The fantastic Madison-based label Mine All Mine Records, in collaboration with Grimmusik, is releasing a compilation this week of ambient and experimental music. I've contributed a track, and it's an honor to be included. The release features tracks from many stellar musicians, including Thollem McDonas,CJ Boyd, Brothers Grimm,Pat Reinholz, and many, many more. The album will be streamed live TOMORROW at MIDNIGHT on Gross Time. There's an album release show on Friday night in Madison, that's going to be amazing. In other news, Kirsten Carey has released the second of the four videos we shot from her Ulysses Project last month. We spent three days in the studio this past weekend recording the entire album, and I'm excited to say that it's going to be totally kickass. If you haven't yet donated to her Kickstarter to ensure completion of the album and reserve your copy, DO IT!!!!
Here's another post dedicated to sharing some new music from people I have the honor of knowing: Sons of Daughters, an amazing MA/NY/CT-based trio, are releasing an album today! It's really awesome. You should get it for yourself at their bandcamp page: Madison-based percussionist/composer Michael Brenneis has just released an album of his compositions for his ensemble, The Ten Sleeps Trio. It features the talents of Patrick Breiner on sax, (of Sons of Daughters, above) and Luke Polipnick (Glacier, Wailing Ships) on the electric guitar. It's a gnarly good time: Thirdly, Randall Luecke, of the Madison band Crane Your Swan Neck, has teamed up with another Madison artist, Jentri Colello, in a new project called aminals. They've just uploaded a demo, and it's pretty great. Excited about this single just released by Mine All Mine: debut of John Praw's (who created my eponymous album a few months back) side project Dressed Up, which includes a totally killing remix by Brain Grimmer of the Brothers Grimm. I hope everyone's happily beginning the last year of the human race! Here are some things that are happening: The Project Lodge, an art gallery/performance space in Madison that has been the gracious host to many of my projects over the last couple of years, is in dire need of help! They've started a Kickstarter campaign, and you should pledge money immediately. (If you donate at least $25, you'll receive a compilation album that will include tracks from the Weather Duo and Lovely Socialite Mrs. Thomas W. Phipps) There is also a benefit concert on January 21st at the Majestic Theater that will be fantastic. I'll be playing with Anna Vogelzang, and other great Madison bands will be performing as well.
...................... Tonight marks the opening night of Glacial Wednesdays at the Dragonfly Lounge. This is a weekly residency of Glacier, through which we will be hosting crazy improvised music--guest performers, drink specials, the like. Come out and support creative music in Madison! Doors are at 8:30, and it is free! ...................... Some other performances I have coming up: Friday, Jan 13th: Performing with Page Foster at Wild Hog in the Woods Sunday, Jan 15th: Weather Duo at Broom Street Theater Monday, Jan 16th: Watercourse Quartet at Dobra Tea Wednesday, Jan 18th: Glacial Wednesday at Dragonfly Lounge Thursday, Jan 19th: Weather Duo at Dragonfly Lounge w/ Pillars and Tongues Saturday, Jan 21st: Project Lodge Benefit Concert at the Majestic Theater My friends over at Mine All Mine Records have reached the landmark of their 200th release, and to celebrate, they've released a pretty great compilation album. They've been gracious enough to include my track, 'living eye.'
I'd like to give particular plugs to the tracks from my friends, Tom Teslik, K.Wilhelm, John Praw, el-tin fun, and Man Mantis, but there's plenty of good stuff from people I don't know, too. (I really dig the Amy Hiller track! I've never met her! No nepotism!) This weekend I'm busy with performances of the Knotcracker, but the fun doesn't stop there! If you're around, I've got some performances I'm really looking forward to in the next couple of weeks: Dec 5th, Weather Duo will be making our debut at High Noon Saloon with our friends Asumaya, Fort Wilson Riot, and a new band to us, Phantom Riot. Should be really fun! Dec. 16th, Glacier will be playing at Audio for the Arts with the amazing Friction Brothers. They make amazing textural music with cello, percussion and dry ice. This is not to be missed! Dec. 17th, Lovely Socialite will be rocking the Dragonfly Lounge, a new venue in town, below the restaurant Bellini. And there's more! Maybe I'll see you soon. I'm flattered to announce that I've been immortalized in the form of an electronic/experimental/ambient album by the electronic musician John Praw. "Ben Willis" was released this week on Mine All Mine Records: More flattering than having an album named after me is the fact that it's actually quite good. You can peruse some of John Praw's previous releases here. I went to the Jazz Jam at the Cardinal a couple of weeks ago, which is hosted by the New Breed quartet every Tuesday. If you're in Madison, this is the place to be on a Tuesday night, believe me. 1/2 price wine and a great band. Go! Anyway, I sat in for a rendition of Wayne Shorter's Footprints, after which a drummer and sax player who also sat in and I decided to meet up later for a trio hang. Turns out we're the coolest band ever! Here is the second improvisation we did, which I've broken into two parts: the JazzSports! sessions, featuring: Pete Ross, saxophone Kyle Traska, drums Ben Willis, bass Speaking of new music, here is some new stuff from some great musicians I'm really happy to know: The recycle project is an electronic music/sound design project of composer/cellist/scholar Brian Grimm, in which he takes recordings of his acoustic works, and manipulates them into new pieces. Here is another new track by Brian, which is exceedingly hip: It is dedicated to a friend of his, a bass player, who has sadly passed this last week. I also lament the loss of another bass player. May he rest in bass! Also check out this month's bell monks video: Hey! My jazzrock band Lovely Socialite Mrs. Thomas W. Phipps has just had a track released on a compilation album through Mine All Mine Records. The release party/concert was last Wednesday, and it was a blast. Lovely Socialite played a largely improvised set, with pared down instrumentation because several members couldn't make it. The Lovely Socialite Mrs. Thomas W. Phipps Satellite Ensemble was joined by a guest trombonist named Ty. You might just see him play with us again on June 30th at Lothlorien when the group expands to the Mrs. Phipps Spontaneous Philharmonia.
Proceeds from the sale of that compilation album go to support school music programs. So you should buy it to tide you over until the full 5-track Lovely Socialite EP is available. The bell monks have just unleashed their May recording/video/photo package. They enlisted me and Pat (Weather Duo) to play some bowed string parts. Listen/download "Let the Waves Carry Us" parts I and II now! You can see both the Weather Duo and bell monks this Sunday evening, June 5th at the Project Lodge! We're playing with a cool Virginia-based band Nash Smith & Ganges.
Stellar composer/cellist Brian Grimm has just released to the world of the Internet his score for the play Mary's Wedding, which he composed and performed last fall for the Indiana Repertory Theater in Indianapolis. He's played snippets for me before, but it's really great to be able to hear it all in its entirety. |
Authorbassist/improviser/ I send emails occasionally about upcoming performances. They're very cordial.
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