{"id":4544,"date":"2014-11-05T13:22:17","date_gmt":"2014-11-05T13:22:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joelasqo.com\/blog\/?p=4544"},"modified":"2015-05-30T01:58:54","modified_gmt":"2015-05-30T01:58:54","slug":"msppiano-w-ubu-ra-big-band-set-3-845pm-%e2%97%89-reconnaissance-fly-set-1-7pm-%e2%97%89-electropoetic-coffee-set-2-8pm-%e2%97%89-wed-12-nov-center-for-new-musics-friendly-galaxies-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joelasqo.com\/blog\/2014\/11\/05\/msppiano-w-ubu-ra-big-band-set-3-845pm-%e2%97%89-reconnaissance-fly-set-1-7pm-%e2%97%89-electropoetic-coffee-set-2-8pm-%e2%97%89-wed-12-nov-center-for-new-musics-friendly-galaxies-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"MSP\/piano, w UBU RA BIG BAND (Set 3, 8:45pm) \u25c9 Reconnaissance Fly (Set 1, 7pm) \u25c9 Electropoetic Coffee (Set 2, 8pm) \u25c9 Wed 12 Nov @ Center for New Music’s Friendly Galaxies Sun Ra event, SF"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Sun<\/a>

Sun Ra and friend, from the film Space Is The Place<\/p><\/div>\n

As many people are aware,this year is the 100th anniversary of Sun Ra’s arrival to planet Earth, giving rise to a wave of remembrance and RA-CONSCIOUSNESS washing over the the planet like a cosmo-vibrational meteor shower.<\/p>\n

\"Yo,<\/a>

Yo, Morton Street!<\/p><\/div>\n

When CNM’s wonderful\u00a0Jan Michaels put the Friendly Galaxies<\/strong> extravaganza together and asked me to organize a big band for it, I was very happy to accept, as I have many fond memories of Sun Ra shows from living in Philadelphia during the heyday of his Morton Street commune in Germantown, as well as some choice El Saturn<\/em> records in homemade sleeves, that were pressed in handfulls and sold in the back at the shows in those days.<\/p>\n

\"Sun<\/a>

Sun Ra<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Sun Ra Friendly Galaxies<\/strong> event will be at San Francisco\u2019s focal-point new music incubator and venue, Center for New Music<\/em><\/strong><\/a> (<\/em><\/strong>55 Taylor Street, San Francisco, CA \u2013 map<\/em><\/strong><\/a>)<\/em><\/strong>, with our set at approx. 8:45pm on Wed 12 Nov<\/span><\/strong>. (Note: all set times below approximate;\u00a0Examiner.com<\/em> preview with more info about this show: here<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"Bill<\/a>

Bill Sebastian's Outerspace Visual Communicator in action<\/p><\/div>\n

A wonderful, essential, feature of those Philly concerts was the Outerspace Visual Communicator<\/strong>, invented by Bill Sebastian. Controlled by a keyboard, this pioneering visual synthesizer was the perfect backdrop for the ecstatic music, poetry and dance of the Ra scene. We’re likewise very fortunate to have the video artisty of software virtuoso Warren Stringer<\/a> to fulfill our needs for direct trans-asteroidal stimulation of the visual cortex. (John\u00a0O’Shea<\/a> will do likewise in Set 1).<\/p>\n

\"My<\/a>

My Way Is The Spaceways, by Sun Ra<\/p><\/div>\n

“I think of myself as a complete mystery. To myself.”
\nSun Ra<\/strong>, interview with Jennifer Rycenga (1988)<\/p>\n

\n

Mystic, space alien, musician, poet, afrofuturist, and mathematical philosopher, Sun Ra, who was obsessed with equations, was far too multi-dimensional a formula himself to “add up”. Many aspects of his life are known, many not, some deliberately obscured\u2026 with multiple versions of his first journey to Saturn in the 1930’s recorded in many places.<\/p>\n

\"Space<\/a>

Space Is The Place, by Sun Ra<\/p><\/div>\n

The more you find out about the details of his life, the more they seem simultaneously mysterious and mundane, as the important turning points seem not take place in the plane of human events…<\/p>\n

\"John<\/a>

John Cage Meets Sun Ra \u2014 a really weird record, even for these guys.. one of my favourites<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2026 and not even the most outlandish assertions by Sun Ra can account for the superfluid transitions from outer-space to Fletcher Henderson that made you feel like you heard the entire history of jazz in one show (or one song<\/em>).<\/p>\n

\"Sun<\/a>

Sun Ra<\/p><\/div>\n

We come not to explain therefore, but to celebrate, and shine with the mysterious beauty of the black Sun..<\/p>\n

\"Sun<\/a>

Sun Ra, cover from The Shadows Cast by Tomorrow<\/p><\/div>\n

UBU RA BIG BAND<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Assembled from the luminous gas remnants of the Beanbenders Supernova & other far corners of the universe, we travel through the sonic space of Sun Ra\u2019s repertoire:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Steve Adams<\/p><\/div>\n

Steve Adams<\/a> – electronics (w possible wind instrument outbreaks)<\/p>\n

\"Aaron<\/a>

Aaron Bennett<\/p><\/div>\n

Aaron Bennett<\/a> – saxes<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Myles Boisen<\/p><\/div>\n

Myles Boisen<\/a> – guitar<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Phillip Greenlief<\/p><\/div>\n

Phillip Greenlief<\/a> – reeds<\/p>\n

\"Percussion<\/a>

Percussion by any means necessary with John Hanes...<\/p><\/div>\n

John Hanes<\/a> – percussion<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Joe Lasqo @ Meridian Gallery, 11 Jan 2012 (Photo: PeterBKaars.com, http:\/\/www.peterbkaars.com)<\/p><\/div>\n

Joe Lasqo<\/a> – keyboards\/laptop<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Lisa Mezzacappa<\/p><\/div>\n

Lisa Mezzacappa<\/a> – bass<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Dan Plonsey performs at Temescal Arts Center<\/p><\/div>\n

Dan\u00a0Plonsey<\/a> – reeds<\/p>\n

\"Jon<\/a>

Jon Raskin<\/p><\/div>\n

Jon Raskin<\/a> – reeds<\/p>\n

\"David<\/a>

David Slusser<\/p><\/div>\n

David Slusser<\/a> \u2013 reeds<\/p>\n

\n

\"Barbara<\/a>

Barbara Golden, the \u201cJoan Rivers and Mae West of the Bay Area experimental music scene"<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kattt Atchley<\/p><\/div>\n

Space songtresses: Barbara Golden<\/a> & Kattt Atchley<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Nan Busse<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Evangel King performs Bare Bones Crow against\/with ancestor figures by Gillian Garro at The Garage, San Francisco, Sep 2009<\/p><\/div>\n

Astro-Terspichorean dancers: Evangel King<\/a> & Nan Busse<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Warren Stringer<\/p><\/div>\n

Video artist: Warren Stringer<\/strong> (Youtube<\/a>, bio<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Set 1, 7pm<\/span><\/strong>: <\/strong>Reconnaissance Fly<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>(Amanda Chaudhary<\/a>: keyboard\/electronics; Rich Lesnik<\/a>: reeds; Polly Moller<\/a>: voice, flutes, guitar; Larry the O<\/a>: drums, and Tim Walters<\/a>: bass\/electronics)<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Reconnaissance<\/a>

Reconnaissance Fly<\/p><\/div>\n

We have the honor to share the bill with an astonishing band started a dozen years ago by Polly Moller<\/a>, Reconnaissance Fly<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Through many kaleidoscopic changes of personnel and instrumentation, they’re now in one of their most vibrant electroacoustic forms ever, balancing twin analog\/digital super beings Amanda Chaudhary<\/a> (\u0905\u092e\u093e\u0902\u0921\u093e \u091a\u094c\u0927\u0930\u0940<\/a>) and Tim Walters<\/a> against the acoustic fire of reed wizard Rich Lesnik<\/a>, the raw vocal & flute is-ness of Polly Moller<\/a>, and the added inter-dimension of Larry the O<\/a>. They will delight and amaze you with a mixed repertoire of original and Sun Ra sound adventures.<\/p>\n

\"Polly<\/a>

Polly Moller<\/p><\/div>\n

Polly Moller<\/a>: voice, flute, bass flute, guitar, heat sink<\/p>\n

The originator of the band and tea drinker, Polly Moller has a hard time resisting potatoes in all their myriad forms\u2026<\/p>\n

…with an emphasis on tasty multiphonics\u2026<\/p>\n

When composing for ensembles of other people and things, she makes sound-art rituals based on natural phenomena and the occult.<\/p>\n

When composing for Reconnaissance Fly<\/strong><\/a>, she has difficulty keeping a piece the way she originally heard it.<\/p>\n

\"Amanda<\/a>

Amanda Chaudhary (\u0905\u092e\u093e\u0902\u0921\u093e \u091a\u094c\u0927\u0930\u0940)<\/p><\/div>\n

Amanda Chaudhary<\/a> (\u0905\u092e\u093e\u0902\u0921\u093e \u091a\u094c\u0927\u0930\u0940<\/a>): keyboard, electronics<\/p>\n

A brilliant elettronicista<\/em> and keyboard player, Amanda is also a mistress of understated (and so all the more deadly) music theater and performance art in her duo Pitta of the Mind<\/strong> with poet Maw Shein Win<\/a>, as well as a noted blogger writing on the multiverse-intersection of felines and voltage control at catsynth.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Larry<\/a>

Larry the O<\/p><\/div>\n

Larry the O<\/a>: drums, percussion, odd commentary<\/p>\n

“\u2026it all runs together like the peanut butter and jelly sandwich you forgot in your pocket before doing the laundry. I guess I could just Google myself and find out\u2026”<\/p>\n

\"Rich<\/a>

Rich Lesnick<\/p><\/div>\n

Rich Lesnik<\/a>: clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone<\/p>\n

Fiery, warm, wry, and often bizarre, Rich is not only a master of reeds but also a master builder of bicycle wheels at his business Hands On Wheels<\/a>. Some of his heroes are (in this order): John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Che Guevara, Thich Nat Han.<\/p>\n

\"Tim<\/a>

Tim Walters<\/p><\/div>\n

Tim Walters<\/a>: bass, computer<\/p>\n

SuperCollider guru Tim Walters was born in the wagon of a traveling show. Mama used to dance for the money they’d throw. Papa would do whatever he could.<\/p>\n

\"John<\/a>

John O'Shea against a background of marigolds<\/p><\/div>\n

John O’Shea<\/a>: video artist \/ illuminationist<\/p>\n

“I am alive in San Francisco and a native Californian \u2014 working artist, Burning Man artist\/volunteer, film maker, painter, stage manager”.<\/p>\n

Also, not to be missed, in Set 2<\/span><\/strong>, approx. 8pm<\/span><\/strong>: <\/strong>Electropoetic Coffee<\/strong><\/a> (poet NSAA<\/a> + guitarist Ross Hammond<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"Electropoetic<\/a>

Electropoetic Coffee<\/p><\/div>\n

This wonderful duo has blown me off my feet with their totally-on, high-impact combination of poetry and music, and they’ll brilliantly carry forward the afrofuturist poetic tradition, which Sun Ra was such a vibrant part of, in our Friendly Galaxies<\/strong> event.<\/p>\n

The blinding musical light of Sun Ra sometimes causes his impact as a 20th-century African American poet<\/em><\/strong> to be overlooked, but lyrics and poetic chant are integral to to a large portion of his vast book. And like Bob Dylan’s, they stand alone.<\/p>\n

Who better to represent this bardic tradition than techno-griots Electropoetic Coffee<\/strong><\/a>?<\/p>\n

“The new Dial-A-Poem format \u00e0 la Burroughs\/Anderson\/Gyson\u2026..BRING IT ON!!! \u201c<\/em> – R. Foley, Chicago Hipster<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Poet,<\/a>

Poet, NSAA (photo - Noel Neuburger)<\/p><\/div>\n

Lawrence Dinkins a.k.a. NSAA<\/a> (pronounced en-sah-ah), is a host at Mahogany Urban Poets, one of Sacramento\u2019s oldest spoken word venues and a dynamic and expressive poet whose poems attack injustice and inhumanity. NSAA<\/a> explores the African American experience, commenting on youth movements, musical rhythms, and social justice.<\/p>\n

His first book, Sub American<\/em><\/strong>,<\/em> is a collection of poems dealing with the concept of being a hyphenated American. In the book he explores a broad range of topics, ranging from President Bush+ Hurricane Katrina to the Civil Rights Movement.<\/p>\n

NSAA<\/a> is also the author\/editor of Open Mic Sketchbook<\/em><\/strong> (2013) and released two spoken word CD\u2019s, Lightning in a Bottle 1<\/em><\/strong> (2009) and Lightning <\/em><\/strong>in a Bottle 2: NSAA\u2019s Revenge<\/em><\/strong> (2013).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Ross Hammond<\/p><\/div>\n

To let\u00a0Ross Hammond<\/a> speak for himself:<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a guitarist, improviser and composer living in Sacramento, CA. \u00a0I never really know how to answer when people ask what type of music I play. \u00a0I suppose it\u2019s rooted in jazz and folk and rock and soul, and then it\u2019s heavy on the improvisation, except when it\u2019s a composed piece. \u00a0Oftentimes the music I make is totally improvised. \u00a0Sometimes there\u2019s no music at all and it\u2019s just sound. \u00a0And then again I\u2019ve been known to play a lot of acoustic, roots based music with other like-minded folks. \u00a0Sometimes I\u2019ll accompany singers, songwriters, poets and dancers. \u00a0 From time to time I\u2019ll also get chances to write music for films and other art projects. \u00a0I\u2019m not sure there\u2019s any easy way to describe all of that, so I just say that I play the guitar.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those who have heard Ross Hammond are familiar with the problem of describing his fluid music, always unpredictable (except you can be sure it will always be warm, ear-opening, and very, very hip).<\/p>\n

And those who know the music scene of the Greater East Bay stand in awe of Ross\u2019 role in organizing\u00a0Nebraska Mondays<\/strong> at Luna\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> and many other events that keep the flame creative music burning brightly in Sacramento, Davis, Berkeley and points beyond.<\/p>\n

\"Why<\/a>

Why indeed?<\/p><\/div>\n

Come vibrate with us in our meteor shower of RA-CONSCIOUSNESS on this special night (the night of the landing of the Philae<\/em> probe on comet 67P\/Churyumov-Gerasimenko\u2026!)<\/p>\n

Joe<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As many people are aware,this year is the 100th anniversary of Sun Ra’s arrival to planet Earth, giving rise to a wave of remembrance and RA-CONSCIOUSNESS washing over the the planet like a cosmo-vibrational meteor shower. When CNM’s wonderful\u00a0Jan Michaels … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joelasqo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4544"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joelasqo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joelasqo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joelasqo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joelasqo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4544"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/joelasqo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4544\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4562,"href":"https:\/\/joelasqo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4544\/revisions\/4562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joelasqo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4544"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joelasqo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4544"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joelasqo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4544"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}