Dear All,
Happy November!
Writing today to share some news about some happenin’ happenings.
On Sunday, November 10, I will be performing with the Comp Cord Ensemble at the Cutting Room, in NYC. The ensemble will premiere my new work Danae’s Dream, which was written for the ensemble for this performance. I am delighted to have the opportunity of writing for and playing with this amazing collection of musicians.
Composers Concordance is a presenting organization for contemporary music with a 29-year-history of producing concerts in New York City. It strives to present music in innovative ways, with an emphasis on thematic programming. The Comp Cord Ensemble expands on this objective by focusing on the composer-as-performer within an ensemble setting. Each project asks the selected musicians to contribute compositions based on a particular subject or instrumentation, with an emphasis on experimentation and creating music for the particular members of each program. In recent years, the ensemble, in its various forms, has performed at The American Museum of Natural History, Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, Shapeshifter Lab, and Turtle Bay Music school, among others. Since 2010, it has been the resident ensemble at William Paterson University.
– Comp Cord Ensemble –
Bill Schimmel – accordion
Demetrius Spaneas – soprano sax
Milica Paranosic – vocals/keys/electronics
Jacob Miller – poet/narrator
Gene Pritsker – electric guitar
Dan Cooper – 7-string bass guitar
Peter Jarvis – vibraphone/percussion
David Rozenblatt – drums
*************************************
This year marks the 5th in a row that I have been awarded an ASCAPlus Award by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. As an artist who has many performances in ‘alternative’ venues as well as standard ones, it is wonderful to be recognized for the scope of my performances and programming of my works across many genres and countries. A warm thank you to the ASCAPlus awards panel for this honor and for your continued gracious recognition.
*************************************
And…yes…it is *finally*, FINALLY happening!
After many months of the tracks sitting in ‘the can,’ I am moving forward with producing my new CD, the 4th under my own name, but the first that will consist *entirely* of my own compositions. The new CD, entitled Double Life, will contain solo works that I perform on many of my concerts, like Three Graces for Clarinet Solo, Soho Sophisticate, and my unaccompanied suite …no longer to his father… (the latter two on tenor saxophone), as well as two chamber works: Gymnopaedia for clarinet and piano (with pianist Elaine Kwon) and Giuffre Sketches for clarinet/tenor sax/baritone sax and piano (with pianist Jed Distler).
The CD was recorded in 2012 by John Kilgore, and will be released on 4Tay Records, projected for spring, 2014. I’m in the process of thinking about the design and CD cover, which for me is great fun as well as a crazed process…
…you know, I still feel it’s important for a musician to have a physical CD, even in the digital age. It may sound counter-intuitive, but today the physical product–especially for classical and jazz musicians–is just as important as ever to send out for reviews and festivals and donating to schools and libraries. Plus, and I admit this fully, I am of that generation who grew up with double fold-out LP covers…I *like* the artwork; it draws you in or pushes you away…plus, because of being the age that I am, I like the idea of the physicality of it, and holding it, and saying “I MADE THIS!!!”
Plus an mp3 looks terrible wrapped up as a gift, no? 😉
*************************************
Anyways, thank you for indulging me in presenting this news. Be as sure as snow in New England that the next blog will contain my musings about some injustice or philosophy or other musing. But, for now, a little happenin’ happenings.
Until soon…
Demetrius