2nd Dushanbe International Jazz Festival, May 3. 2010, Dushanbe, Tajikistan. My collaboration with the Tajik traditional band Mizrob, performing my composition “Open Letter to Dushanbe”, which is based loosely on Mingus’ “Open Letter to Duke”, and was dedicated to the people of Dushanbe for their kindness and hospitality. This piece combines jazz with traditional Tajik music. The words in the 2nd section, sung in Tajik, basically mean, ‘I look at you with undying love, but even though you turn away, I know your heart calls me, too’

Demetrius Spaneas, alto saxophone, composer
Mizrob, traditional Tajik ensemble
Sponsored by the Bactria Cultural Centre, Dushanbe, Tajikista

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Demetrius Spaneas plays a jazz improvisation encore (with a little Ellington thrown in) at the Mozartiana Festival in Gdansk, Poland; August 20, 2010

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“Courante” and “Sarabande” from “…no longer to his father…,” a contemporary suite of dances for solo saxophone based on the Baroque suite. Composed and performed by Demetrius Spaneas.

From my solo program “Metanoia: a monologue on life, loss, and rebirth” performed as part of the Composers Collaborative, inc. (CCi) ‘Serial Underground’ series at the Cornelia Street Cafe in NYC on April 12, 2010.

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“Three Graces for Clarinet Solo” : “Aglaea” (Beauty), “Euphrosyne” (Mirth), and “Thalia” (Good Cheer). Composed and performed by Demetrius Spaneas.

From my solo program “Metanoia: a monologue on life, loss, and rebirth” performed as part of the Composers Collaborative, inc. (CCi) ‘Serial Underground’ series at the Cornelia Street Cafe in NYC on April 12, 2010.

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From my solo program “Metanoia: a monologue on life, loss, and rebirth” performed as part of the Composers Collaborative, inc. (CCi) ‘Serial Underground’ series at the Cornelia Street Cafe in NYC on April 12, 2010.

I am playing improvisations on three of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s “Zodiac” (Tierkeis) pieces: “Aries”, “Leo” and “Sagittarius.”

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WAVES (1982) for computer-generated sound and improvisers by William Susman. Computer-generated sound created in 1982 at CCRMA on the Samson Box using FM Synthesis. Any number of improvisers may interact with these electronic sounds that allude to exploding bells and the mythical Sirens of the Odyssey.

Demetrius Spaneas – multi-winds
William Susman – piano
Performed at The Stone, New York City, March 17, 2009
Buy the score and electronic audio at
http://www.susmanmusic.com/works/index.php?category=Improvisation