Tom Hamilton – Nord modular synthesizer
Bruce Eisenbeil – guitar
with special guest: William Hooker, percussion
“Impressive, fascinating, exotic and challenging”
~ Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
Coherence without predictability, speed without tempo, direction without a roadmap – an unlikely foray into the world of out-jazz and free improvisation. It’s a duo that thwarts expectations of its specific instrumentation. The artists hybridize the language of electronic sound through Eisenbeil’s guitar and Hamilton’s virtual analog synthesizer, and the performances impart maximum phys icality and spontaneity. Equal rights for all sounds is one goal, and since each musician is a maximalist, a dizzying array of sounds and techniques are employed to sustain a visceral experience; contrasting sonic elements played one against another, striving to achieve an isomorphism of musical elements. Pogus Productions has just released their CD “Shadow Machine,” to rave reviews. Avant jazz has just now begun to really embrace the language and sounds of electronics; these two artists are positioned on the forefront of a trend that aims to subvert orthodoxy and challenge old assumptions.
In a first-time performance, Hamilton and Eisenbeil will be joined in one set by their special guest, the great percussionist William Hooker.
TOM HAMILTON has been composing and performing for over 40 years, and his work with electronic music originated in the late-60s era of analog synthesis. Hamilton often explores the interaction of many simultaneous layers of activity, prompting the use of “present-time listening” on the part of both performer and listener. Hamilton appears on synthesizer in his own ensembles, and has performed as a member of Slybersonic Tromosome and the Noisy Meditation Band (Peter Zummo), The Spinozas (David Soldier), and Analogos (Michael Schumacher). He has recently performed with Thomas Buckner, Rich O’Donnell, Al Margolis, Jacqueline Martelle, Doug Theriault and Matt Hannafin. Hamilton was a Fellow of the Civitella Ranieri Center in Umbria, Italy, and his CD London Fix received an award in the Prix Ars Electronica. He is a longtime member of composer Robert Ashley’s touring opera ensemble, and his audio production can be found in over 60 CD releases of new and experimental music.
BRUCE EISENBEIL (b. 21st August 1963, Chicago, Illinois), is a composer and improvising guitarist who started playing guitar at four and began to perform professionally when he was 15. Although primarily self-taught he studied with Joe Pass, Howard Roberts, Joe Diorio and Dennis Sandole – teacher of John Coltrane and Pat Martino. In addition to his musical developments, Eisenbeil is trained in advanced mathematics, physics – general relativity and quantum mechanics, organic chemistry, computer languages, electrical engineering, acoustics, art history, philosophy and psychology. He has worked as an electrical technician, mechanical draftsman, auto mechanic and in construction. He has twelve CD’s released on a variety of labels including: ESP, Pogus, Nemu, Konnex, Cadence, C.I.M.P and Nine Winds. Eisenbeil has been living in New York City since 1995 and he performs at venues and festivals throughout the US, Japan and Europe. His music is distinguished by his signature sound, modern guitar techniques and a dynamic experimental musical vocabulary with a dark harmonious nature. Bruce has had the opportunity to perform and/or record with Cecil Taylor, David Murray, Milford Graves, Evan Parker, Ellery Eskelin, Andrew Cyrille, William Parker, Karl Berger, Lukas Ligeti and many others. His current trio, TOTEM, includes Tom Blancarte and Andrew Drury. He has recieved composing grants and has been featured in many articles, most recently in Guitar Player Magazine. More info: www.eisenbeil.com, www.myspace.com/eisenbeil
William Hooker is an artistic whole, a vast circle of vision and execution. A body of uninterrupted work beginning in the mid-seventies defines him as one of the most important composers and players in jazz. As bandleader, Hooker has fielded ensembles in an incredibly diverse array of configurations. Each collaboration has brought a serious investigation of his compositional agenda and the science of the modern drum kit. As a player, Hooker has long been known for the persuasive power of his relationship with his instrument. His work is frequently grounded in a narrative context. Whether set against a silent film or anchored by a poetic theme, Hooker brings dramatic tension and human warmth to avant-garde jazz. His ability to find fertile ground for moving music in a variety of settings that obliterate genre distinctions offers a much-needed statement of social optimism in the arts. A disciplined, adaptive, and energetic approach to his medium insures that the oeuvre of William Hooker will continue to grow thicker and richer. William Hooker has released over 20 critically acclaimed CDs. As a composer, he has received commissions from Meet the Composer, the NY State Council on the Arts, Real Art Ways and others, and has led many creative ensembles with musicians from diverse backgrounds, including Lee Ranaldo, David Murray, David S. Ware, William Parker, DJ Spooky and Thurston Moore. Hooker often reads his poetry during performances as part of the musical compositions.
“Stylistic concerns are very nearly unimportant, as the pair are engaging in their own language of free improvisation.”
~ Martin Longley, All About Jazz-New York
