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7 March, 2008
Hi folks. Notice anything different? As you may or may not know, the number 8 signifies new beginnings, so here were are. My parents will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on August 8th. I turned 40 ( 8 x 5) this year, got a haircut and a new website. February, already, was one of my busiest months ever: I played with Steven Bernstien at the Jazz Standard; the next day started rehearsals with Sean Lennon for a gig at Radio City Music Hall; jammed with Yoko at her 75th birthday party (if I have half as much energy as her when I'm 42 I'll be happy); then performed with David Krakauer and So-Called to Eisenstein's Battleship Potempkin; the day after that, learned some new music by Zorn which was the opening set for his choir piece at Abrons Art Center and after that gig I ran over to Brooklyn to play a benefit with my trio-convulsant (our first gig in over two years).
The benefit was for my friend Andrew D'Angelo who recently had to have brain surgery for a cancerous tumor. If you haven't yet, check out his website: www.andrewdangelo.com His blogs have been a true source of inspiration for me.
As if I wasn't busy enough I started two of my own bands this year. One is called Proof Readers and is simply a vehicle for playing the music of Ornette Coleman. About 15 years ago I transcribed over 50 of his tunes. I finally got around to putting a band together to play them (Darius Jones-sax, Nate Wooley-trumpet, Ryan Sawyer-drums). I'm not trying to be a free-jazz preservationist or make any kind of socio-political statement. I do think his brilliant song book has been neglected, and my sole intent is to enjoy playing it.
The other new band I started kinda seems like a big deal to me, and I've waited until now to announce it to you, dear reader. Since last summer I've been writing a bunch of rock music. I have to say, it's pretty straight. I have a few specific influences in mind, but suffice it to say that rock music is what I was raised on. I rebelled against it and reacted to it on various levels over the years. Somehow this feels like a return home for me. I was talking with my friend Buzz about bands like The Pretenders for example. He used the term "smart rock music". Maybe that's what I was trying to write. Music that has girth and is heavy but is also carefully constructed; melodic motion, rich harmonies, and not too predictable. That was my goal anyway. I made a list of adjectives to guide me and tacked it to the wall: sleazy, heavy, dark, sweet, strange, dramatic, mystic, angelic, comfortable, ass-kickng. We'll see what happens......
Though we've yet to all be in the same room together we'll be recording in June
and it will most likely come out on Ipecac Recordings in the Fall. Live shows
will follow. The band is called MadLove. Here's the line-up: ??? -vocals, violin
SHELLEY BURGON -rhodes, electric harp, baritone guitar HILMAR JENSSON -guitar
CHES SMITH -drums, vibraphone TD-bass, vocals
I'm amped to get it off the ground.
I'm also happy to announce I will be releasing my first CD on Tzadik in the Summer.
It's a compilation of film music I've been working on over the past few years.
Some acoustic stuff, some electronic.....Some of the musicians on it include
Shelley Burgon, Marika Hughes, & Chris Speed.
Later this year I'll be going to Israel for the first time with a new project of Zorn's called The Dreamers which is essentially The Gift vol 2, as well as Moonchild, Electric Masada et al. I am honored to be curating half of August at the Stone (www.thestonenyc.com). There will be several amazing bassists, a few vocalists, and some weirdos from Pittsburgh PA, Charleston SC and Cincinnati OH.
Thanks for the support!
Trevor |
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