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Dearest all, I hope the sudden change of the clocks and the gradual changing of the seasons are treating everyone with relative kindness. Personally, I tend to struggle with the weather and the lack of sunlight. But music helps. A lot. Especially this music. Ruth Garbus :: Kleinmeister www.ruthgarbus.bandcamp.com/album/Kleinmeister I’m not exaggerating when I say that I’ve been waiting for this album for years. Ruth opened for Battle Trance on a short string of dates in the northeast maybe 2.5 years ago..? Her songs, her voice, her enigmatic approach to harmony, and her granular attention to the timbral subtleties of her voice and her instrument moved me to tears more than once. I’m ecstatic that I can finally hear those songs again. Nicole Mitchell :: Maroon Cloud https://fperecs.bandcamp.com/album/maroon-cloud Nicole Mitchell is the new head of the jazz program at Pitt. And it seems like none of the musicians in Pittsburgh have checked her out. Fix that. Right now. This album (her newest as far as I can tell) is dark as hell but somehow still glitters. Nicole’s compositional sense is brilliant here. She writes for a small ensemble of virtuosos playing piano, cello, voice, and herself on flutes. The music sounds incredibly specific to me, with lots of worlds in which her band can improvise to great effect. I’m genuinely moved by this very special recording. Nick Dunston :: Atlantic Extraction http://outofyourheadrecords.bandcamp.com/album/atlantic-extraction Nick wrote and recorded one hell of a record. It happens to be his debut. But it sure doesn’t sound like it. The ensemble of double bass, guitar, flutes, violin/viola, and drums gives Nick a ton to work with. He pulls some really special sounds out of the group and each player individually brings a palpable urgency to the music. Really special music on Adam Hopkins’s new label Out of Your Head Records. Caroline Davis and Rob Clearfield’s Persona :: Anthems http://carolinedavismusic.bandcamp.com/album/anthems Geez this recording is awesome. Caroline’s sound on the alto is deeply layered. Velvety and plush even when applied with force (a description which, upon reflection, also applies to the compositions on this recording). The band executes a patient vitality that I feel like I can chew. Like in a cheesecake-y way where some of it gets stuck to the roof of your mouth. Laila and Smitty :: III http://kennywarren.bandcamp.com/album/laila-and-smitty-iii Kenny is one of those dudes whose life and whose trumpet playing seem to be the same. Apparently effortless, light and funny, and deeply thoughtful. He also makes me wonder “how the hell do you sing so nice without opening your mouth all the way?” I love this band’s first two recordings dearly and this newest installment just doubles down. So so so worth many listens. Hey also I’m playing music in places! ///// Thursday, November 7 at Enjoy Jazz Festival Ludwigshafen, Germany. VAX plays for Liz Kosack’s acceptance of the SWR Jazz Prize https://www.swr.de/unternehmen/kommunikation/pressemeldungen/Preistraegerinnenkonzert-SWR-Jazzpreis-2019-Konzert-mit-Keyboarderin-Liz-Kosack,swr-jazzpreis-2019-konzert-liz-kocack-100.html Anyone who knows this band knows it’s the most special artistic endeavor I’ve ever been a part of. One reason it’s so special is because Liz is an impossible genius. Devin’s great, too, I guess. But damn. Liz deserves this prize just as much as anyone has ever deserved anything. I’m literally glowing (though jet-lagged out of my brain) at the opportunity to play again with the group that demands that I be the most me. ///// Friday, November 8 Ziegra str 11 Berlin, Germany. Opener at 10pm. Then VAX. Then partaaaayyyyyy!! https://m.facebook.com/#!/events/3099296226812217?ref=m_notif¬if_t=admin_plan_mall_activity One night only in Berlin!! Pals Sam Hall and Julia Reidy (whose transcendent album brace, brace I wrote about a few months back) open the night at 10. VAX at 11. ///// Thursday, November 14 7-10pm at Kingfly Spirits Pittsburgh. https://m.facebook.com/#!/events/702867603547403 Bass legend and ECM recording artist Michael Formanek and his son, virtuoso reedist Peter Formanek, are bouncing around the country as a duo. Lucky for us they’re stopping in Pittsburgh for a night! Young gun Carter Freije is going to join us on drums to fill out the 4 piece 100% improvised. Gonna be a fun one. ///// Saturday, November 16 10am-noon at Jazz Gallery Milwaukee, WI. So so excited just to get to see my buddy Devin Drobka in Milwaukee in a couple weeks. The fact that we’re gonna play music and talk candidly about whether it worked or not is the icing on the cake. Duo concert and workshop with Devin the great. ///// Friday, November 29 10pm-1am at Con Alma Pittsburgh. I’m transcribing a bunch of my favorite never-get-played bangers from the early-mid 60s Joe Henderson Lee Morgan Kenny Dorham Wayne Shorter catalogues. This band is burninggggg!! Really excited to learn and play this music. Join us on Black Friday, yes? PB - tenor saxophone, arrangements James Moore - trumpet Joe Sheehan - rhodes Anton Defade - bass James Johnson III - drums See yinz out there! Best, Patrick

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Recommended Listening: premoticon rides again! PGH and Detroit. also jazzzzzz! also Vartan.

hi everyone, i hope you're doing great. it's snowing in pittsburgh. that's cool i guess. as usual i've been listening to things. here are some favorites if you're curious. Moonheart :: Feel It Out you guys. kim mayo and michael sachs made an incredibly awesome and special miniature record. i've been listening to this every day. simultaneously bright and brooding kim's voice is perfect for this quicksand synth pop. it sounds like you're hiding in a closet because you've had the worst day and kim is singing to you through the door to invite you back to the world. click the link and buy buy buy listen listen listen. Booker Stardrum :: Temporary etc. my first thought within the first moment of listening to this record was "YES." uplifting ambient microtonal concrete jungle un-pop. it sounds like booker built synth instruments out of jaimie branch's trumpet and nathaniel morgan's alto saxophone sounds and then had an army of jaimies and nathaniels play juicy pads through them. booker mostly shows off his composers' chops but he also shreds on the drums for a few choice moments, always with the music first. this is a new favorite. Dressage :: Take Me Home will greene is a former student from my madison, WI days. he's always making great stuff and i'm happy to take more credit than i deserve. the new album by his guitar organ drums band Dressage is BURNING. dark and groovy and more than a little tongue in cheek this record is just really listenable. they added vocalist carrie furniss on this one and her voice is BANANA NUTS. just wow. plus the band plays the hell out of everything, even the goofy moments... maybe even especially the goofy moments. salt people meets the lounge lizards or something i dunno it's just friggin really good. oh hey i'm playing a TON in pittsburgh over the next couple days. please come? ///// Weds, 5 December 2018 6-8pm. FREE at Spirit Pittsburgh, PA event Jazz with: Eli Naragon- Acoustic Bass Antonio Croes- Keyboards Patrick Breiner- Tenor Sax Carter Freije- Drums and Cymbals this band is super fun and these young dudes are challenging me big time. we're playing a pretty dope mix of old school jazz classics, my originals, and some other fun and freaky sheez. plus it's FREE and it's happy hour at Spirit!! ///// Thurs, 6 December 2018 8pm. $8 at 3577 Studio Pittsburgh, PA more info Patrick Breiner - Solo as Vartan Mamigonian Charmaine Lee Ben Bennett duo!! ///// Fri, 7 December 2018 8:30pm-midnight at Main Street Cafe Clarksburg, WV. with Afro Yaqui Music Collective. know anybody in WV? ///// Sat, 8 December 2018 8pm $15/$12 at James Simon Studio Pittsburgh, PA TICKETS ETC Will McEcoy and i team up for a premoticon hit! such excitement! we haven't done this in years and i honestly don't know when we'll do it again. Danielle Rager and Char Stiles open with insane sounds and live coded visuals as {arsonist} and eCosystem seriously they're cool AF. f'real this will be awesome i'm bringing wine and cases of beers and also it's BYOB if you're into something else and Alia Musica is putting it on and they're great and i really really wanna make a good impression ok thanks cu thereeeeee. oh and ALSO hit me up for $10 ticket code party on! ///// Mon, 10 December 2018 at Fire Music Series Trixie's Detroit, MI more info again with Will McEvoy as premoticon and also this time we're splitting the bill with Leafar which features one of my favorite NYC musiker peoples Lester St Louis!! ///// Weds, December 12 at The Abbey Pittsburgh. 8-11pm FREE again with this slaying young quartet. Eli Naragon- Acoustic Bass Antonio Croes- Keyboards Patrick Breiner- Tenor Sax Carter Freije- Drums and Cymbals hey also if you're gotten this far and you live in pittsburgh you should come see my NYC buddies play at alphabet city tomorrow 11/28. it's a ripping band and the show is free. oh hey also bricolage (pittsburgh) is doing this midnight radio version of Die Hard and it's sure to be awesomely hilarious. go see it!!! and if you're free on december 14th, hmu. that's when jamie and i are going w/ some pals :-) HUGS, p

Recommended Listening: solo stuff in PGH. EAST COAST! Jazz?? also check out my wife!

frenz! i hope you're all doing great and living your best lives. here's some good stuff to listen to: Star Rover :: I May Be Lost But I'm Laughing gee whiz these guys are just so so so great. will graefe and jeremy gustin have been making music together for awhile and it is ALWAYS good. the album comes out October 19 and i've been listening to the three available tracks pretty much on repeat lately. tom-heavy grooves. guitar sounds ranging from spaced out echo to raw and crunchy to desert americana (is that a thing?). beautiful vocals blown out with tons of reverb. sounds like someone you love singing a song to you as you're waking up from a half-dream. their previous album Western Winds Bitter Christians is also banana-nuts good. Yang Jin :: Folk Music Master i recently had the pleasure of meeting and performing alongside Jin in Ben Barson's insane climate change / migrant justice opera and i'm hoping to hear her up close a whole lot more. this recording of hers is beautiful and virtuosic and full of sounds that i think are familiar at first and then ... they aren't. really special recording by an amazing pittsburgh based artist. Michael Azerrad :: Our Band Could Be Your Life ok so it's not listening, but it's led me to tons of artists who i'd never heard before. i'm halfway through and even the bands that i'm not head over heels for musically have such awesome and compelling stories that i'm riveted anyway. granted, it's about the indie scene from 1981-1991, so it's super white-dude-y (and self-admittedly so), but damn there's so much good stuff. black flag, mission of burma, minutemen, hüsker dü... the list goes on. can't wait to read more and listen more. Hannah Epperson :: Slowdown hannah mixes violin loops, fragile vocals, poetic lyrical narratives, and electronics in ways that i really love. this new album always makes me feel like it's 2am. in a good way. ///// Weds, October 17 at The Abbey Pittsburgh. 8-11pm FREE hey guys i'm playing some jazz music. it just so happens that i wrote a lot of it and i'm pleased as punch to be playing it all with some exciting young players. come check it out! Eli Naragon- Acoustic Bass Antonio Croes- Keyboards Patrick Breiner- Tenor Sax Carter Freije- Drums and Cymbals ///// Thursday, Oct 25 Twin Talk at Spirit Pittsburgh 7-9pm NO COVER i'm not on this one but i set it up for my dear pals who are coming through PGH on tour from chicago. this is one of those bands that might not be back for a looooooong time. so make a point to come and scope. tenor saxophone, upright bass/voice, drums. Twin Talk is the real damn deal. unique and smart compositions mixed with telepathic group interplay. https://twintalk.bandcamp.com/ ///// Friday, Oct 26 Rooftop Garden Benefit Dinner at Spirit Pittsburgh 6:30-10pm Ticketssss not cheap but WORTH ITTTTTT. 5 courses by brilliant local chefs Becca Hegarty (Bitter Ends), Brandon Blumenfeld (Scratch), and Greg Austin (Spirit) paired with booze and bevvies AND ALL OF THAT PAIRED WITH MUSIC. tons of surprises. piles of amaze-balls farm to table grub. and farm to table tunes on top of it. i'll be performing solo saxophone up close and personal as Vartan. like i do. ///// Mon, 29 October 2018 8pm. $5-10 suggested at 1106 Reedsdale Street. Pittsburgh, PA Jim Storch - Electroacoustic set Patrick Breiner - Solo as Vartan Mamigonian Kuo/Bernabo Duo - Performance Trimm/McCune Duo featuring the Esteemed Betty Douglas - Free jazz WRIST (Weston / Ritter / Storch Trio ) - Debut performance i love this place (played duo here with jason nazary a few weeks back) and i'm psyched to be back in its beautiful post-art-pocalyptic embrace for a solo set. some new friends and some even newer friends are also performing and all of it will be good. ///// Fri, 2 November Vartan Mamigonian time tba at Caffe D'Amore. Pittsburgh great new intimate listening room in my neighborhood. you know you wanna get real close for those tiny freaky sounds. this will be a show you won't want to miss. ///// Sun, 4 November Myk Freedman and Freends 6-8pm at Barbes Brooklyn reunited and it feeeels so gooooood Myk Freedman - lap steel and comps PB - tenor saxophone Adam Hopkins - bass Wendy Eisenberg - guitar Carlo Costa - drums ///// Mon, 5 November at The Root Cellar Greenfield, MA Myk Freedman - lap steel and comps PB - tenor saxophone Wendy Eisenberg - guitar ///// Tues, 6 November Vartan Mamigonian and Mike Effenberger at The Button Factory at WSCA Portsmouth, NH PB - solo saxophone Mike Effenberger - something indescribable and amazing. seriously. mike is a genius and i can't wait to hear whatever the hell it is he'll be doing. ///// Sun, 11 November 2018 4-7pm. at Nick-a-nee's Providence, RI trio with Gingerbeard: Aaron Darrell - bass, voice Max Goldman - drums PB - tenor saxophone ///// also Sun, 11 November 2018 8-11pm at Tea and Sahara. Providence, RI the return of Pride of Lowell: Max Goldman - drums PB - tenor saxophone double bill w/ Phil Mazza nad Matt Crane ///// November 1-10 Midnight Radio's Frankenstein at Bricolage Pittsburgh 8pm or 2pm :: also there's one pay what you want performance, and one foley sound workshop Getchyo' ticketssssss so i'm not in this one, but my wife jamie agnello is a brilliant genius and works her friggin butt off in order to be brilliant and a genius. and she's in some shows coming up. she'll be playing Mary Shelley in Bricolage's Midnight Radio production of Frankenstein. it's in the style of a live radio play with live foley sound and it's going to be perfect. come! (there's also free booze before the show if you're into that kind of thing... ahem....) geez o man we busy and it's awesome! oh also if you're in PGH i'll be working at the Bureau starting later this month. it's a new coffee shop in east liberty brought to you by the fine folks at the Vandal. so swing through and get jitteryyyyyy. 206 N. Euclid. all the hugs!

Recommended Listening

friends near and far! i hope you're all doing so so great.

for up to date info and tour dates etc please visit my new website. www.PatrickBreiner.com here's my first pittsburgh edition of Recommended Listening.

Benji. :: Smile, You're Alive! i played a wedding gig a few weeks ago and Benji stepped in on bass last minute and totally crushed. turns out his new album is also crushing. i love everything about this recording. soulful melodies. clever and thoughtful lyrics. nasty grooves. go have a listen.

Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs :: Amaranth devin has been a great pal for many years. we spent a hell of a lot of time together in my '98 honda accord between minneapolis, macon GA, boston, montreal, germany... every damn place. i'm incredibly proud of the work he did on this brand new record. his compositional vision is crystalized to a point i haven't heard before. and aaron darrell plays a solo version of "Being You" that literally made me weep when i listened back to it. i happen to be on this recording. but i never remember that when i hear it.

Paul Pinto / Erin Rogers (thingNY) :: minis/Trajectories i've had the pleasure of seeing Paul perform a few times in pittsburgh in the last few months. most recently in Sir Peter Maxwell Davies's 8 Songs for a Mad King (it. was. in. sane.). this recording features his compositions alongside those of Erin Rogers. the works and the performances on this recording are deadly serious in execution and somehow totally irreverent throughout. everything by this collective (thingNY) is worth checking out.

Five Dollar Ferrari :: Forgotten Cities buddies Brad Henkel and Dustin Carlson have released a scorcher. this is not necessarily an easy listen but it is extremely rewarding. lots of quiet sounds. lots of loud sounds. lots of crunchy chords. some melody. all incredibly special and totally unique to these two wonderful weirdos. now for the part of the email where i tell you about stuff that i'm doing in hopes that you'll come see and hear it. :-)

///// TONIGHT

Tuesday, October 2 at 8:30pm. 1106 Reedsdale Street. Pittsburgh.

$5-10 suggested BYOB

click for facebook invite this is gonna be a ragerrrr! not least because one of the artists is actually named rager. like. that's her name. good buddy and AMAZE-BALLS drummer jason nazary is passing through on his way from NYC to Chicago and lucky me i get to make some noise with him. other cool stuff is happening too! scope it! set 1 :: {arsonist} set 2 :: Patrick Breiner / Jason Nazary duo. Breiner - woodwinds Nazary (NYC) - drums and electronics set 3 :: Python Panther Puma::: Wearable fabric sculptures performed and transformed to twisted tape loopz /////

Thurs-Fri, October 11-12. 8pm. at New Hazlett Theater. Pittsburgh.

Getchyo' ticketssssss

this will be awwweeessssommmmeee. part of New Hazlett's CSA series. this is an incredibly ambitious project and i'm pleased as dang punch that they've asked me to play some saxophone on it. Fusing soul and science, this multicultural jazz performance suggests that climate change is driving mass migration. Afro Yaqui Music Collective unites the music and stories of climate refugees from Mexico, Syria, and West Africa through jazz, dance, and theatre. Can we sow today’s revolutionary garden for tomorrow’s liberation? THE AFRO YAQUI MUSIC COLLECTIVE An indigenous-jazz band led by Gizelxanath Rodriguez and Ben Barson. With members in Pittsburgh, New York City, and collaborators from Tanzania to Cuba, the collective has a truly global vision rooted in the radical vision of social justice embedded in Afrodiasporic and indigenous cultures. The Suite will feature music by Barson, Hadi Eldebek and Samuel Okoh-Boateng, dance and choreography by Peggy Myo-Young Choy, and libretto by Ruth Margraff. see yinz out there!

Website of Patrick Breiner. Saxophonist and clarinetist, proprietor of Sulde Records, member of Battle Trance, resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

new website.

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Recommended Listening February 2018

dearest all,

i hope you're weathering the weather. it's certainly weathering me. here's hoping we weather together.

as always i have some concerts coming up (2 concerts by my band double double!!) and some other (not me) music recs for those who may be interested.

first, i've been more or less obsessed with the following (most of which haven't even been released yet).

Wadada Leo Smith America's National Parks ::

whyyyyyy Wadada why are you so good?? my favorite trumpet sound in the world and one of my most favorite approaches to organizing sound compositionally and also such a brilliant bringer-together of the most perfect artists for the music. this album is often deceptively stark while still grooving like crazy and setting off a "grandpa on the roof with a pvc pipe" type of fireworks display in my chest and guts.

also, Cuneiform, the label that released this album 18 months ago has announced that they won't be putting out any new music in 2018. because nobody is buying stuff. LET'S FIX THAT SHALL WE.

Jean Rohe ::

Jean's pledgemusic campaign is wrapping up (like in the next couple hours) and i can't believe i didn't send this message earlier. click the link to go preorder her record. i'm on it. but honestly who cares? Jean is just the greatest. and that's enough. unbelievable voice, incomparable storyteller, clever and funky and deeply moving songwriter. all this adds up to 100 as far as i'm concerned. BUT WAIT there's more. her commitment to social justice and the spread of joy and love and understanding is central to her music and her life ... i cry at literally every one of her concerts. click the link. buy the thing.

Subtle Degrees A Dance That Empties ::

i've spent a lot of time with Travis Laplante over the past few years. he's tireless in his pursuit of healing the world both through music and ancient eastern healing practices. i guess he decided he didn't have quite enough going on so he composed and learned to play the single most insane and impossibly moving and impossibly difficult piece of saxophone music i've ever heard anyone even attempt. this record comes out February 23 and features Travis duo with Gerald Cleaver, who is the best drummer. just the best. sweet christ. get this in your life immediately.

their record release show is at Union Pool on March 4. cancel everything. go to it. NOT JOKING.

Erica Eso 129 Dreamless GMG ::

Weston Minissali and company have been doing this for a couple years and it's crystalized into the most awesome groovy gliss-synth un-pop-rock. their new record comes out on NNA Tapes on March 16 (clicky above) and their teaser track Gun-metal Grey makes me feel like i'm dancing with Sade in a lucid fever dream. they're touring, too. clickety click click.

OH HEY I HAVE SOME GIGS THEY WILL BE SO SO GREAT PLEASE COME.

///////

Wednesday, February 7

9pm

Gay Witch Séance

at Otto's Shrunken Head

538 East 14th Street. NYC.

our dear pals Charlotte Moroz and Leigh Walter have been organizing i-don't-know-whats at Otto's once a month for the past little while and it's always different and these women are brilliant and hilarious and so totally awesome that whatever they touch will be great. so i'm especially pleased that they asked me to be a part of the (friggin LARGE) drone ensemble and also to perform a very miniature solo thing.

certain other rites of healing passage will take place including tarot, palm reading, and (to be administered by Jamie Agnello) consensual hand-holding.

click. come. https://www.facebook.com/events/181799469103560/

///////

Thursday, February 15

Double Double

8pm

AE Randolph Series

at Balboa

1655 Bedford Ave. Brooklyn

AN ODD THURSDAY INSTALLMENT of this stalwart series.

8pm :: secret solo set

8:30pm :: Dustin Carlson solo guitar etc

9:15pm ::

Double Double

Lester St Louis - cello

Adam Hopkins - bass

Flin van Hemmen - drums / percussion

PB - tenor saxophone

we premiered this piece at balboa a few months back and it's one of my most favorite things i've written. so i'm doing it again. i've added a few little somethings that i think make it even more me and more ... favorite.

///////

Saturday, February 17

Double Double

10pm

at Legion

790 Metropolitan Ave. Brooklyn.

10pm ::

Double Double

Lester St Louis - cello

Nick Dunston - bass

Flin van Hemmen - drums / percussion

PB - tenor saxophone

later: Mughal Muesli

same piece of music. different bass player. i'm incredibly blessed to be surrounded by amazing bassists who want to play this music. adam (thursday gig) is an old pal and has given way more to this music than i've ever asked him to. nick is a new pal and is already doing the same. i can't wait to explore these sounds with the best people. even more favorite!

love to you all. happy listening. see you out there.

i recently signed a royalties breakdown agreement in which the other beneficiaries are Michael Cera, Brett Gelman, Judy Greer, and also such monstrous talents as Heather Christian and Sasha Brown. how about that? scope. all the clarinet is played by yours truly.

huge thanks to Heather Christian for bringing me in and to Brian Bender for making us all sound real purdy.

Recommended Listening :: January 2018

as always it's been AN AGE since we last spoke. and of course some of this stuff has already happened since i sent my monthly-ish email. ANYWAY.

since then i've been writing music, which is a thing that i've been doing in solitude for the last year or so. i'm finally ready to share some new stuff and i'll be doing so once a month at the AE Randolph Series up until Jamie and i move to pittsburgh. so keep yer dang eyes peeled or whatever. wednesday will be the first of these. info below.

ALSO BIZ IS IN TOWN SO VAX WILL RIDE AGAIN on january 21st. keep reading.

before i get too deep into shameless self-promo territory, here's what i've been listening to and why.

Henry Threadgill :: Dirt... And More Dirt

this recording was sneakily released around xmas/new years and i'm grateful to Nick Dunston for bringing it to my attention. it's a 14 (or 15) piece group. two drummers. two pianists. 3 alto saxophones. and the most crystalized version of threadgill's language that i've heard. it's funky as hell and sometimes dark and sometimes very bright and sometimes all that stuff within the space of 3 or 4 seconds. i love this album a lot. it might still be available as a pre-pre-order if you're SUPER lucky. if not, come over and we'lll listen to it together.

Krallice :: Go Be Forgotten :: Loüm :: Dimensional Bleedthrough -

do you like metal? listen to these records. do you not like metal? listen to these records anyway. my god this band is awesome. they've been around for years and i've been snoozing on just how active and productive they've been. i find myself laughing out loud (my common "wtf is this and why is it so good???" reaction) at my favorite parts of these records and then upon realizing how inappropriate a reaction laughter might actually be i start to laugh even harder. i love this music.

Natalie Prass :: Natalie Prass -

good buddy Adam Hopkins recently introduced me to Space Bomb Records out of Richmond, VA. they seek out their favorite artists and record them with the SBR "house band" and it comes out sounding like a 21st century Muscle Shoals. Natalie's eponymous record is groovy and thoughtful and precious and sad and fun. i've been listening to it a ton.

David Virelles :: Antenna -

i mostly know David's playing through his involvement with Henry Threadgill's bands (see above). he's clearly a gifted pianist and improviser. this recording (not his first and not the only example of this) proves him to be a deeply inquisitive and dedicated composer as well. he mingles ancient sounding percussion with modern electronics and vocals and acoustic instruments. i'm realizing i don't really have the vocabulary to speak about this. BUT i know i like it.

OH HEY I'M PLAYING A FEW TIMES THIS MONTH AND I'M ECSTATIC AND I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO COME.

///////

Wednesday, January 10

8pm

AE Randolph Series

at Balboa

1655 Bedford Ave. Brooklyn

8pm :: Step It In It

Caroline Davis - alto saxophone

Joanna Mattrey - viola

Anna Webber - flute

PB - bass clarinet, compositions

9:15pm ::

Rob Grieve - guitar

Will Greene - guitar

Daniel Pencer - saxophone

Connor Baker - drums

i wrote some new music and i can't believe how well caroline and anna and joanna are playing it. actually i can. because they're amazing. i guess i can't believe that my music is actually legible. sometimes it all comes together.

stay for the 2nd set. they're great pals and incredible music-ers all. this is going to be a good one.

///////

Sunday, January 21

8pm

Inside Out Series

at Brooklyn Conservatory of Music

58 7th Ave. Brooklyn

1st Set :: VAX

Biz, Vone, Trix (me)

2nd Set :: Eivind Opsvik's Overseas :: Brandon Seabrook - guitar, Tony Malaby - saxophones, Kenny Wollesen - drums, Jacob Sacks - piano, Eivind Opsvid - bass

HOLY SHEEZ BIZ IS IN TOWN FROM BERLIN VAX RIDES AGAIN. i seriously have no clue what insanity will ensue, but these are my favorite people to sit in a circle with and say, "hey, do you think we could dress Vone in a shark suit and suspend him from the ceiling at some point in this set?"

also we're splitting the bill with Overseas?? wtf i actually had no idea and this is going to be completely awesome if you don't come to this you better be dead or something. pretty much the only acceptable excuse.

///////

Thursday, January 25

7:30pm

Church Ave Sessions

at Flatbush Jewish Center

327 E. 5th Street. Brooklyn

Myk Freedman and the Myk Freedmans :: MF - lap steel and compositions, Adam Hopkins - bass, Carlo Costa - drums, Jason Vance - banjo, Kenny Warren - trumpet, PB - woodwinds.

Myk Freedman and the Myk Freedmans ride again!! jeez this band is awesome. i've loved playing myk's music for over a decade. we made a record that i'm really really proud of. Listen and buy.

Cat Toren's band Humankind will also be playing.

wowowowowowowow thanks everybody happy new things i hope you're all doing so so great.

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hugs

look at this goon! also hey look Part 2 of my interview w/ Vandoren.

Part 1 here.

also, go figure. a solo gig! August 2 as part of A.E. Randolph Presents in its new home at Balboa. SCOPE!

What makes unaccompanied music so appetizing? Create a world you actually want to live in.

recently published interview with my mouthpiece and reed endorser, Vandoren. i answered some questions about cultivating a solo repertoire as a saxophonist.

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the next two weeks will be good weeks.

first, i’ll be recording with one of my oldest / bestest, Devin Drobka. we’re making a record of his music with a gnarly lineup: Aaron Darrell, Chris Weller, and Dan Blake.

next week i’m making noise and running around and even singing and saying a few “lines” with the Berlin Electric.

grateful to be making work with people i love!

this album is great and i’m excited to be on it and we’re playing tomorrow at happylucky no.1 and there’s FREE FOOD AND FREE BOOZE and also it’s a free event why aren’t you already there?? click the pigeon for deets.

also listen to / buy the record for pete’s sake

https://mykfreedman.bandcamp.com/album/myk-freedman-and-the-mykfreedmans

Recommended Listening: May 2017

hello friends and fam!

i hope you're all doing great.

it's time for another edition of my "listen to this and also listen to me, please (if you want to)" newsletter.

i haven't bought any new music this month. frankly a bit of a travesty. BUT, here's some things that i've been excited about:

Jaimie Branch "Fly or Die" :: Jaimie is an unstoppable force. she does things on the trumpet that people shouldn't be able to do. this is her first release as a leader and looks and sounds totally boss. the few tracks i've heard from this album are EXCELLENT and highlight groovy and melodic aspects of her playing that i think a lot of folks frankly might not even know about.

the record comes out on May 5 and there's a record release party here in NYC on May 3rd at NUBLU 151. info here.

it's also worth noting that Jaimie is a badass visual artist and had a hand in the art and design of the record. just buy this thing. you'll like it.

aaaaaaand also worth noting, she'll be taking her band on the road to celebrate this release. scope dates on her website.

Darbar Festival youtube - i've recently started a job where i do a lot of data entry. so i've been scoping some new stuff while i do it. this youtube channel is chock full of videos of unbelievable music, most of it by Indian musicians. this Aruna Sairam video in particular has its hooks in me. seriously, just go here and start clicking on performance videos. this is a rabbit hole worth going down.

also holy smokes, my boy Curtis Macdonald just produced this MONSTER miniature radio documentary of the great Henry Threadgill called “Dirt and More Dirt” for WQXR. go listen to it right now!!!! http://www.wqxr.org/story/henry-threadgill-dirt-and-more-dirt/

onward! i'm playing a bit this month and i'm excited about it!

////

Friday, May 5

7pm

Myk Freedman and The Mykfreedmans CD Release Party!

at happylucky no.1

734 Nostrand Ave. Brooklyn, NY

FREE!!

Myk is one of my favorite people. and his songs are some of my favorite songs. and his band is one of my favorite bands. and i play in it. how about that?

we recorded an album exactly a year ago (come Friday, May 5th) and it looks and sounds just peachy. actually it's some of my favorite recorded Breiner. which is something. anyway, we're throwing a little shindig at our home of sorts and there's going to be drinks and maybe snacks and it won't cost you a penny. so be there!

also listen / buy!! :: Myk Freedman and the Mykfreedmans

////

Sunday, May 7

3pm

Battle Trance at Wesleyan

oh hey there. we're back!

////

Wednesday, May 10

7:30pm

Battle Trance

at Bridget Donahue Gallery

99 Bowery. NYC.

Battle Trance has been taking it easy for a month or two. but we're winding the gears back up for a few things about which we're chomping at the bit.j

this is one.

our pal Josh Abrams asked us to play at Bridget Donahue Gallery as part of Lisa Alvarado's exhibition Sound Talisman. this looks great and will sound great, too. also, it's our only full performance of Blade of Love in NYC currently on the books. so be there!

////

Thursday, May 18

8pm

Battle Trance at Look and Listen Festival

Pratt Manhattan Gallery

144 West 14th Street. 2nd Floor. NYC

FREE!!

we'll be playing an excerpt of Blade of Love and participating in a q&a along with Ione from the Deep Listening Institute who will lead Pauline Oliveros’ The Heart Chant violinist and violist Miranda Cuckson, and septet ensemble yMusic performing selections from their latest album, First, composed by Son Lux.

WOW!

////

Saturday, May 20

1pm

Battle Trance at Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville

Victoriaville, Quebec

this is a festival that i've dreamed of playing since i bought this Anthony Braxton / Fred Frith duo CD a handful of years ago. should be a good one.

////

Friday, June 2

8:30pm

at Sowieso

Weisestr. 24. Berlin, DE.

i reached out to my dear pal Brad Henkel about setting up a show while i'm in Germany in June. he emailed me 2 days later with a gig. WHAT. A. BOSS. brad's one of my faves all time and he put together one hell of a band.

Patrick Breiner - reeds

Brad Henkel - trumpet

Andrea Parkins - amplified accordion

Oli Steidle - drums

////

Monday, June 5

Battle Trance at Moers Festival

Moers, DE.

Battle Trance takes me to another dream gig. aaaaaaaand there's one more below this one.

////

Thursday, June 8

8:30pm

Battle Trance at Bimhuis

Amsterdam

dream gig #3. thanks Battle Trance!

doin’ this TONIGHT. amped.

Recommended Listening

howdy folks!

i’ve been sending this in email form for years mostly to my NYC list. i’ve finally realized how easy it would be to post it here, too, for everyone else.

welcome to another edition of my "i talk about other people and then i talk about myself" newsletter. i'm really excited to be listening to some awesome new music by pals and strangers both. to wit. Harriet Tubman "Araminta" - sweet jesus this band is unbelievable. Brandon Ross, JT Lewis, and Melvin Gibbs have been playing under this moniker for about 2 decades. and they've added Wadada Leo Smith for this album. so yeah. i've been listening a lot.

Lea Bertucci "All That is Solid Melts Into Air" - i don't know much about Lea Bertucci. what i know is that her new release on NNA Tapes is completely bonk-bonk. beautifully crunchy compositions for strings and tape collage. worth sitting still for.

GRID - buddies of mine Matt Nelson (Battle Trance) and Nick Podgurksi (Feast of the Epiphany) just released a slayer as a trio with bassist buddy of theirs Tim Dahl. also on NNA Tapes. people (writers) keep calling this album "angry" and "aggressive" and stuff like that. and while it's definitely not easy listening, if anger and aggression are all that these folks are hearing then they're not paying attention. this record is often really active but also quite patient. big sounds especially from highly processed saxophone and bass.

Tyshawn Sorey "The Inner Spectrum of Variables" - this is a difficult recording for me to say very much about. other than the fact that it's mind bogglingly good and i'm going to be listening to it for a loooooooong time because there's so much to listen to! anyone who calls Tyshawn Sorey a drummer before they call him a composer is doing this brilliant man a great disservice. and also probably doesn’t have ears. or a brain. or something.

Cory Smythe "A U T O TROPHS" - cory smythe is a truly gifted pianist who also works very hard. stellar combo. this recording was just released on friend (and former roommate!) Tyler Gilmore's label Not Art Records. compositions for piano and electronics. that sentence doesn't sound good. but the album does. ONWARD! ME ME ME!! ///////Mutiny

solo saxophone with interactive video by Derrick Belchamat Helga Davis's "My Favorite Things" residency at National Sawdust Derrick Belcham is a tireless worker. and he just happens to make really good work. go figure. he asked me to be a part of something for Helga Davis's "My Favorite Things" at National Sawdust. i've been working hard on new sounds and ideas for this one. i'm not sure yet who we're sharing the night with, but Helga is sure to fill this room with brilliant maniacs. we're playing all three nights. tix below. scope out a trailer Derrick made using some old solo recordings of mine.

April 5

April 6

April 9 ///////Monday, April 10

at 65Fen Music Series

65 Fenimore Street. Brooklyn.

$10 suggested 9pm :: Luke Stewart - bass (DC), Jaimie Branch - trumpet

10pm :: Red Metal. Sana Nagano - violin, Emilie Lesbros - voice, Anaïs Maviel - voice, Lester St Louis - cello, PB - reeds i'm pleased as dang punch to get this band back together. also incredibly excited to present badass DC bassist Luke Stewart in a duo with NYC trumpet monster Jaimie Branch. a night of my faves. the rest of april is pretty light. but after that things start heating up again for Battle Trance. also Myk Freedman and the MykFreedmans are releasing an album in early May. it looks great and it sounds even better. so keep your eyes and ears peeled. see you out there.

•18+ Adults Only

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been awhile. too long in fact.

really psyched to be playing music along with some responsive video by wizard Derrick Belcham of 5 badass dancers: Emma Judkins, Rebecca Margolick, Belinda McGuire, Andrea Murillo and Isabel Umali. we’re performing 3 nights as part of Helga Davis’s “My Favorite Things” residency at National Sawdust in Brooklyn.

we’re calling it “Mutiny.”

April 5, 6, and 9.

#helga davis #derrick belcham #national sawdust #my favorite things #improvised music #experimental music

proud of this record. proud of this band. NPR loves it, too. read the Songs We Love piece by Anastasia Tsioulcas here.

http://www.npr.org/2016/08/19/490494988/songs-we-love-battle-trance-blade-of-love-i

Blade of Love comes out in exactly 1 week!

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