Billband ~ Live at LPR (A Review)

Billband
Le Poisson Rouge, NYC
Sunday, February 10th, 2013

This is the first time that I’m reviewing a show that I watched online as opposed to having experienced it in person, so, my apologies for not having a more in-your-face perspective, but I can say with great certainty that Billband (ensemble that was originally formed by Bill Ryan; I interviewed him recently) was in supreme form as they ran through a set of mostly selections from the CD Towards Daybreak, whose release was the focus of the event.

The group, which features several members of Bang On a Can that we are familiar with (Ashley Bathgate, Vicky Chow, David Cossin) as well as violinist-composer Todd Reynolds, clarinetist Michael Lowenstern, and 2nd cellist Pablo Mojave-Veglia among others, has a very fusion-esque sound, especially on pieces like “Friction”, which opened the show. Its prog-like timing proceeded to set a wonderful pace for the rest of the evening.

“Sparkle” is one of my favorites, and it was every bit the delicate frosty chime dialogue that it is on the album. Following this was “Solitude In Transit”. This featured a great Far Eastern-style violin lead from Todd Reynolds, with which he managed to outshine his own recorded version from the album.

“Simple Lines”, a piece that Ryan had written in various versions for various configurations of instruments, was performed solo by Ashley Bathgate. Doing what she has been doing so effectively for several years, Bathgate bathed the audience in rich textures of layered loops of cello, mastering a technological art form and reinvention of a classical sound.

The ensemble returned for “Rapid Assembly”, and then played “Blurred”, which here sounded a bit more like the version from the Billband Blurred EP from 2004, featuring more ensemble than the recently-recorded trio version. They wrapped up the set with that same EP’s “Original Blend”, which displayed great lead voices from the violin, piano and clarinet.

Both Todd Reynolds and Bill Ryan made introductions to these pieces, and I have to say I am a huge fan of the musicians speaking to the audience. If we continue to have the kind of rapport that these performers have, this is certainly one of the keys to gaining the interest of new audiences as well as maintaining audiences that are invested in and engaged with new music concerts.

Billband is a great showcase for Bill Ryan and its members, and I hope that this ensemble continues to produce even more progressive post-minimalism pieces as well as concerts as lively as this one.

Billband (page on Bill Ryan.com)
Bill Ryan.com

Bill Ryan ~ On Towards Daybreak, Billband and LPR

Composer Bill Ryan had some time to talk to me about his new CD Towards Daybreak, which is about to drop on January 29th, and also the upcoming CD release party at Le Poisson Rouge on Sunday, February 10th at 7:30 PM. Click here for info/tickets or on the link at the bottom.

CM: Can you please talk about the new album and its music? I understand the pieces are very personal for you. 

Bill: It’s definitely a personal album, with the music being a general reflection of my life for the past several years. The most impactful events to me were the loss of both parents. A few pieces address that specifically, but that loss reaches into all the music on the CD. There’s also music that comes out of the joy of continuing to raise my three children, living in the midwest, teaching, and other things. I suppose that’s natural–that as one gets older and accumulates life experiences–that these events inform who you are and the work you do. For a long time though, I rarely set out to write a piece about anything except the sound. Now, somehow, life has a way of getting into the music.

A Couple of December Nights of Music in New York ~ Double Review

Pianist Jenny Q. Chai, image coutresy of Bob Bruno

Both written by Scottie Roche

Daniele and Sxip’s Hour of Charm
Le Poisson Rouge, NYC
Friday, November 30, 2012 (Yes, I know technically this was still November; apologies–ed.)

On Friday, November 30th, Le Poisson Rouge bubbled with enchantment as a cadre of performers generous of their time, talent, and hearts “charm schooled” an abundantly appreciative audience at Daniele and Sxip’s Hour of Charm. The electrically charged evening benefited direct-action relief for Hurricane Sandy and featured a wide array of talents including the ever-impressive violinist Todd Reynolds, post-classical string quartet Ethel, beatboxing extraordinaire Adam Matta, Danielle Eva Scwhob, Sxip Shirey and more!

Danielle Eva Schwob & Sxip Shirey ~ On The Hour of Charm at LPR

Composer-singers (gifted musicians, too) Danielle Eva Schwob and Gene “Sxip” Shirey had some time to chat with me about their concert at Le Poisson Rouge in New York on Friday, November 30th at 8 PM (Doors open at 7 PM). The event, titled Danielle & Sxip’s Hour of Charm, is scheduled to feature not only these folks but also the likes of Todd Reynolds, ETHEL, clarinetist Ned Rothenberg, harpist Bridget Kibbey, throat singer Liron Peled, beatboxer Adam Matta, and singer-songwriter Corn Mo among several others.

The two composers were originally scheduled to put on a chamber concert with SYZYGY, an ensemble that will still be playing at this show, and they were in the midst of raising money for it, but Hurricane Sandy, and the need for aid for the damages and losses forced the two to make the event a charity concert, from which the funds will be going to local relief efforts.

Todd Reynolds and Friends at Rite of Summer 2012 (A Review)

Todd Reynolds and some friends performing at Governor’s Island at the Rite of Summer Festival (L to R: Michael O’Brien, bass; Todd Reynolds, violin; Jordan Tice, guitar; and Jonny Rodgers, glass harmonica)

Rite of Summer Festival
presents
Todd Reynolds and Friends
Governors Island, NY
Monday, Sept. 3, 2012

Written by Scottie Roche

On an island in New York Harbor, two young children run hand in hand in wide playful circles as an electrically eclectic mix of sounds fills the air. Like myself and the rest of the people gathered, they’re enjoying the fun of summer to the strains of amplified violin (Todd Reynolds), bluegrass guitar (Jordan Tice), glass harmonica (Jonny Rodgers), a jazzy bass (Michael O’Brien), and a world beat percussion (Matthias Kunzli). The profusion of parents and children midday on this Monday signal Labor Day, and the Rite of Summer T-shirt one of the young kids sports means that the 2012 season of NYC’s exciting new music festival is at the thrilling close of its second season: Todd Reynolds and Friends.

Todd Reynolds

Photo courtesy of Kevin Kennefick–KJKPhoto

Well, I am already in great pain from having to pinch myself so much this past week–We have Todd Reynolds on here today!
Yes, that guy that we know from having been a founding member of ETHEL, having been involved with both Steve Reich and Musicians and Bang On a Can, and has a side project with 2 of the BOAC All-Stars called Typical Music, did a duet onstage with Zoe Keating, and has a superb debut album titled Outerborough. That Todd Reynolds!

Todd had a few minutes to speak with me about his appearance at the Rite of Summer Festival on Governors Island on Monday, September 3rd at 1 PM and 3 PM with guests Jonny Rodgers, Jordan Tice and Matthias Kunzli. He had a little extra time for other things too!

Rite of Summer Festival (Preview) ~ Chat With Blair McMillen and Pam Goldberg

The Rite of Summer Festival on Governor’s Island kicked off again this past July 7th, but there are two more exciting shows coming up on August 4th with The JACK Quartet and the Sept. 3rd show featuring violinist-composer Todd Reynolds. These concerts are free to the public, so please do check them out!

Pianists and artistic co-directors of the series Blair McMillen and Pam Goldberg had a few minutes to talk about the concerts.

CM: Can you talk about the Rite of Summer Festival and what has made these concerts significant to audiences?

Pam: The Rite of Summer Music Festival takes place on the uber-trendy Governors Island, a place The New York Times has called, “a playground for the arts”. We present free outdoor concerts, several times each summer featuring some of the most exciting musicians and ensembles in the country. Rite of Summer is about pushing the envelope, taking risks, and re-defining what the concert experience is for the 21st century. Audiences are not sitting in chairs facing forward and expected to remain perfectly still. Instead they are rolling out blankets, enjoying a picnic and some of them, even dancing along. This is a unique way to experience classical music and people are responding to it!

Bang On a Can All Day ~ 2012 Marathon

The Deep Listening Band performing at the Bang On a Can Marathon last Sunday (L to R: Stuart Dempster, conch; Brian Pertl, dung chen Tibetan horn; Pauline Oliveros, conch; Photo courtesy of Tom Steenland)

Arts Brookfield
in cooperation with River To River Festival
present
2012 Bang On a Can Marathon
Winter Garden at World Financial Center, NYC
Sunday, June 17th, 2012

Part One 
Written by me

Dither (the all-guitar ensemble featuring Taylor Levine, James Moore, Gyan Riley, Grey McMurray, and Josh Lopes) were the very first people to play at this marathon, and the piece they did (Lois V. Vierk‘s “Go Guitars”) was a very Jandek-like detuned dirge that proceeded to make the 2 elderly women sitting next to me get up and leave. At least I knew I was at the right concert.

This is not a review, per se. I had no real plans to cover this event with any kind of extensive blogging or descriptive reviews, but, even though I was only there for 8 of the 12 hours (Ugh! Long story why I couldn’t be there for all of it–Don’t get me started!), there’s so much beauty to observe, that I can’t not write something.

Zoë Keating

Zoë Keating (Wow, what can I say??) has definitely cultivated a very respectable place in the new music and indie music circles. After rethinking a classical concert career as a cellist for working a tech job, she was intervened to perform with various friends, played in the band Rasputina, eventually went solo with a gorgeously layered, rhythmic cello sound. Zoë went on to sell over 40,000 copies of her CDs without distribution, a record label or management. And she has over one million Twitter followers. The internet loves her!

Besides her solo career, her other projects include music collaborations with various dance companies (Apex Contemporary Dance Theatre, American Repertory Ballet, Digby Dance), film scoring (or just soundtrack performances; Warrior, The Secret Life of Bees, The Conspirator), scoring for varied TV programs and other medias, and makes guest appearances alongside artists such as Amanda Palmer, Paolo Nutini, Imogen Heap, and many more.

My Year-End Picks for 2011…Sort Of

This being the end of the year, and the fact that this is a music-oriented blog where I’ve been keeping up (or trying to keep up with) the artists and relevant releases, I have to confess that I don’t really have the extensive lists that people have been posting on their respective pages. BUT I do like these a lot, and having listened to them all the way through as one should (I listen a few times before I write about them), I can safely say they are worthy of inclusion for any kind of year-end best releases list.

A big reason for the short list is simply because I’m unemployed and don’t have the money to purchase CDs like I used to. There have been a few opportunities to hear some great recordings that I will definitely list on here as my favorites for the year, but it just won’t be a Top 50 or Top 25.

And even though it’s comprised mostly of classical/new music, I’ve decided the addition of Mark Mandeville and This Frontier Needs Heroes (both being indie folk recordings) is not so crazy given that lots of people have hip-hop and rock on their lists with the classical releases.