Crossing A River By Rope - out on fo'c'sle
One of the first four inaugural releases on fo’c’sle, this album is especially dear to my heart. Recorded in the Yunnan Province of China during a serendipitous meeting of five musicians at the Lijiang Studio artist residency in July 2017, this collection of improvisations presents a rare and exuberant exchange of sonic discourse between Chinese and American improvisers. The three members of Red Scarf, (Li Xing: guitar, Boyu Deng: percussion & Lao Dan: sax and bamboo instruments), one of China’s most rambunctious and radical prog rock/noise bands, ignite in a charged chemistry with New York based clarinetist John McCowen and yours truly on cello and voice. Our vocabulary draws upon traditional Chinese music, noise, rock, and free improvisation all with the force and purifying effect of an ancient shamanic weather front. Listen/download/purchase a CD at: www.focslemusic.com
TW, Deng Boyu, Lao Dan, John McCowen, Li Xing
fo'c'sle is launched!
I'm over the moon to announce the launch of my new label, www.focslemusic.com! The mothership takes off with four releases of music by my much beloved and motley crewmates, Ellen Fullman, David Gamper, Stuart Dempster, Chris Brown, powerdove, John McCowen, LI Xing, Boyu Deng, Lao Dan and yours truly. You can get a sneak preview and preorder CDs, LPs and digital downloads now before these albums officially come out on Oct. 7. A big hearty THANK YOU goes out to everyone who has supported and nurtured this into fruition. Come out and celebrate this fall with us - there's a lot in store!!!
Oct. 7: RETROSPECTACLES release concert @ Maybeck Studio: Chris Brown, piano & electronics
Oct. 28: PINK SEA THRIFT launch & listening party @ Institute of Advanced Uncertainty (I.O.U): Ellen Fullman & special guest Stuart Dempster
Dec. 9: BITTER BANQUET release concert @ I.O.U.: Annie Lewandowski, Fred Frith, Theresa Wong with poetry reading by Jane Hirschfield and installation by Elkhanah Pulitzer.
Garden of Memory @ Chapel of the Chimes
Another year ringing in the Solstice at the annual Garden of Memory! I got to share the Sanctuary of the Julia Morgan-designed Columbarium in Oakland with the one and only Zachary James Watkins. Special thanks to Sarah Cahill, Lucy Mattingly and the tireless team behind the scenes to make this yearly Bay Area celebration possible! (*TW photo by Evelyn Chang)
Splinter Reeds records ‘Letters To A Friend’
Splinter Reeds is working on their 2nd album, which includes ‘Letters To A Friend’ which I wrote in memory of Alessia Pugliatti. The piece is based on a work by Brazilian concrete poet, Augusto de Campos who wrote me within days of this recording...synchronous signalling, I'd say.
Mics, please...
Testing out mics for a solo cello and voice album @ Tiny Telephone Studios, SF w/ Adam Hirsch. More sessions in the works for Fall 2018 - stay (de)tuned...
Interview on 5049 Records
A recent conversation I had here while in New York with Jeremiah Cymerman: www.5049records.com
Vox Populi in Philly
One last stop in Philly at Vox Populi in trio with Lao Dan and John McCowen. Sharing the bill with Shani Aviram, I couldn't have asked for a better way to end the week on the east coast! Thanks to Jim Strong of Vox, Lijiang Studio and all who came out to join us on this chilly night!
Residency @ The Stone
Reverberations still continuing from 5 Nights of music at the Stone to celebrate my birthday and the many friendships and collaborations that have emerged throughout the years. A huge shout out to all who gave their time and energy for this fantastic week, including Motoko Honda, Kanoko Nishi-Smith, Ellen Fullman, Christian Kobi, John McCowen, Adria Otte, Bergrún Snæbjörnsdóttir, Lao Dan, Mercedes Roffé, Anna Deeny, Rachel Devorah, Sean Meehan and Lijiang Studio. It was a fine way to start another trip around the sun!
Turntable Drawings at McEvoy Foundation
Performing with Jeff Denson to the deliciously beautiful records made by Jon Fischer and Danny Clay for their Turntable Drawings residency at the McEvoy Foundation.
final show of 2017...
Rounding out the year at the Active Music Series with John McCowen, James Fei and Kanoko Nishi-Smith. What a deeply satisfying way to finish this year of concerts...
With Vajra Voices @ Berkeley Art Museum
Performing To Burst To Bloom with Vajra Voices at the Berkeley Art Museum.
Whole Sol Festival with Del Sol String Quartet
Soundchecking for the premiere of Mud Nest Signals at the Taube Atrium Theater in San Francisco. Huge thanks all around to the members of Del Sol for their radiant performance, and even more so for a truly moving and vibrant festival...way to celebrate 25 years!
Mud Nest Signals in the making...
I'm in the final stages of preparing 'Mud Nest Signals', my first string quartet - written for Del Sol Quartet in honor of their 25th Anniversary. This piece explores color, gesture and sound as a contemplation on what pure sensing felt like before we could speak. The piece is constructed in a 25-toned octave (in extended just intonation), and will include the quartet member's voices, a video trio of backup singers and myself on cello, voice and video projector. The quartet's 3-day festival program will be a treat all around! http://delsolquartet.com/wholesolfestival/
Kansas City Art Institute
Thoroughly enjoyed a week residency at the Kansas City Art Institute with Ellen Fullman, where we worked with Dwight Frizzell's sound art students and the improv ensemble led by Paul Rudy from the UMKC Conservatory. My stay culminated in a performance of Harbors (for cello and Long String Instrument) and several pieces with the students. What a treat to connect to all these young artists in Kansas City - I also have something for the architecture there - amazing old buildings from the late 19th Century and 1930's...hope to be back soon!
KOLOWO Trio last stop: Mózg Festival Warsaw
On the road in Switzerland and Poland with Christian Kobi and Frantz Loriot.
Performing in the formidable gothic cathedral of the Berner Münster
So grateful for the invitation to perform in duo with Frantz Loriot at the Zoom-In Festival in Bern Switzerland - not a shabby space I must say. Much gratitude to Christian Kobi + team!
@ Infuse Gallery, Paris with Rachel Devorah & Kristina Warren
Many thanks to Nissim Schaul and Masha Lankovsky for putting together this evening at Infuse!
Turntable Drawing No.17 at Kala Art Institute
Special thanks to Mayumi Hamanaka and the folks at Kala Art Institute and to my wonderful and BRILL collaborators Jon Fischer, Danny Clay, Frantz Loriot and Christian Kobi for a night of sonic delights.
Kobi/Loriot/Wong Trio in Ventura
Our West coast tour is off to a start in LA and Ventura before hitting the Bay Area!