Catching up on 2017

2017 has been eventful to say the least, and I’ve been lagging on posting updates here but not for lack of activity. Above are some photo highlights. Back in January I was pleased to accept the Jazz Educator of the Year award from the Kern County Music Educators’ Association, which was a nice prelude to our 2nd annual KCMEA Jazz Day event at Bakersfield College in April, and a few months later my acceptance of a tenure-track, full time teaching position as Director of Jazz Studies at BC. Lots of exciting things coming down the pike as we expand and develop this program…

I’ve been doing a bit of work down in Long Beach at my friend Chris Schlarb’s new Big Ego Studios, playing on several soon-to-be released projects by Schlarb’s group Psychic Temple, LA bassist Anthony Shadduck, Virginia duo Honeybrandy, and Iowa-based songwriter Dana Telsrow. In May I made a new record with Mike Baggetta – our fifth duo project as Tin/Bag – which should be out next year on Big Ego records.

Other highlights include gigs in Idaho and LA with Cathlene Pineda‘s Quartet, Sacramento and Oakland with a new trio with bassist Lisa Mezzacappa and percussionist Nathan Hubbard, and an epic gig atop the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook organized by SASSAS and my friend Dan Clucas.

Recently…

Tin/Bag UK Tour

Tin/Bag in the UK

Tin/Bag at UNM Arts Lab, 2013 - photo by Mark Weber

Looking forward to setting off for Durham, England to take part in a Philosophy of Improvisation Workshop on April 17-18, organized by Andy Hamilton and presented by the Gateshead Jazz Festival and Durham University. I’ll be giving a presentation on systemic music, and later performing at the University with Mike Baggetta in our duo Tin/Bag:

The workshop will explore the concept of an aesthetics of imperfection in which spontaneous process is valued over finished product. While this aesthetic is expressed most clearly in the work of improvising musicians, it’s also necessary for higher level creative performance while following a score. The concept thus deepens our capacity to understand and appreciate both improvised and composed music. The workshop is aimed at performers, promoters, producers, researchers, teachers and jazz enthusiasts.

Participants include improvising musicians Louise Gibbs and Steve Beresford from the UK, Mike Baggetta and Kris Tiner from the US, writers Philip Clark and Andy Hamilton, as well as promoters and record producers.

On April 20 we will be in London for a concert at I’klectik Art Lab with the Loz Speyer Quartet. More information on my events page.

Recently…

Cathlene Pineda Quartet – Passing: A California Suite

passing

Cathlene Pineda Quartet CD Release Tour for Passing: A California Suite

Cathlene Pineda, piano, compositions
Kris Tiner, trumpet
Tina Raymond, drums
David Tranchina, bass



Passing: A California Suite was written after a commission received by the Los Angeles Jazz Society to compose a piece about Los Angeles for the Angel City Jazz Festival in 2014. The music is inspired by the poetry of LA’s first poet-laureate, Eloise Klein-Healy, and each piece is based on an excerpt of her work.

For more info: www.cathlenepineda.com

More about Orenda Records: www.orendarecords.com

January 26 – Cathlene Pineda QuartetBlue Whale | Los Angeles | 9pm | fb

January 28 – Cathlene Pineda Quartet | Col. MaCaw’s Magical Cure-All | Grass Valley, CA | 7:30pm | fb

January 29 – Cathlene Pineda Quartet | UNR | Reno, NV

January 30 – Cathlene Pineda QuartetDagny’s | Bakersfield | 5pm | fb

Empty Cage at Angel City

2015 Angel City Jazz Festival poster by Kio Griffith

2015 Angel City Jazz Festival poster by Kio Griffith

This week the Empty Cage Quartet reconvenes for performances at the Angel City Jazz Festival in Los Angeles (with Lucian Ban and Mat Maneri), Studio Grand in Oakland (with The Lost Trio), and Dagny’s Coffee Co. in Bakersfield. From there we head into the studio to work on material for our next album.

More info on the events page at emptycagequartet.com.