Metal Chaos Ensemble goes to Church....  Yuri sometimes covers the drum chair at services at Unity on the River in Amesbury MA.  Maura Lynch is the music director there and they go way back....  Extended Dimensions is unique in the Evil Clown Canon...  We made a concert length arrangement with the clock, and Maura wrote some changes to use with the choir in places.  In addition to the choir, we were joined by Positive RePercussions, a five person hand drumming outfit...  

6/24/2016 - 8 pm
     String Theory -

     Mobius, Cambridge MA

Two days later on 5 March we did the LOFO (Leap of Faith + String Theory) performance at the Nave Gallery.  For the first set String Theory had 5 strings (Glynis Lomon, Mimi Rabson, Clara Kebabian, Tony Leva & Kirsten Lamb) + PEK.   Steve Norton had a conflict on this date, so for the second set Leap of Faith was PEK, Glynis Lomon, Andria Nicodemou and Yuri Zbitnov set.  This is the first time this particular quartet played as Leap of Faith and it produced a different sound.  The brilliant clarinet player Todd Brunel showed up in time to join the combined Orchestra for the final set.  This version of the Orchestra was nicely balanced with 5 strings, two horns and three percussion.

Audio CD                                                             Evil Clown 9109

Metal Chaos Ensemble - Extended Dimensions

streaming, downloads and CD mail order

1)  Oxidation 56:14
     Evil Clown Headquarters ‐ 9/6/2015

PEK - tenor saxophone, contra-alto clarinet, metal, recorder, daiko, aquasonic 
Yuri Zbitnov - drums, metal, composition 
Andria Nicodemou - vibes, metal 
Kevin Dacey - metal, daiko 
Catherine “Axemunkee” Capozzi - guitar 

Unity on the River Choir 
Maura Lynch - director, lead soprano, keyboards, recorder, composition 
Sopranos: Catherine Erickson, Judi Hajjar, Lori Vesowate 
Altos: Cheri Gaudet, Lisa Pelonzi, Cheryl Resler 
Baritones: Wayne Flewelling, Will Lojek and Barry Siegel 

Positive RePercussions (hand drums) 
John Felice (director), Anne Bryer, Marty Nowland, 
Nancy Jones, Jennifer Covel

CD Baby handles digital distribution to all kinds of download and streaming services as well as physical CD internet sales...  Evil Clown will soon be on CD Baby, Amazon, Itunes, Spotify and a zillion other sites....


I just finished registering the first 20 albums and they are in the process of winding their way through the system towards their new homes!!!  Stay tuned for more info!!

Evil Clown Newsletter 6/22/2016

first page of the score

Farewell  Steve!

Audio CD                                                            Evil Clown 9107

Leap of Faith / Turbulence ‐ Viscosities V1

Nave Gallery, Somerville MA - 5/7/2016

streaming, downloads and CD mail order

Turbulence - Sheer Stresses  (33:27)
PEK - sopranino, alto, & baritone saxophones, clarinet, contra-alto clarinet,

                 piccolo oboe, contrabassoon, sheng, recorders 
Steve Norton - soprano, alto & baritone saxophones, bass clarinet 
Todd Brunel - clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax 
Sam Lobel - tenor sax, clarinet 
Bob Moores - trumpet, electronics 
John Baylies - tuba, sousaphone

Leap of Faith - Tensile Stresses (36:13)

PEK - tenor saxophone, contraalto & contrabass clarinets. oboe, bass

                 tromboon, goat horn, metal, sirens, aquasonic, whistles 
Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice 
Steve Norton - soprano, alto & baritone saxophones, bass & contraalto

                 clarinets 
Yuri Zbitnov - drums, metal, wood, voice

The Spring Schedule is now completed and I have a plan for the rest of the year.  Evil Clown is starting a residency at Outpost 186 in Cambridge (3rd Saturday of the Month)...   We will go with something different every time!  Can't wait.    Plus we have a Mobius show for String Theory in a couple of days, Lilypad in October, and an as of yet unscheduled Orchestra show shortly after.


So, these shows are on the book as of this writing.  See the posters on the Webpage for the full details... http://www.giantevilclown.com/performances---posters.html

Audio CD                                      Evil Clown 9106

Turbulence - Viscous Friction

streaming, downloads and CD mail order

1) Viscous Friction - 54:02

Evil Clown Headquarters, Waltham MA

4/28/2016

PEK - tenor and baritone saxophones, clarinet,

     contra-alto clarinet, piccolo oboe, oboe,

     contra-bassoon, bass tromboon, sheng,  metal, wood,

     whistles, game calls, fog horn
Bob Moores - trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, electronics,

     fog horn, metal
David Harris - trombone, tuba, fog horn, metal
Yuri Zbitnov - drums, metal

Three days later we did the second sub unit show at the Lilypad - Quadratic Reciprocities.  These shows were a bit different...  Instead of starting with the smaller defined sub-units and adding them together, I took a more uniform section through the orchestra with some extra winds, string and percussion.  Then for the opening sets we did very short (20 minute) pieces by 3 or 4 person small sub-sub-units!!!  A great show with a lot of excellent contrast over the 4 sets...

If your reading this from the webpage and you would like to receive this newsletter via email - send email to me at Sparkles@GiantEvilClown.com and I'll put you on the email list... 


"Things have continued to be very busy recently at Evil Clown Headquarters…"  I always say that, and its always true, but OMFG the last couple of months have been crazy leading up to the debut performance of the full Leap of Faith Orchestra on June 4!!!

Main links to web content:
     Evil Clown webpage http://www.giantevilclown.com/  

     PEK YouTube channel 1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCprJy4kMIRs51FIFQF12dw/videos

     PEK YouTube channel 2 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClfRlTeeHnSxRsJTkFakiJw/videos
     Kevin Reilly YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/Kjreilly/videos
     Bandcamp, for Streaming, Downloads and CD Orders https://evilclown.bandcamp.com/

Newly added domains to take you to the home page for each  currently working band within the Evil Clown stie:

     www.evilClown.rocks
     www.leapOfFaith.rocks
     www.stringTheory.rocks
     www.Turbulence.rocks

     ​www.mekaniks.rocks
     www.metalchaosensemble.com


Bandcamp homepage for each of the currently working Evil Clown Artists:

     https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/
     https://metalchaosensemble.bandcamp.com/
     https://stringtheory6.bandcamp.com/
     https://turbulence2.bandcamp.com/
     https://evilclown.bandcamp.com/


I significantly increased the content and functionality of the soundcloud page...  Now 22 titles are posted from the various Evil Clown units...

     https://soundcloud.com/pek-746320808

Super handy play lists for rapid access:  

     10 most recent Evil Clown Releases:  https://soundcloud.com/pek-746320808/sets/last-5-evil-clown-releases

     Leap of Faith:  https://soundcloud.com/pek-746320808/sets/leap-of-faith-since-2015

     Metal Chaos Ensemble:  https://soundcloud.com/pek-746320808/sets/metal-chaos-ensemble

     String Theory:  https://soundcloud.com/pek-746320808/sets/string-theory

     Turbulence:  https://soundcloud.com/pek-746320808/sets/turbulence


In this newsletter…


1) Farewell Steve Norton!!

2) Upcoming Performances

3) The Expanding Universe!!!  June 4 first performance of the full Leap of Faith Orchestra

4) Mekaniks!  New branch of the Evil Clown Army specializing in sampling, electronics and sound processing

5) Started digital distribution with CD Baby!!  20 titles uploaded and available all over the place soon!!

6) Updated Evil Clown Catalog Document

7) Leap of Faith Orchestra Plans & Progress
8) New Releases

 A landmark milestone event in the story of the Leap of Faith Orchestra!  Over a year in the making!! First performance of the 15 person full orchestra - performing The Expanding Universe by PEK.

The Leap of Faith Orchestra is a large improvisation ensemble comprised of 5 Sub-Units that can play independently or in combination. Any two or more of these units in combination are the LOFO, but this was the first event with all of the performers and Sub-Units simultaneously.

Those Sub-Units are:
Leap of Faith (an improv ensemble dating back to 1995)
Metal Chaos Ensemble (an expanded percussion section)
String Theory (an expanded string section)
Turbulence (an expanded horn section)
New Language Collaborative (cellist Glynis Lomon's trio)

For the last year we have been preparing for this concert - the first presentation of the Full Orchestra!! Each of the Sub-Units has had two performances with Leap of Faith with a short set for each band and a longer combined set. We have also had several concerts with 9 or 10 performers with short sets by different smaller sections of and a longer combined set... About 30 talented Boston area improvisers have participated....

When deciding that I wanted to create a large improvisation ensemble version of Leap of Faith I reflected on my prior experience with large groups where we tried to gather the entire group and rehearse. I decided to take a different approach and to develop the orchestra slowly over time by working with many smaller sections and combinations ultimately leading to the full unit. Now, all the orchestra members have experience performing with each other in various combinations, and we have created a lot of great work in the process.

This work, The Expanding Universe, unlike the preparation performances, has a score. The score does not contain notated melodic, harmonic or rhythmic information, but is composed of time indices and English language descriptions of the instrument and texture desired which control who plays what at what times during the 75 minute duration of the composition. The score is simultaneously a Density and Sonority map defining the development of the work.

The ensemble tracks the time on the score with a large digital sports clock.

Included in the downloads is a pdf file of the Score.

Boston Improvisors' Collective

The next concert was LOFO at the Nave Gallery (Leap of Faith + Turbulence).  Here, Turbulence was a sextet, the largest pure wind ensemble Turbulence set so far....  We got some great sonorities from the large horn section...

Audio CD                                                            Evil Clown 9102

Leap of Faith Orchestra Sub Units ‐ AlgoRhythms V1

Nave Gallery, Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church - 4/9/2016

streaming, downloads and CD mail order

New Language Collaborative 
1) Halting Problem - Part 1 (15:04) 
2) Halting Problem - Part 2 (5:10) 
Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice 
Eric Zinman - piano 
Syd Smart - drums 
 
Metal Chaos Ensemble 
3) Asymptotes (21:35) 
PEK - clarinet, contra-alto clarinet, alto saxophone, contrabassoon, whistles,

     metal, [d]ronins, theremin, ms-20, daxophone, aquasonic, game calls 
Andria Nicodemou - vibes, metal, crotales, bells 
Kevin Dacey - metal, wood, drum set, [d]ronins 
Syd Smart - metal, drum set 
Yuri Zbitnov - metal, drum set, festival drum, balafon 
 
Leap of Faith 
4) Ordinate Approaches (21:47) 
PEK - piccolo clarinet, contra-alto clarinet, oboe, sopranino, tenor & baritone

     saxophones, [d]ronins, theremin, ms-20, daxophone, aquasonic 
Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice 
Steve Norton - sopranino & baritone saxophones, alto & contra-alto clarinet 
Andria Nicodemou - vibes, metal, crotales, bells 
Yuri Zbitnov - drums, metal, crotales

Audio  CD                                                            Evil Clown 9098
Leap of Faith Orchestra - Dimensions V2
streaming, downloads and CD mail order

1) Abstract Spaces - 51:18
     Nave Gallery, Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church, Somerville MA - 
     3/5/2016


PEK - bass clarinet, contra-alto clarinet, baritone sax, daxophone, 
     bass tromboon, metal, Korg ms-20, theremin​
Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice
Andria Nicodemou - vibes, metal
Todd Brunel - clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano sax
Mimi Rabson - violin
Clara Kebabian - violin, electroncis
Tony Leva - bass
Kirsten Lamb - bass
Yuri Zbitnov - drums, daiko, metal, daxophone, guzheng



         PEK - woodwinds, electronics, metal
         Bob Moores - space trumpet, guitar
         Greg Grinell - remote
(from Vermont) electronics
         Yuri Zbitnov - drums, metal, electronics

YouTube:

1) Leap of Faith -

        Dark Matter  - 20:18  (download bonus track)   

Since the last newsletter from April came out, Evil Clown has been shredding hard.  We have 6 more new releases (three of which are doubles).  Three are LOFO warm up performances at the Nave Gallery and the Lilypad, one new Turbulence, one new Metal Chaos Ensemble, and the full Leap of Faith Orchestra debut -The Expanding Universe...


AlgoRhythms was the second LOFO performance with Metal Chaos Ensemble, and this time we added New Language Collaborative as well - Glynis' band with Eric Zinman and Syd Smart...  The opening sets got a bit shorter for 3 bands instead of 2...

Photo by Raffi, Tweak by PEK

6) Updated Evil Clown Catalog Document

Audio CD                                                            Evil Clown 9110

Leap of Faith Orchestra ‐ The Expanding Universe

Nave Gallery, Clarendon Presbyterian Church Somerville, MA - 6/4/2016

streaming, downloads and CD mail order


1) Leap of Faith - Dark Matter  - 20:18 (download bonus track)
PEK - tenor sax, clarinet, alto & contraalto clarinets, contrabassoon,

          dulzaina, sheng, metal, daxophone, aquasonic, game calls 
Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice 
Steve Norton - sopranino & alto & baritone saxes,

          bass & Contraalto clarinets 
Andria Nicodemou - vibes, bells, crotales, metal 
Yuri Zbitnov - drums, metal, chains 
 


2) Leap of Faith Orchestra - The Expanding Universe  1:16:57
PEK - dulzaina, sopranino & alto & tenor saxes, oboe, clarinet,

         contraalto clarinet, sheng, bass tromboon, fog horn, ms-20,

         boomwhakers, slide whistles, siren whistle 
Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice, slide whistle 
Steve Norton - sopranino & alto & baritone saxes, bass & contraalto

         clarinets, celeste, fog horn, boomwhakers 
Andria Nicodemou - vibes, bells, crotales, slide whistle 
Yuri Zbitnov - drum set, lead gong, metal, balfon, blocks, festival drum,

          daiko, chains, siren whistle, boomwhakers, percussion 
Mimi Rabson - metal, slide whistle, siren whistle, percussion 
Clara Kebabian - slide whistle, siren whistle, percussion 
Bob Moores - trumpet, electronics, tiny slide whistle, percussion 
Charlie Kohlhase - alto & tenor & baritone saxes, slide whistle, percussion 
Dave Harris - tuba, trombone, fog horn, crank siren, slide whistle, boomwhaker 
Peter Cassino - piano, slide whistle 
Tony Leva - bass, slide whistle 
Brendan Higgins - bass, slide whistle 
Yedidyah Syd Smart - edrums, percussion 
Kevin Dacey - drum set, balfon, blocks, metal, chains, percussion, crank

          siren, taxi horn


         PEK - clarinets, saxophones, double reeds
         Mimi Rabson - violin
         Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice
         Jane Wang - cello​

Audio CD                                                            Evil Clown 9105

Leap of Faith Orchestra ‐ Quadratic Reciprocities V2

Lilypad, Cambridge MA - 4/12/2016

streaming, downloads and CD mail order

Leap of Faith Orchestra
Reduction Morphisms (50:30)


PEK - alto & tenor saxophones, piccolo oboe, piccolo, Bb & contra-alto

     clarinets, sheng, whistles, metal, aquasonic 
Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice 
Mimi Rabson - violin 
Forbes Graham - trumpet 
Bob Moores - trumpet, electronics 
Eric Zinman - piano. metal 
Yuri Zbitnov - drums, crotales, metal

Sparkles Out...

6/22/2016

Now that we have prepared for and completed the first full orchestra performance, we have a new plan for the future!   We are going to do 3 or 4 shows a year with the full orchestra (Hopefully) at the Nave Gallery, where we gave had 5 shows so far.   These shows will be in the spring and the fall to avoid mobilization issues in the winter and heat issues in the summer since the venue has no air controls


I got a residency at Outpost 186 - every 3rd Saturday of the month.  We'll use those shows for the named sub-units (LOF, MCE, ST, T, NLC), or smaller cross-sections of the orchestra.  We'll do a slightly larger cross-section of the orchestra at the Lilypad fairly close to the full orchestra performance. 


The full LOFO is an expanded Leap of Faith (LOF) with the core ensemble of PEK, Glynis Lomon, Andria Nicodemou and Yuri Zbitnov together with an expanded percussion section, an expanded string section and an expanded wind section plus Sydney Smart (drums) and Eric Zinman (piano) from Glynis’ other band New Language Collaborative (NLC).  The percussion section is Metal Chaos Ensemble (MCE), the horn section is Turbulence (T), and the string section is String Theory (ST).  

For each new performance of the full orchestra, I will create a score like the one for The Expanding Universe, utilizing frame notation to control who is playing at any given point in the performance with time code displayed to the ensemble.  There will also be some written directions in the score defining pre-planned sonorities.  I used these techniques in Expansions, performed at Mobius in 1994, although that composition included far more notated melodic material than I will use for the LOFO scores.  


To prepare for The Expanded Universe Leap of Faith has done duel concerts with New Language Collaborative, Metal Chaos Ensemble, Turbulence and String Theory.  The results of those performances have been documented on the Evil Clown Webpage and on CD / download file issued via Bandcamp.  

Here’s where to find progress to date…  Each of these concerts produced a two CD double-live album with the first disc containing shorter sets by the each of the smaller sub-units of the LOFO, and the second disc a full set length piece by everyone together.  


Abstract Structures - LOFO (Leap of Faith + New Language Collaborative)

5 May 2015 - Lilypad, Cambridge MA
     Evil Clown Webpage:  http://www.giantevilclown.com/lof-abstract-structures-1.html
     Bandcamp:  https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/abstract-structures-volume-1-implementations
                      https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/abstract-structures-volume-2-instantiations

Hyperbolic Spirals - LOFO (Leap of Faith + Metal Chaos Ensemble)

12 September 2015 - Nave Gallery, Somerville MA 
     Evil Clown Webpage:  http://www.giantevilclown.com/lof-hyperbolic-spirals.html
     Bandcamp:  https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/hyperbolic-spirals-volume-1
                      https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/hyperbolic-spirals-volume-2

Flow Regimes - LOFO (Leap of Faith +Turbulence)

​27 October 2015 - Lilypad, Cambridge MA
     Evil Clown Webpage:  http://www.giantevilclown.com/lof-flow-regimes.html
                    There are a whole bunch of great photos on the web page from Rob Miller.  Thanks Rob!
     Bandcamp:  https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/flow-regimes-volume-1
                      https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/flow-regimes-volume-2


Supersymmetries – LOFO (Leap of Faith + String Theory)

​15 December 2015 - Lilypad, Cambridge MA
     Evil Clown Webpage:  http://www.giantevilclown.com/lof-supersymmetries.html
     Bandcamp:  https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/supersymmetries-volume-1
                      https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/supersymmetries-volume-2


Dimensions – LOFO (Leap of Faith + String Theory)

5 March 2016 - Nave Gallery, Somerville MA

     Evil Clown Webpage:  http://www.giantevilclown.com/lof-dimensions.html
     Bandcamp:  https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/dimensions-vol-1
                      https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/dimensions-vol-2

     Soundcloud:  https://soundcloud.com/pek-746320808/sets/leap-of-faith-orchestra-leap-of-faith-string-theory-dimensions-v-12


Probabilistic Analogues – LOFO (Leap of Faith + LOFO Sub-Units)

22 March 2016 - Lilypad, Cambridge MA
     Evil Clown Webpage:  http://www.giantevilclown.com/lof-probabilistic-analogues.html

                      There are a whole bunch of great photos on the web page from Rob Miller.  Thanks Rob!
     Bandcamp:  https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/probabilistic-analogues-v1
                      https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/probabilistic-analogues-v2

     Soundcloud:  https://soundcloud.com/pek-746320808/sets/leap-of-faith-orchestra-probabilistic-analogues


AlgoRhythms – LOFO (Leap of Faith + Metal Chaos Ensemble

                                                                         + New Language Collaborative)
9 April 2016 - Nave Gallery, Somerville MA

     Evil Clown Webpage:  http://www.giantevilclown.com/lof-algorhythms.html
     Bandcamp:  https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/algorhythms-v1
                      https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/algorhythms-v2
     Soundcloud:  
https://soundcloud.com/pek-746320808/sets/leap-of-faith-orchestra-sub-units-algorhythms-vol-1-2


Quadratic Reciprocities – LOFO (Leap of Faith + LOFO Sub-Units)
12 April 2016 - Lilypad, Cambridge MA

     Evil Clown Webpage:  http://www.giantevilclown.com/lof-quadratic-reciprocities.html
     Bandcamp:  https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/quadratic-reciprocities-v-1
                      https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/quadratic-reciprocities-v-2
     Soundcloud:  
https://soundcloud.com/pek-746320808/sets/leap-of-faith-orchestra-sub-units-quadratic-reciprocities


Viscosities – LOFO (Leap of Faith + Turbulence)
7 May 2016 - Nave Gallery, Somerville MA

     Evil Clown Webpage:  http://www.giantevilclown.com/lof-viscosities.html
     Bandcamp:  https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/viscosities-v1
                      https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/viscosities-v2
     Soundcloud:
 https://soundcloud.com/pek-746320808/sets/leap-of-faith-orchestra-sub-units-visosities-v1-v2


​The Expanding Universe – LOFO (debut performance of the full orchestra)
4 June 2016 - Nave Gallery, Somerville MA

     
Evil Clown Webpage:  http://www.giantevilclown.com/lofo-expanding-universe.html
     Bandcamp:  https://leapoffaith1.bandcamp.com/album/the-expanding-universe
     Soundcloud:
 https://soundcloud.com/pek-746320808/sets/leap-of-faith-orchestra-the-expanding-universe

5) Started digital distribution with CD Baby!!  20 titles uploaded and available all over the place soon!!

​​7/20/2016 - 7 pm
     Mission Creep:  MC Brewery - No Poster Yet​

8/20/2016 - 8 pm
9/17/2016 - 8 pm
     Ensembles TBD -
     Evil Clown Outpost 186 Residency
     3rd Saturday of the Month
     Outpost 186, Cambridge MA 
10/9/2016 - 8 pm
     Leap of Faith Orchestra and Sub Units:  
     Lilypad, Cambridge MA 
10/15/2016 - 8 pm
11/19/2016 - 8 pm
12/17/2016 - 8 pm
1/21/2017 - 8 pm
     Ensembles TBD -      
     Evil Clown Outpost 186 Residency
     3rd Saturday of the Month
     Outpost 186, Cambridge MA 


Audio CD                                                            Evil Clown 9108

Leap of Faith Orchestra ‐ Viscosities V2

Nave Gallery, Somerville MA - 5/7/2016

streaming, downloads and CD mail order

Leap of Faith Orchestra - Viscous Stress Tensors (50:07)


PEK - alto & baritone saxophones, clarinet, piccolo, alto & contraalto clarinets,

                piccolo oboe, contrabassoon, sheng, shenai, fog horns, recorders,

                whistles, metal 
Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice 
Steve Norton - alto & baritone saxophones, bass & contraalto clarinets, metal 
Todd Brunel - clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax 
Bob Moores - trumpet, electronics 
John Baylies - tuba, sousaphone 
Yuri Zbitnov - drums, metal, voice

Audio CD                                                            Evil Clown 9104

Leap of Faith Orchestra Sub Units ‐ Quadratic Reciprocities V1

Lilypad, Cambridge MA - 4/12/2016

streaming, downloads and CD mail order

Sub Unit 1: Latice Points (20:10)
PEK - baritone saxophone, clarinet, contra-alto clarinet, piccolo oboe, sheng,

      aquasonic 
Charlie Kohlhase - alto, baritone saxophones 
Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice 
Mimi Rabson - violin

Sub Unit 2 (Turbulence): Ring of Polynomials (20:27)
PEK - sopranino, tenor & baritone saxophones, oboe 
Charlie Kohlhase - alto, tenor, baritone saxophones 
Forbes Graham - trumpet 
Bob Moores - flugelhorn

Sub Unit 3: Permutation Signatures (20:14)
PEK - alto saxophone, piccolo & contra-alto clarinets, gaunzi, metal,

     aquasonic 
Forbes Graham - trumpet 
Eric Zinman - piano 
Yuri Zbitnov - drums, crotales, metal

1) Farewell Steve Norton!!

Pek & The Pointy Toes Ensemble - Expansions

Finally, just the other week on June 4, we leveraged all the work from the last year and presented The Expanding Universe by PEK.  See abovc in section 3 for more info...

Audio  CD                                                            Evil Clown 9097
Leap of Faith / String Theory - Dimensions V1
streaming, downloads and CD mail order

1) String Theory - Parameter Spaces - 32:59
2) Leap of Faith - Configuration Spaces - 33:26
     Nave Gallery, Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church, Somerville MA - 
     3/5/2016

PEK (1,2) - alto sax, tenor sax, clarinet, alto clarinet, contra-alto clarinet, 
     conntrabass clarinet, oboe, bassoon, shenai, sheng, hulusi, whistles, 
     Korg ms-20, theremin, aquasonic, daxophone, guzheng, yanqin, metal, 
     siren, game calls
Glynis Lomon (1,2) - cello, aquasonic, voice
Andria Nicodemou (2) - vibes, metal
Mimi Rabson (1) - violin
Clara Kebabian (1) - violin, electroncis
Tony Leva (1) - bass
Kirsten Lamb (1) - bass
Yuri Zbitnov (2) - drums, daiko, metal


The next disc, Turbulence - Viscous Friction, was recorded at Evil Clown Headquarters at the end of April with a Turbulence quartet, this time with Yuri holding down the drums/percussion role.  Viscous Friction has quite a few sections that are much more jazz-like than usual with David Harris covering the bass role from the Tuba...  Its a very different vibe from the pure wind ensemble sets played by Turbulence in the past...

Audio CD                                                            Evil Clown 9099
Leap of Faith ‐ Plasma
streaming, downloads and CD mail order

1) Fundamental State of Nature - 56:06
     Evil Clown Headquarters, Waltham MA - 3/17/2016

PEK - clarinet, contra-alto clarinet, tenor sax, piccolo oboe,

     tarogato, bass recorder, shenai, gaunzi, game calls, whistles,

     aquasonic, theremin, Korg ms-20, [d]ronins, daxophone, metal,

     electronics 
Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice 
Todd Brunel - clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, metal,

     drums, [d]ronins, guzheng, Korg ms-20 
Kevin Dacey - metal, crotales / bells, balafon, wood, guzheng, 
     Korg ms-20, aquasonic, [d]ronins, guanzi, game calls 
Yuri Zbitnov - drums, metal, wood, crotales / bells, [d]ronins,      

     guzheng, voice


8) New Releases

Mekaniks is collaboration featuring Mission Creep/Teledubgnosis sonic wizard, Gregory Damien Grinnell, Yuri Zbitnov, and PEK. 

While sharing the same improvisatory ethos as other groups in the EC roster, Mekaniks distinguishes itself by featuring cutting-edge looping, sampling and electronic processing as a centerpiece of their sound. 

With a sound that hints at musique concrète, industrial, as well as the pioneering electronic experiments of Stockhausen, Xenakis, Henry, and Sun Ra, Mekaniks retains an identity all its own. Mekaniks is pushing the frontiers of electronic, psycho-sonic, transdimensional exploration.  

We have our first gig scheduled at Outpost 186 on July 22nd.  Greg will be manning the computer sampler role remotely from Vermont!   Weird world we live in, no doubt...

The incredible clarinetist, saxophonist and celeste master Steve Norton is leaving us to return to graduate school in Maine...  We are sad that he is leaving and we will miss him and his brilliant horn playing tremendously... But we wish him well for this new chapter of his life...  


Steve and I first played together on my composition Expansions performed 3 times by a large ensemble in the Fall of 1994 at the old Mobius near Fort Point Channel...  His playing there was great!   Later in the 90's, we also played 3 or 4 times together with Matt Samolis' improvisation ensemble the Boston Improvisers' Collective. 


A few years ago Yuri invited me to play several shows and play on the album with his Atomic Punk Go-Go band, Mission Creep, and Norton was also on board.   A little later I decided I was ready to be active musically again and I reformed Leap of Faith with Glynis and Yuri who were in the last incarnation of LOF in the 00s.  Steve was an obvious choice to be the fourth member of this new quartet version of LOF.   And what a great choice that turned out to be.... Steve's flexibility and proficiency across the clarinet and saxophone families give this most recent version of the core LOF fantastic opportunities for very unusual combinations of woodwinds.  In the 18 months since the reboot, steve has contributed to no less than 22 Leap of Faith records and the entire growth of the Leap of Faith Orchestra from its inception, through all of the preparation performances of smaller units, to the amazing June 4 debut of the Full Orchestra on June 4.


Steve Appears on the following Evil Clown Titles:

Leap of Faith

I was so damn busy getting ready for the June 4 concert that I had not updated the catalog since Christmas time...   Wow!  It got really out of date fast...   So now it is caught up through the June Expanding Universe release...

Audio CD                                                            Evil Clown 9103

Leap of Faith Orchestra ‐ AlgoRhythms V2

Nave Gallery, Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church - 4/9/2016

streaming, downloads and CD mail order

Entscheidungsproblem 50:59


PEK - tenor saxophone, clarinet, contra-alto clarinet, oboe, bassoon, bass

      tromboon, nadaswaram, guanzi, sheng, metal, whistles, game calls,

      daxophone, [d]ronins, theremin, ms-20, aquasonic 
Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice 
Steve Norton - alto & contra-alto clarinets, sopranino & baritone saxophones,

     celeste 
Eric Zinman - piano 
Andria Nicodemou - vibes, metal, crotales, bells 
Kevin Dacey - drum set, celeste, vibes, metal, wood blocks, [d]ronin, ms-20 
Syd Smart - drum set, dumbek, hand claps, balafon 
Yuri Zbitnov - drum set, metal, daiko, hand claps

7/22/2016 - 8 pm      
     Mekaniks:  

Outpost 186, Cambridge MA 

3) The Expanding Universe!!!  June 4 first performance of the full Leap of Faith Orchestra

4) Mekaniks!  New branch of the Evil Clown Army  

​          specializing in sampling, electronics and sound processing

YouTube:
2) Leap of Faith Orchestra -

        The Expanding Universe  1:16:57

2) Upcoming Performances

Two weeks later, on 17 March, we did second Leap of Faith set with Todd Brunel at Evil Clown Headquarters. This set also marks the first appearance of Kevin Dacey in a small Leap of Faith setting - PEK, Glynis Lomon, Yuri Zbitnov, Andria Nicodemou, Todd Brunel, & Kevin Dacey.  the [d]ronin instruments recently acquired from Italy are used for the first time on this set.  Glynis' son Devon had made a terrific drawing in a dense script saying "Leap of Faith" which I incorporated into the album cover for LOF - Plasma.

7) Leap of Faith Orchestra Plans & Progress

Turbulence

Evil Clown ​

​On Leap of Faith: "Alien yet familiar, bizarre yet completely fascinating. Expanding, contracting, erupting, settling down, always as one force..." - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG

On Metal Chaos Ensemble: "... ​using unique strategies to yield densely active and eerily surreal music, an incredible excursion through experimental improvisation."   - Squidco website staff