News From 2007
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3 January 2007
Andre Canniere Group @ Knitting Factory, 4 Jan 2007
Andre Canniere - trumpet & composer
Josh Rutner - tenor saxophone
Nate Radley - guitar
Ike Sturm - bass
Ted Poor - drums
Thursday, 4 January 2007. Knitting Factory (Old Office).
9 PM. Tickets $8.
7 January 2007
Many thanks to all who came out for Thursday night's gig at the Knitting
Factory. For those of you that couldn't make it, I've posted the
recordings and some photos below. Enjoy!
1. - Lost In Translation
2. - Spreading Hypocracy
3. - Untitled
4. - Ack Nice
5. - Bridges
6. - The Rest/Accelerated Decrepitude
13 January 2007
Here's a great way to end IAJE week...
2 February 2007
Most played on my iPod this month...
The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
Regina Spektor - Begin To Hope
Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Clark Terry/Bob Brookmeyer Quintet - Complete Studio Recordings
Béla Bartók - The Six String Quartets
5 February 2007
Fuhgeddaboudit! This past weekend I attended two concerts given by the Brooklyn Philharmonic at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House. Recently, the BP has been presenting some very interesting and innovative concerts under the baton and direction of their new music director, Michael Christie, who is in his second year as the new maestro. Perhaps the BP will set a new standard in programming for other orchestras to follow.
Thursday night was an exciting event with four locally based singers, Nellie McKay, Laurie Anderson, Suzanne Vega and Joan Osborne. Whether it was intentional or not, the choice of having such remarkably different voices perform back to back was, to say the least, quite intriguing. Nellie McKay had the advantage of partial run through with the BP a week earlier on the David Letterman Show while they were plugging the upcoming concerts. Following Nellie’s quirky singer-songwriter style was Laurie Anderson and her sonic world of dark and languid electronica. The highlight for me was, of course, Suzanne Vega’s set. This included a string arrangement by Philip Glass and a performance of her classic, “Tom’s Diner” during which, surprisingly, she actually stumbled over the lyrics in the last verse (How many times has she sung that song??). We were also told that, contrary to popular belief, “Tom’s Diner” is not in Brooklyn, but rather on 112th Street and Broadway (the Seinfeld Diner).
Saturday night featured two works by Australian composer, Peter Sculthorpe, Mangrove and Earth Cry, both of which are scored for
didjeridu and orchestra. Playing the didjeridu was William Barton, who is considered one of Australia’s leading didjeridu players and composers. The beginning of the concert had a ceremonious effect, with Barton starting at the back of the hall and slowly walking towards the stage as he played. While Sculthorpe’s pieces were somewhat atmospheric and lacking in any major development or strong motifs, they were quite image evoking and striking (in the program notes Mangrove was compared to Ligeti’s Atmospheres). After the first work, the audience was given a brief history of the didjeridu and a short lesson in some of the techniques used to play the instrument as well as a demonstration in which Barton made his fingers do “the moon walk” while playing “hip-hop” on the didjeridu. The second half of the concert was an impressive performance of The Rite of Spring in its original format as a ballet, with choreography by
Nicholas Leichter.
On March 9th they will be featuring Antony and the Johnsons, winner of the 2005 Mercury Music Prize.
20 February 2007
I have recently been asked to be a part of a unique and interesting
project called
The Tip Down. Essentially, thetipdown.com is a
new website designed to explore and document the creative process that
every artist goes through to produce what they would consider a presentable finished product.
The site represents quite a wide spectrum of artistic talent and
includes musical, literary, visual and movement artists. My section at
thetipdown.com is still in its developmental stages, but will eventually incorporate
a blog, recordings, scores and a "works in progress" page. Check it out!
26 February 2007
This weekend (March 3rd & 4th) I'll be playing with the Astoria Symphony
5 March 2007
On Wednesday, March 7th, I'll be performing again with Darcy James Argue's
Secret Society at Makor. Details below...
Darcy James Argue's
SECRET SOCIETY
7:00 PM, Wednesday March 7 @ Makor (35 West 67th Street)
"A big, broad musical vocabulary came together easily, without
jump-cutting or wrenching shifts of style."
- New York Times
"The latest leader to create a stir downtown is Darcy James
Argue."
- Time Out NY
Secret Society's impudent minxes and canny sharpers will infiltrate
the ranks of Respectable Uptown Concert-Going Society in an attempt
to draw their betters into the seductive demi-monde of steampunk big
band. Featuring the long-awaited return of Founding Co-Conspirator
Ingrid Jensen; the reunification of partners-in-crime Matt Clohesy
and Jon Wikan; and an assist by a pair of knavish louts borrowed
from the Hollenbeck Gang: Mssrs. Ben Kono and Dan Willis.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Makor's Steinhardt Building, 35 West 67th Street, Manhattan
SUBWAY: 1 to 66th Street; 2, 3, to 72nd Street
COST: $15
TICKETS: ONLINE: click here •
BY PHONE: 212.415.5500
MORE INFO: secretsocietymusic@mac.com • 646.239.1362
WEBSITES: http://secretsociety.typepad.com •
http://www.92y.org/content/steinhardt_generalinfo.asp
SECRET SOCIETY
REEDS
Erica vonKleist
Ben Kono
Dan Willis
Sam Sadigursky
Josh Sinton
TRUMPETS
Ingrid Jensen
André Canniere
James De La Garza
Tom Goehring
Dave Rezek
TROMBONES
Alan Ferber
Mark Patterson
Mike Fahie
Darrell Hendricks
RHYTHM
Sebastian Noelle, guitar
Mike Holober, piano & keyboards
Matt Clohesy, basses
Jon Wikan, drums & percussion
COMPOSER, CONDUCTOR, RINGLEADER
Darcy James Argue
13 March 2007
It looks like Paul McCartney is leaving Capitol Records after 40
plus years. I'm not so sure I approve of his choice for a new label.
From todays Guardian Unlimited...
Coffee behemoth Starbucks announced today it is to extend its role
from coffee shop and part-time music retailer to full-blown record
label with the formation of a new company, Hear Music. The company
has for the past few years been selling music in its stores by
artists such as Ray Charles and Brazilian Sergio Mendes, while also
signing distribution deals for previously unreleased Bob Dylan tracks
and music by Canadian artist Alanis Morrisette.
Announcing the formation of Hear Music, the president of Starbucks
Entertainment Ken Lombard said, "This announcement is a natural next
step in our entertainment strategy. Hear Music will add tremendous
value to the content offerings and distribution of great music
Starbucks customers have come to expect." Starbucks purchased the
Hear Music brand name in 1999, when the label was a catalogue
company; it evolved into a radio channel and began in-store CD sales
and sales through iTunes and is now a complete record label that will
manage new artists. Reports spread by Fox News, as yet unconfirmed,
suggest Paul McCartney may be one of the first acts to sign to the
label.
The chain's development into a giant of the music retail industry has
been a controversial one. Dylan caused outrage when he signed a deal
to sell material from his 1962 album Live at the Gaslight exclusively
through Starbucks. The coffee franchise is a symbol of American
capitalism for the anti-globalisation movement and the move did not
sit easily with many fans of the notoriously anti-establishment Dylan.
[...]
20 March 2007
Josh,
Ted,
Ike,
Ryan
and I drove to Philadelphia this past Friday for the Bala Cynwyd Jazz Festival in the middle of a sleet storm. Naturally, the whole event was cancelled by the time we arrived at the school but at least we were able to work with the Bala Cynwyd Band for an hour before heading back to NYC(a two hour journey turned into five).
In other news, I made my Carnegie Hall (Stern) debut on Sunday as a member of a brass quintet accompanying a choir from Atlanta. Thanks to Eli for hooking me up with that gig!
3 April 2007
Here's some info on two shows I'm playing this month that are worth
checking out if you're in the area and not otherwise engaged.
THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2007
w/Darcy James Argue's Secret Society
at The Jazz Gallery (290 Hudson Street btw Spring & Domenick)
Two sets at 9:00 PM & 10:30 PM
$12 cover
Woodwinds: Erica vonKleist, Rob Wilkerson, Sam Sadigursky, Mark Small,
Josh Sinton
Trumpets: Ingrid Jensen, Andre Canniere, Seneca Black, Tom Goehring,
Dave Rezek
Trombones: Mike Fahie, Ryan Keberle, James Hirschfeld, Darrell Hendricks
Rhythm: Sebastian Noelle, Mike Holober, Matt Clohesy, Jon Wikan
http://secretsociety.typepad.com
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2007
w/Angela Ortiz
at Rockwood Music Hall (196 Allen Street btw E. Houston & Stanton)
8:00 PM
Angela Ortiz - piano, vocals, songs
Dimitri Moderbacher - saxophone, clarinet, flute
Andre Canniere - trumpet, flugelhorn
Dan Loomis - bass
Alby Roblejo - cajon, percussion
http://www.angelaortiz.com
24 April 2007
My apologies for the irregular updates, but there's been a lot of
stuff going on lately
that has prohibited me from finding time to post. Last week the Andre
Canniere Group gave clinics and performances at the Pocono Mountain East
Jazz Festival in Pennsylvania, which seemed to go over very well with all
who attended. Cheers to Jared and Matt for filling in and learning some very difficult
music for the show.
Since last week I've been playing a production of
The Scarlet Pimpernel in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
which is running through the end of April. Luckily, one of the days
off will afford me
the opportunity to visit my undergraduate Alma mater to adjudicate their annual
Jazz Festival this coming Friday (April 27).
Last summer I played on some recording sessions for the soundtrack of
"The Living Wake", a
film written by Mike O'Connell and directed by
Sol Tryon. Following
its recent completion, the film
is set to premiere at the CineVegas Film Festival in June.
Also see www.thelivingwake.com.
My first large scale composing/arranging gig is coming up in what seems to be
a very short amount of time. The Astoria Symphony, a group I regularly
perform with, has commisioned me to compose an arrangement of Cole Porter's
music for their annual summer concerts in the park series. More on this later.
8 May 2007
Lots of stuff happening this month. Tonight I will be playing with
Angela Ortiz at the Sidewalk Cafe in Manhattan where she and the band will be performing music
from her recently released and highly acclaimed debut, All About You
(released March 20th by Random Chance Records). Next week I will be in the Netherlands with
the Industrial Jazz Group, an eclectic avant-garde ensemble from Los
Angeles led by pianist Andrew Durkin. We will be playing shows in
the Hague for the annual Hague Jazz Festival as well as a show at
BimHuis in Amsterdam.
24 May 2007
The latest review of As Of Yet has just
been printed in the May 2007 issue of the Greek jazz magazine Jazz & Tzaz. The author (Vangelis Aragiannis)
has also posted the review on his blog. Click here
to see it. English translation to follow.
1 June 2007
I just learned of the tragic and unexpected passing of Take Toriyama. He was found dead in his apartment on Monday, May 28th. Take was was one of the most creative and respected drummers in the New York jazz scene, and will be remembered by his beautiful spirit and his incredible talent.
On occasion he has been known to contribute his abilities to my group, and I
consider myself lucky to have had the honor of making music with him.
On Sunday, June 3rd at 1 PM, there will be a memorial march in his honor led by his former bandmates from Slavic Soul Party. At 6 PM his funeral will be held at the NY Buddhist Church, located at 331-332 Riverside Dr. bet. 105th St & 106th St. in Manhattan.
10 June 2007
As promised, here is an English translation of a
recent review for
my CD, which was printed
in the May issue of the Greek publication Jazz & Tzaz.
"A large proportion of the young jazz musicians have studied at the
major (and very expensive, at least according to what we can afford)
music schools in the States. Andre Canniere and his five-member group
are no exception to that rule, since every one of them has graduated
from the Eastman School of Music.
In any case we cannot say that they
are academic or detached from the real world. Their music is a blend of
electric and acoustic sound, is open to the pop and rock attitude and
phraseology and trades through the indie routes. They love Dave Douglas,
Michael Brecker and Bill Frisell, as well as the Radiohead and they like
the big band sound as well as the sound of a small ensemble. At the four
studio tracks, the slow burner and melodic “As Of Yet”, the fusion
ballad “Bridges”, the Balkan bop “Accelerated Decrepitude” and the
mournful indie rock “The Rest”, we listen to them moving eclectically
through various styles, while at the three live selections that
complement the album, we get a clear concept of how they sound when they
get more natural, looser and freer. In both cases they prove that
although they had been together as a working group only a few months at
the time of the recording, they were already functioning collectively
and that they have built their own personal and worth-checking sound
right with their recording debut."
- Vangelis Aragiannis, Jazz & Tzaz, May 2007
25 June 2007
I'll be in Europe and the UK until the end of August, so this may be
the last update for awhile. Check my page at thetipdown.com
for a list of recordings I've been checking out.
Also, a few days after I return to New York, my group will be playing
the first set at bar 4 on August 26. This will only be our second
performance in NYC in 2007! In addition to regular members Ike and Ryan, this incarnation
will include saxophonist Sam Sadigursky (making his debut
with the group) and drummer Tommy Crane.
20 August 2007
The Andre Canniere Group will be playing the first set at
Bar 4 in Brooklyn
Sunday night,
August 26th, at 7:00 PM. This show is part of Konceptions, a
weekly series presented by pianist and composer James Carney. Details below.
Andre Canniere - trumpet + compositions
Sam Sadigursky - woodwinds
Ryan Ferreira - guitar
Ike Sturm - bass
Tommy Crane - drums
Sunday, 26 August 2007
7:00 - 8:30 PM
BAR 4
444 7th Avenue (@15th Street), Brooklyn, NY
F train to 7th avenue in B'klyn
$5 (or more) suggested donation
12 September 2007
Some details on a few worthwhile shows I'm playing in September...
The Astoria Symphony's 2007-08 season opens with New Paths in
Music, a program that celebrates innovations in romanticism
and pays homage to romantic masters of the past (Brahms & Wagner).
The concert will also feature a world premiere by the Astoria
Symphony's Music Director, Silas Huff (Five Episodes for
Cello & Orchestra).
Saturday, 15 September 2007 with Astoria Symphony
8:00 PM
Good Shepherd Faith Church
152 West 66th Street (West of B'way behind Julliard), Manhattan
1 train to 66th Street
Sunday, 16 September 2007 with Astoria Symphony
5:00 PM
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
43-19 30th Avenue (@ 43rd Street), Astoria, NY
N/W train to 30th Avenue
Blending Icelandic singer Bjork's techno-pop with the harmonic and
improvisational elements of modern jazz, composer-arranger-multi-
instrumentalist Travis Sullivan has created a truly unique big band
that transcends genre and style. Comprised of New York City's finest
jazz musicians, this 18-piece ensemble features full horn and rhythm
sections as well as a female vocalist performing Sullivan's
arrangements that span Bjork's entire catalogue.
Wednesday, 19 September 2007 with Bjorkestra
8:00 PM
The State Theatre
220 North Washington, Falls Church, VA
Sunday, 23 September 2007 with Bjorkestra
8:00 PM
The Ram's Head Tavern
33 West Street, Annapolis, MD
The Industrial Jazz Group (IJG) is a novel, adventurous big band
(currently 15 pieces) showcasing the music of composer Andrew Durkin
and the talents of some of the jazz world's pluckiest, most
charismatic players. Frustrated by the limitations of “Jazz, the
Institution,” and bored by the mediocrity of much modern pop, the
IJG has slowly pioneered the concept of “avant-garde party music” –
an idiosyncratic, disarming blend of jazz, rock, cartoon soundtracks,
humor, blues, funk, costumes, doo wop, dada, and a lot of other stuff.
It’s not really “industrial,” and it’s not really “jazz”: the IJG
attempts to demonstrate that music can indeed be complex,
sophisticated, sexy, fun, funny, critical, smart, and groovy all at
once.
Wednesday, 26 September 2007 with Industrial Jazz Group
9:00 PM
Rumba Cafe
2507 Summit Street, Columbus, OH
Thursday, 27 September 2007 with Industrial Jazz Group
11:00 PM
Midpoint Music Festival (Venue: Jardin)
208 East 12th Street, Cincinnati, OH
2 October 2007
Gig highlights this month include two sets at the Jazz Gallery with Secret Society on October
4th and a guest artist appearance with the Toby Koenigsberg Trio at the
University of Oregon on
October 17th. See below for more details.
A rising composer-bandleader on the New York jazz scene, Darcy James
Argue directs Secret Society, a dynamic 18-piece band featuring his
original music. The group includes fiery, distinctive soloists like
trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, saxophonist Erica vonKleist, and trombonist
Ryan Keberle. Secret Society is a forward-looking big band, in the
spirit of the Maria Schneider Orchestra and the John Hollenbeck Large
Ensemble, but also evoking atmospheric indie bands like Tortoise and
TV On The Radio, and embracing the maverick attitude of new music
collectives like Anti-Social Music. Secret Society have performed at
a variety of NYC venues including The Jazz Gallery, Makor, Union Hall,
Flux Factory, Bowery Poetry Club, and CBGB (RIP).
REEDS
Erica vonKleist
Rob Wilkerson
Sam Sadigursky
Mark Small
Josh Sinton
TRUMPETS
Ingrid Jensen
Kenny Warren
Andre Canniere
Seneca Black
Tom Goering
TROMBONES
Mike Fahie
Ryan Keberle
James Hirschfeld
Darrell Hendricks
RHYTHM
Sebastian Noelle
Jesse Stacken
Matt Clohesy
Jon Wikan
Thursday, 4 October 2007 with Darcy James Argue's Secret Society
9:00 PM & 10:30 PM
Jazz Gallery
290 Hudson Street, Manhattan
1 train to Houston Street or C/E train to Spring Street
Of the many eclectic influences informing the Toby Koenigsberg Trio -
Jarrett, Mehldau, Evans, Clusone 3, Elliott Smith - none are more
apparent than that provided by their own inner voices. Fresh and
spirited with prodigious chops and a depth of musical enterprise, the
trio visits the Bud Powell gems "Oblivian" and "So Sorry Please" along
with several dynamic originals and a poignant reading of "My Foolish
Heart." The trio, with drummer Jason Palmer and bassist Tyler Abbott,
is based in Eugene, Oregon where Toby is assistant Professor of jazz
piano at the University of Oregon. He received his Master of Music
from Eastman and pursued graduate study at the Peabody Conservatory.
Wednesday, 17 October 2007 with Toby Koenigsberg Trio
8:00 PM
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
17 November 2007
Thanks to my googling friends, it has recently been brought to my
attention that I have my own page
on IMDb (the Internet Movie Database) as a musician
for a film soundtrack I recorded last year (The Living Wake which I
have yet to see).
For those of you that don't know yet, I am in the process of
relocating to London, set to depart sometime in January. Meanwhile,
in spite of the headache that is involved with leaving one country for
another, things have been quite busy in New York. Aside from a slew
of gigs and a hectic teaching schedule, I am working on organizing
a final (at least as a US resident) NYC performance for my group in
late December or early January. Finally, I would like to announce
that my next recording project is underway and without disclosing
any details, it promises to hold a few surprises.
Check back in a few weeks for more details on shows in December.
2 December 2007
Tonight I will be performing with the Astoria Symphony for their annual
holiday concert. The program consists of Mozart’s Concerto
for Harp & Flute, Poulenc’s Concerto for Organ, excerpts from Handel’s
Messiah, and traditional holiday carols.
The concert is the fifth annual holiday event for the Astoria Music
Society, one of New York ’s fastest growing performing arts
organizations, and promises to be an evening of world-class musical
entertainment. Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently said, “Since its
inception five years ago, the Astoria Music Society has quickly
become one of our greatest artistic institutions.”
Sunday, 2 December 2007 at 5:00 PM
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (43-19 30th Ave, Astoria)
$18/$12 for adults/students
11 December 2007
A few shows worth mentioning…
Wednesday (12 December) I will be playing at a private event with
singer Kate McGarry, guitarist
Sebastian Noelle, bassist
Dan Loomis
and drummer Jared Schonig. Unfortunately this show is closed to the
public unless you know a CUNY staff member. Sorry for the teaser…
Sunday (16 December) I’ll be in the trumpet section of Darcy James
Argue’s Secret Society at the
Bowery Poetry Club. As said so
elegantly by Darcy, your holiday season would not be complete without
a healthy helping of live steampunk bigband. Members of the band
include Ingrid Jensen, Seneca Black, Sam Sadigursky, Ryan Keberle,
Mike Holober and many others.
Finally… My group will be playing one final New York City show on 4
January 2008 at the Knitting Factory. Preceding our show at 9pm will
be Michael Bates’ Outside Sources and
Jean Rohe. After this
performance you will have to travel very far to hear us!