In the past 3 years, personal events and emotional energy expenditure diverted me from pursuing my career as a leader. I put my composing on hold as I focused on the performing aspect of my career; in 2006, I undertook compositional analysis studies with Professor Donna Doyle, a former student of Nadia Boulanger's. I've been focusing on counterpoint, Schenkerian analysis, and more, studying symphonies, string quartets, fugues and other works of the great classical composers. I feel this has been a major transition for me in terms of my own development and look forward to hitting the pen and paper again starting in spring 08. I look forward to a compositional reinvention (or development) of myself in the year to come. KAKALLA Kakalla has been my primary compositional outlet for over 12 years now, from Boston to New York City. Using varying "jazz" instrumentations and relying on a core group of musicians, I strive to make unique compositional statements with a distinct group sound. The music is "synthetic" in character, influences ranging from free jazz, Balkan folk music, rock, electronica, to chamber music and Indian classical music. I have amassed an ouevre of about 100 compositions for the group and released 3 projects/albums to date (listed below). We also recorded a final album in early 2007 with Nate Radley, Loren Stillman, David Smith, and take Toriyama. The death of my good friend Take three weeks after the recording led me to retire the project, though our final recording awaits release. The Voice of Blood This was the first incarnation of Kakalla, a quartet or quintet featuring trumpet, tenor sax, guitar, acoustic bass, and drums. Released on Weltschmerz Records in 2001. The Voice of Twilight A body of work written for trumpet, guitar, acoustic bass, and drums, this album sonically delves deeper into chamber jazz and rock. Released on Weltschmerz Records in 2003. The Seeds of Analog Rebellion A collection of compositional output from 2002, featuring more epic compositions from electronic textures and Balkan grooves to counterpoint and noise... KAKALLA RUSTICA A sextet version of Kakalla adding accordion and violin and focusing more on Balkan, tango, and chamber music influences. The Voice of Silence This project represents the second phase of my compositional output, featuring trumpet, violin, accordion, guitar, acoustic bass, and drums. The music is in part inspired by Piazzolla, Lou Harrison, Vasks, and the music of the Balkans, and focuses much more on a "chamber" and ethnic aesthetic. Awaiting release. Ensemble Aletheia A work in progress exploring the synthesis of modern chamber music with improvisatory elements. Instrumentation features acoustic bass with a wind quartet - flute, alto sax, clarinet, and trumpet. I also anticipate adding oboe on some of the newer compositions projected. Chamber Music In addition to the above, I also compose chamber music for various instrumentations, to date mainly string trios and quartets and various duets for winds and strings, but I aim to develop this much further in terms of breadth and performance. Grid-X This project is a studio collaboration with recording engineer Warren Amerman devoted to the electronic manipulation of acoustic instruments. Music ranges from ambient textures and techno grooves to noise and the avant-garde. As well, completed an electronica score for the full length film Magdalena's Brain, released in November 2004. Featuring Nate Radley on guitar/electronics, Jerry Sabatini on trumpet, Take Toriyama and Mike Connors on drums and percussion, and myself on bass and electronics. |