Tag Archives: Improvisation

Albany Sonic Arts: 4 Solo Sets for April

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I never posted a proper announcement for last weekend’s Albany Sonic Arts Collective show at the Upstate Artists Guild Gallery featuring Ray Hare, myself, Eric Hardiman and Travis Johns. Here are recordings of the pieces I played.

[audio:http://hollandhopson.com/music/asac/02_hopson_turnover.mp3]

Turnover – I improvised the melody and lyrics for this one inspired by Ray Hare’s hair raising performance.

[audio:http://hollandhopson.com/music/asac/03_hopson_my_own_true_love.mp3]

My Own True Love – an arrangement of a traditional tune

[audio:http://hollandhopson.com/music/asac/04_hopson_telephone_temple.mp3]

Telephone Temple – an arrangement of a piece I wrote to be performed with LEMUR‘s musical robots.

Visit the UAG site to view photos from the event.

ASAC Presents Yeh Eubanks Lafkas Clixby

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The Albany Sonic Arts Collective has announced their latest show: Saturday March 22, at the UAG Gallery. The lineup features

C. SPENCER YEH (solo violin, electronics)

BRYAN EUBANKS (saxophone) & ANDREW LAFKAS (bass)

MEG CLIXBY (bass, electronics)

The Upstate Artists Guild 247 Lark St.
Albany, NY: Saturday March 22, 2008
Doors at 7:30 pm: show at 8:00
$5 suggested donation at the door

C. Spencer Yeh Flyer

More on the musicians:

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Gates Ensemble on Austinnitus Audio Series

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I’ve posted previously about Josh Ronsen’s newly launched Austinnitus Audio Series. He’s recently added some great new audio including sounds from Alex Keller, Doug Ferguson, Thomas Fang and an incarnation of E.C.F.A sans myself. I’m particularly fond of the Gates Ensemble recording from a 2003 appearance at the Church of the Friendly Ghost that’s now online. Listen to it below.

[audio:http://ronsen.org/austinnitus/audio/GatesEnsemble_ChurchOfTheFriendlyGhost2003.mp3]

A.I.N.T. it Sweet

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Josh Ronsen has launched the Austinnitus Audio Series to showcase artists featured on the Austinnitus list. There are already plenty of good recordings to check out and Josh continues to add more. I’ve especially enjoy hearing documentation of some one-off performances, otherwise lost to the ether, such as A.I.N.T. #4. A.I.N.T. stands for Austinnitus Improv NighT, as good an excuse as any for Josh to create ad-hoc ensembles and let them loose on the world. The fourth (and final?) of this short-lived series featured Sharon Crutcher (vocals), David DeMaris (keyboards, trumpet), Holland Hopson (saxophone, banjo, electronics), Genevieve Walsh (flute), Brandon Young (vocals).

[audio:http://ronsen.org/austinnitus/audio/aint4-1.mp3]
Part 1

[audio:http://ronsen.org/austinnitus/audio/aint4-2.mp3]
Part 2

[audio:http://ronsen.org/austinnitus/audio/aint4-3.mp3]
Part 3

[audio:http://ronsen.org/austinnitus/audio/aint4-4.mp3]
Part 4

[audio:http://ronsen.org/austinnitus/audio/aint4-5.mp3]
Part 5

ASAC Presents The Great Snowball Tour

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The Albany Sonic Arts Collective (ASAC) is bringing Jack Wright (saxophones) and Andrea Neumann (innenklavier) to the Capital District on Saturday Feb. 16 at The Upstate Artists Guild, 247 Lark St. Local musician Michael Bullock (contrabass) will appear with Jack and Andrea. Also on the bill are locals Alex Chechile (guitar) and Jefferson Pitcher (guitar). Complete info here.

ECFA: Der Wald

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ECFA has released their brand-new CD, Der Wald (2007, Pull The String Records).

ECFA: Der Wald

The lineup for the CD is Carl Smith, tenor saxophone; Holland Hopson, soprano saxophone; and Jason Friederich, drums; with Alex Coke, soprano saxophone on one track. This release features more new music by tenor saxophonist Carl Smith including “Ergeben” and “Schygullaplatz,” both highlights of the recording. Steve Lacy’s tune “The Retreat” is also featured. A few trio improvisations and one solo tenor sax improvisation round out the disc. A nicely varied set of music, much of it with a chamber music feel, and a step up in audio quality from previous ECFA releases. You can get more info and order the CD here.

1 of 2: Ewen and Hopson

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Going through some old recordings I ran across these duets with guitarist Sandy Ewen from the 2003 No Idea Festival in Austin TX. Sandy is playing her distinctive chalk-guitar and I’m on squeaky sneakers, soprano saxophone and live electronics. Sandy is now with the Weird Weeds and also plays with Tom Carter as Spiderwebs.

[audio:01_imp.mp3]

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