Nevsky Prospekt, a new composition by Terran Olson of the band Kayo Dot, will premiere at NYC’s The Stone on Wednesday, February 3rd at 8pm. Terran Olson (composer and pianist), Toby Driver (guitar), and David Bodie (drums), all of Kayo Dot, will perform.

The Stone is located at the corner of avenue C and 2nd street. Admission is $10, students 13 to 19 are admitted half price, and children 12 and under are free. There are no advance ticket sales — all admissions are at the door prior to each performance.

Nevsky Prospekt is based on the story of the same name by Nikolai Gogol (set in Gogol’s contemporary environs, Tsarist Russia). The title refers to a central avenue in St. Petersburg, and is superficially about two young men pursuing women they meet on Nevsky Prospekt. Its thematic focus is on the often-symmetrical relationship between dream and reality.  The music is structured into 22 short movements, each based on an excerpt from the story which will be projected (in English translation) during the performance. Continue reading “Nevsky Prospekt: A new composition by Terran Olson”

Jeremy Udden’s Plainville is featured as part of Winter Jazzfest at Kenny’s Castaways at 157 Bleecker street, in Manhattan on Friday, January 8th at 8:40 pm.

The band Plainville is Udden’s newest project and features a more folk-influenced twist, finding a niche on bills with country and folk groups as well as jazz, featuring Udden on sax, backed by a unique combination of pump organ/rhodes, banjo/guitar, bass and drums. Plainville is named for Udden’s home town in Massachusetts.

Described as “folk, rock, free build upon the underlying jazz” (JAZZMAN – France) and “an appealingly dreamy roots-jazz combo” by Time Out New York, Plainville is Udden’s most recent album on Fresh Sounds New Talent records (Spain) featuring: Pete Rende, pump organ/rhodes; Brandon Seabrook, banjo/guitar; Eivind Opsvik, bass; RJ Miller, drums; and Udden on saxophone.

Here’s what the press has to say about PLAINVILLE:

“Jazz for Wilco fans-a rural vibe that has a dash of a New England starkness to it, even when the aggression takes over.”
— VILLAGE VOICE

“Some of the freshest sounding jazz to appear in some time.” — THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE

“A pluralistic stylistic orientation (rock, free, folk build upon the underlying jazz) Udden has created a resolutely new music where eclecticism and personal experience play an important role.” — JAZZMAN (FRANCE)

“The soprano and alto saxophonist Jeremy Udden reaches for rusticity and sincerity on his warm new album, ‘Plainville’ (Fresh Sound New Talent), and sometimes he finds both…” — THE NEW YORK TIMES

“Melodic, ruminative, nostalgic and fresh at the same time.” — SEATTLE TIMES

“Plainville is an appealingly dreamy roots-jazz combo, driven by Pete Rende’s pump organ and Brandon Seabrook’s banjo” — TIME OUT NEW YORK Continue reading “Jeremy Udden’s Plainville at Winter Jazz Fest”

I recently had the pleasure of hearing pianist Anna Shelest at the Golden Key series at the Bechstein Piano Centre and was very impressed by her fantastic technique and musicianship. This month, Shelest will be performing a free solo recital at Paul Hall at the Juilliard School in New York.

Program:
Bach Prelude and Fugue No.8 from WTC, Book I
Chopin Sonata No.3 in B minor, Op.58
Rachmaninoff Nine Etudes Tableaux Op.39

Continue reading “Ukrainian pianist Anna Shelest at Juilliard”

Sam Sadigursky Words Project III CD Release Concert
Galapagos Art Space, 16 Main St. Brooklyn, NY

Words Project III, which will come out on New Amsterdam Records on January 29th, is a collection of 18 miniatures for a number of different groupings and features many of Sam’s favorite vocalists and musicians, including Michael Leonhart, who also recorded and co-produced. Celebrating its release, there will be a Words Project extravaganza at Galapagos in DUMBO on 1/29/10, featuring performers and songs from all three albums.