Shaw's Boris Kerner, taken the day of the piece's premiere back in November.  New Morse Code is playing this piece again this Friday: we're doing a set on the Firehouse New Music Series, out  on the L train in Williamsburg.  We're playing music by Andy Akiho, Martin Bresnick, Robert Honstein, and Caroline.  Also performing is  Iktus+  and Cadillac Moon Ensemble.  Tickets are $10.  Hope you can make it!

Winter News

Hi All, Lots of new content and announcements I'd like to share.

First, a new video of me performing John Cage’s In a Landscape is on the Vic Firth website and on my media page. Mark, Neil, and everyone and Vic Firth is dedicated to getting performances and educational materials to a wide audience of drummers and percussionists,  and I’m really excited to be a small part of that.  So far, this video has not generated the same interesting comments as my last…

Last May, I had the distinct pleasure to go to LA with Andy Akiho—everyone’s favorite composer-workaholic-pan player—and an all-star group of percussionists for the West-Coast debut of Andy’s Alloy, a new take on traditional Trinidadian steel band music.    We made a video of the piece before the concert, and it’s online.  Take a look!  I wrote a miniscule blog post about the experience which you can read here. [hr] In the next few weeks, I’m playing concerts in Ithaca, Amherst and Brooklyn.  If you’re nearby, I’d love to see you there.

On January 25th, I’ll be playing a recital at UMass Amherst, capping off my semester filling in for Ayano Kataoka.  The program will feature some great music that manipulates our perception of time in intriguing fashion.  I am really excited to be joined by Ayano for two movements of Alejandro Viñao’s Book of Grooves, where the two marimbas explore how far a rhythm  can be stretched before it can no longer be considered a groove.  New Morse Code buddy Hannah Collins is coming too, forAndy Akiho’s 21 and Martin Bresnick’s murine miniatures,Songs of the Mouse People.  Rounding out the program is Andy Akiho’s Stop Speaking, Iannis Xenakis’ Psappha and Viñao’s dance hit Khan Variations.  The concert is at 8pm in Bezanson Hall, tickets are $10 ($5 for students).

Next, on February 1st, New Morse Code is playing a set at the Firehouse Space in Brooklyn.  The concert is curated by Iktus Percussion, and both Iktus and Cadillac Moon are also performing.  Hannah and I will be playing Caroline Shaw’s newly minted Boris Kerner, Andy Akiho’s 21, and some other surprises.  We’ll also be joined by our friendAnne Lanzilotti for Robert Honstein’s Patter.  Our recording of Patter was featured on I Care if You Listen’s 2012 Winter Mixtape, which you can hear here, alongside great music by Florent Ghys and Missy Mazzoli.  The show starts at 8, and is $10.

Lastly, I’ll be playing another recital February 9th at Cornell, including music inspired by written, spoken, or sung words.  In addition to the aforementioned Psappha(based in part on the scansion of ancient Greek poetess Sappho), and Stop Speaking (where the solo snare drummer hits plays in dialogue a recorded voice aware of its own mortality), this concert will feature the world premiere of Tonia Ko’s cello/percussion duo Hush, based on Virginia Woolf’s short story “The String Quartet.” Hannah and I love this sensitive and expressive piece already! Here's Hannah being excited:

Hannah and I will also be joining forces with superstar pianist Xak Bjerken for one of my favorite pieces, Marc Mellits’ charming and exuberant Tight Sweater.  The concert is at 8pm in Barnes Hall, and is free

Hope to see you there!

In a Landscape

A new video of me performing John Cage’s In a Landscape is on the Vic Firth website and over on my media page.  For more information about the piece, visit Vic Firth.  Mark, Neil, and everyone and Vic Firth is dedicated to getting performances and educational materials to a wide audience of drummers and percussionists, and I’m really excited to be a small part of that.