Nebraska Monday’s at the Luna Cafe in Sacramento has been presenting adventurous for over 30 years and this ensemble of Clifford Childers (low brass, harmonics), Jen Schaaf (drums) and Jon Raskin (saxophones) will be continuing this tradition with a combination of free improvisations and some of my compositions for improvisers.

The group after us is THAT DOOR with Alan Ernest -keyboards, Jim Frink - drum kit and Tony Passarell - electric bass

 Carla Harryman, Jon Raskinand Gino Robair will present poetry and music in various inventive ways that which will include:

"Gardener of Stars, an Opera" as improvised score and radical reimaginingof Harryman’s 2001 novel, a work “more fantasmagoric poem than fictional narrative” tracking the paradise and wastelands of utopian desire.  
 
The evening will also include Gino Robair on prepared piano with Carla Harryman performing excerpts of Harryman’s Occupying Theodore W. Adorno’s “Music and New Music” commissioned by dOCUMENTA 13. “The music/I/Have been listening/To has been/Pretty Dark/Theez Daze”

As well new works under development.
 
Jon Raskin - mini synthesizers, concertina, homemade electronics …. and speaking voiced
Carla Harryman - poetry, speaking voice
Gino Robair - prepared piano and electronics
 

John Hanes & Jon Raskin Chimera Duo                                                                                

The Chimera Duo came about because of a love the Chimera BC6 analog synthesizer- a small but very versatile device.  John likes to use it for a sound source to slice and dice in software and use an iPad as a controller.  Jon likes to setup a mini ensemble of small devices many of which have a physical controller element.  All in all, you get a music that is a tail of serpent, a head of a goat and roars like a lion.  Or it may all be an illusion.

In any case come on down to the Alley and hear some amazing sounds.  Its a small space so get there early.

www.waveformeless.com  510 250 9934

The Double Negative Ensemble is made up the following stellar musicians and master improvisers: John Bischoff - electronics, Nava Dunkelman - percussion, Matthew Goodheart - piano, Frank Gradkowski - clarinet/sax, Shoko Hikage - koto, Aurora Josephson - vocal, Elzbieta Potak - violin,  Jon Raskin - clarinet/sax,.

The combined knowledge of this group of accomplished musicians and improvisers has my ears a flutter in anticipation of the sounds that will be conjured.  The term improvisations doesn’t really do justice to the hard work of creating the musical language and technique on an instrument and than honing the artistic aesthetic to create music that each of these musicians have done.  This is even more astounding to me when it is in an ensemble.  

The music non-narrative will be organized by Jon Raskin who will provide source material and basic structures to be used as needed for the various sub groupings.

The wonderful east coast trumpeter Taylor Ho Bynum is coming to the bay area for a concert at Berkeley Arts on.  He is on a bicycle tour and performing along the way.  You can get more information at this link. (http://taylorhobynum.com/the-acoustic-bicycle-tour/)

You probably know his music, but if not, along with leading numerous amazing ensembles, he is the director of Anthony Braxton's Tri-Centric Foundation and is an active performer in Braxton's new sextet.

 Under his direction OrcheSperry will be playing Anthony Braxton's language music signals for conducted improvisations, some Butch Morris' techniques  and Braxton's composed stuff WUK (a one page graphic score), KID (modular materials that can be opened up), and Questions of Transfiguration (an orchestra split into three sections) 

Phillip Greenlief - alto sax

Elzbieta Polak- violin

Shanna Sorahl -  cello

Lisa Mezzacappa Bass

Gino Robair -  electronics

John Shuirba electric guitar

Rachel Condry- clarinet

Cory Wright - bass clarinet

Tim Perkis - electronics