MSP/Laptop, Piano, Objects+: w Aaron Bennett’s Electro-Magnetic Trans-Personal Orchestra (Aaron Bennett, Robert Ewing, John Finkbeiner, Ron Heglin, Joe Lasqo, Lisa Mezzacappa) ◉ + Set 1: DunkelpeK (Nava Dunkelman + Jakob Pek) w special guest Joshua Marshall ◉ Mon 18 Jan @ Studio Grand, Oakland

I’m keenly looking forward to again join one of my favorite Bay Area ensembles, Aaron Bennett’s Electro-Magnetic Trans-Personal Orchestra.

Among Aaron’s many stellar contributions to the Bay Area improv and new music scenes (like sax trio arrangements of Bollywood standards) are fantastic “breathing chart” compositions for large improvising groups that deliver heightened coherence and adventure at the same time. They stand as Himalayas of group improv music. And Electro-Magnetic Trans-Personal Orchestra is the Mt. Everest.

The scene of the crime will be Oakland’s vanguard venue for post-modern jazz and electronic music, Studio Grand (3234 Grand Ave, Oakland, map), 10:15pm, Mon 18 Jan.

It’s aways a high-warp adventure to play with this special ensemble, and I look forward with special pleasure to bringing the superluminal energy of Aaron’s fantastic “comprov” charts to Fernando Carpenter’s fantastic Oakland Freedom Jazz Society series at Studio Grand, together with a great set from the always astonishing DunkelpeK, with special guest Joshua Marshall.

If you’ve already heard the first album of Aaron Bennett’s unique compositions released by Electro-Magnetic Trans-Personal Orchestra (cover below), you’re already coming to this great show. If not, run, don’t walk, to get a copy at http://emtpo.bandcamp.com/ and hear what the fuss is about.

Among Aaron’s many stellar contributions to the Bay Area improv and new music scenes (like sax trio arrangements of Bollywood standards — also to be featured in this show) are fantastic “breathing chart” compositions for large improvising groups that deliver heightened coherence and adventure at the same time. They stand as Himalayas of group improv music. And Electro-Magnetic Trans-Personal Orchestra is the Mt. Everest.

To quote Aaron: “The members of this ensemble utilize the electro-magnetic field of their collective mind to attain a unitive transcendent state of sonic consciousness and in turn, create sublime and/or unusually expanded sonic experiences for their listeners.”

The electro-magnetic field is tuned and amplified by means of unique “breathing chart” compositions using a special graphic notation Aaron has designed for large improvising ensembles to focus and unleash aural energies. The resulting sound is like nothing else and has amazed audiences in a string of orgone-accelerating Bay Area performances over the last year.

(For a more detailed interview with Aaron about this music, please check out Craig Matsumoto’s post: Aaron Bennett’s Electro-Magnetic Improv).

Bio note: Saxist/composer Aaron Bennett has been bending space in the Bay Area jazz and improvised music communities for more than 15 years. Beyond his studies in composition and performance of western music at California Institute of the Arts, Aaron has also studied and played the music of West Africa, Indonesia, India, and Traditional Japanese 雅楽 (Gagaku) music. He has performed throughout the United States and abroad including performances with Wadada Leo Smith, Peter Kowald, John Butcher, Donald Robinson, Marco Eneidi, Gianni Gebbia, Weasel Walter, Adam Lane, Larry Ochs, Steve Adams, John Raskin, Victoria Williams, Aphrodesia, Lagos-Roots, Black Water Gold, ROVA Saxophone Quartet and many others.

He leads his own groups Go-Go-Fightmaster, Electro-Magnetic Trans-Personal Orchestra and performs in the Oakland Active Orchestra , Lisa Mezzacappa’s Bait & Switch, Vijay Anderson Quartet, and Guerrilla Hi-Fi. Aaron has composed for large ensembles, chamber groups, plays, films, dance performances, wind quintet, saxophone quartets and trios as well as pieces for solo instruments.

In addition to Aaron Bennett (sax & compositions), the E.M.T.P.O. line-up for this show will also include:

— Rob Ewing: trombone

— John Finkbeiner: guitar

— Ron Heglin: trombone & voice

— Lisa Mezzacappa: bass

— Joe Lasqo: MSP/laptop & piano

◉ Set 1: DunkelpeK, with special guest Joshua Marshall, 9:30pm

DunkelpeK is an duo ensemble of prepared guitar, objects + percussion allsorts that has produced some of the most dynamic improv of the Bay Area since its formation.

Both Nava Dunkelman and Jakob Pek continuously extend and break the boundaries of their instruments. Their telepathic flow and ultra-wide sound palette as Dunkelpek energizes some of the most unique sonic trajectories in todays Bay Area new music scene.

Tonight they will be joined by frequent collaborator Joshua Marshall, whose amazing technique shatters the mirror of reality into a geometry of cracked multi-phonics, exotic trills, and unique timbre tremolos.

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Experience a sparkling full sonic spectrum of chamber and big band post-jazz improv — come vibrate with us at Studio Grand!

どうぞ。。。

Joe