The start of 2019 has seen an explosion of new projects, including a new piece with Paul Pinto, a new duo with Laura Dykes, and a new trio with Mitchel Ahern and Vanessa LeFevre. The trend continues this week, as a mini-tour of mine and Paul Pinto’s ever-relevant Patriots opera is followed by the premiere of Wise and Young, a new duo with percussionist Peter Wise. Then I head to rural Minnesota for a 19-day residency developing new solo work at the New York Mills Cultural Center, followed by my first show in Minneapolis. And these aren’t the only shows coming up – read on for more!
| First, a recap of my 2019 so far. In early January, Paul Pinto and I spent five days at Camphill Soltane and Community Arts Phoenixville in eastern Pennsylvania working on a new piece where we play motivational speakers. Keep an eye out for future developments, and watch an excerpt on Facebook here. From January 26-February 7, Austin-based bassist Laura Dykes and I had a great tour of the Southwest as Dykes and Young, with duo shows in Dallas, Lubbock, Albuquerque, Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson, El Paso, San Antonio, and Austin. At the OME Festival in Phoenix, we also played in the Black House New Music Workshop, where we premiered large ensemble pieces by five composers (on YouTube here). Last week, I had my first performance with an unusual new electroacoustic trio (see photo) called The ALYance, featuring myself, Mitchel Ahern, and Vanessa LeFevre, at XFest in Worcester, MA. I’ve also played two solo sets, performed five shows with The World/Inferno Friendship Society, and recorded part of a score for an experimental film. It’s been busy! Next up are three performances with Paul Pinto of our Patriots opera, our first shows since our July album release tour. We’ll perform this Saturday in North Bennington, VT at multi-use space The Left Bank, Sunday in Mount Tremper, NY (in the Catskills) at restaurant/bar The Pines, and Tuesday at a secret underground location in Baltimore. Let the 2019 campaign for a stranger America begin! Then, next Thursday, I’m very pleased to premiere a brand new electroacoustic duo with percussionist and fellow NYC-to-Boston transplant Peter Wise at the Harvard Ed Portal in my own neighborhood. Inspired by jazz, electronic, and classical music, we’ve developed our collaborative creations over two months through a process of improvisation, recording, and revision. Following the concert, we’ll discuss our music and development process with the audience. We’re honored to have received a grant from the Boston Cultural Council to support our work, the same grant I received in November to work with Felix Del Tredici (keep an eye out for more developments there too). The following Sunday, I’ll play a show in Providence with the ever boisterous World/Inferno Friendship Society – see you there, Providentians! – and then take off the next day for my residency at the New York Mills Cultural Center in Minnesota. I’m thankful to the Center for offering me the opportunity to focus on creating new solo material for violin and live electronics. I’m also looking forward to playing and being in Minneapolis for the first time – if you’ve got any Twin Cities recommendations, please let me know! Save the date in April for my second show with The ALYance at a marathon concert in the Boston area, and in May for thingNY’s premiere of a new piece by Dave Ruder. In June, Dykes and Young will play at the Re:Sound festival in Cleveland, and in the fall, I head off to Graz, Austria for a two-month residency. And…in August, my girlfriend will finish her masters program in Boston, so we’re thinking of moving elsewhere in the States. Got a city you think we should try for a while? Let me know! Don’t forget the fruit, my sweet bowerbirds, Jeff |