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
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