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Nomination, Domination, and the Return of Misty Hymen

These words have been brought to you by Jacques Swartz, Chronicler of John. Jacques would like to reaffirm for all interested parties that he is not, in fact, Mr. John Hollenbeck, nor is he Mr. Hollenbeck’s imaginary alter-ego, but rather a fully discrete being in his own right.All queries, complaints, kind remarks and general feedback regarding this blog may be directed to Jacques at johnhollenwebpr@gmail.com

Claudia Quintet LIVE_8390_©Signe Maehler

CQ live at A-Trane, Berlin. Photo courtesy Signe Maehler

GRAMMY NOM NOM 

We here at Camp Hollenbeck are very proud to announce that John has received a Grammy nomination for his arrangement of Jimmy Webb’s “The Moon’s A Harsh Mistress.” The tune appears on Songs I Like A Lot, and features Gary Versace on the piano and organ, and Kate McGarry and Theo Bleckmann on vocals with the Frankfurt Radio BigBand. In the afore linked-to article, All About Jazz’s John Kelman calls it “positively IMAX;” he recently selected it as one of 2013’s “top recorded events in Jazz and beyond,” while his colleague C. Michael Bailey did likewise.  It is, to use the old critic’s saw, a nom quite richly deserved. Listen to it here:

Not that we’re counting, but this will be John’s fourth Grammy nomination, following Large Ensemble’s A Blessing and eternal interlude, and “Falling Men,” off Shut Up and Dance, John’s 2010 collaboration with Daniel Yvinec and Orchestre National de Jazz.

You can check out the category in full here (and begin petitioning your local affiliate today to broadcast the granting of the instrumental awards, so often relegated offscreen!)

MORE KIND WORDS FOR SEPTEMBER 

Even into December, CQ’s latest, September, still finds its lovers multiplying. DownBeat’s John Corbett gave it four stars, citing its “miraculous little sonic universes.” In fact, three out of four DB critics gave it four stars in this month’s HotBox. Ralph Miriello chose it for his 2013 Jazz Journalists Association ‘best of’ list.  Jazz Times dubbed it “one of [John’s] most forceful and immediate efforts.” Irish Times proclaims it, “what music will sound like 100 years from now.” John Kelman And it is eMusic’s Pick of the Week, there described as “A curiously warped beauty, one that captivates as smartly as it challenges.”

The group’s live performances have not escaped notice either, including happy dispatched from Ian Patterson at All About Jazz and Gary Kelly at Culture Northern Ireland. Simon Adams at the Jazz Journal finds John “always an adventurous musician, pushing at the compositional limits,” while John Fordham said of CQ’s performance alongside the Royal Academy of Music’s Big Band that it “confirmed [Claudia] as one of jazz’s world leaders in the subtle balance of improv and composition.”

The strong response has even gone beyond English alone, with Ettore Garzia speaking of “Fra le esperienze più gustose e valide del jazz,” and Sergio Piccirilli of El Intruso praising the group’s performance at the Angel City Jazz Fest with: “Final para un concierto que -debido a su elocuente creatividad y viva representación de la “metamorfosis” experimentada por el jazz en el nuevo milenio– será muy difícil de olvidar.” Meanwhile friends in Paris sent us this CHOC, reproduced below from the December issue of Jazz Magazine.

Grazie, Graçias, and Merci bien.

RUN377_JazzMag

THE CLAUDIA QUINTET VIDEO PROJECT

Video artists, filmmakers, motionographers of every shade: if listening to Claudia finds you catching the creative spirit, bring your ideas to video life, and send a link where we can view them to hollenbeckmusic@gmail.com. We will feature our favorites on YouTube and all across the Hollenbeck Internet as testaments to artistic procreation—and, to make it a true contest, we’ll award a prize of $250 to our #1 pick. The deadline for submission is January 31st.

And now, allow us to present the latest in the Claudia Quintet Video Project: Mr. Ryan Dight, interpreting “Misty Hymen” from I, Claudia.

 CQ at CSC + REFUGE TRIO at CSC

Good news: New Yorkers in need of a Hollenbeck fix need wait only until the new year. In their surpassing wisdom, the curatorial minds at Cornelia Street Café have programmed an entire weekend John Hollenbeck Fest.

CLAUDIA QUINTET will perform:

Thursday, January 9th at 8:30&10:00pm

Friday, January 10th, at 9&10:30pm.

Then, on Saturday, January 11th, at 9&10:30pm, John rejoins Theo Bleckmann and Gary Versace as REFUGE TRIO.

That’s no fewer than FIVE live Hollenbeck opportunities. Those seeking tickets would do well to call 212.989.9319 to make reservations…and arrive early!

Himalayas, Redwood Highways, and The Claudia Quintet Video Project

These words have been brought to you by Jacques Swartz, Chronicler of John. Jacques would like to reaffirm for all interested parties that he is not, in fact, Mr. John Hollenbeck, nor is he Mr. Hollenbeck’s imaginary alter-ego, but rather a fully discrete being in his own right.All queries, complaints, kind remarks and general feedback regarding this blog may be directed to Jacques at johnhollenwebpr@gmail.com

 

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JAZZMANDU

Towards the end of October, Claudia Quintet found themselves in beautiful new territory when they came to join Jazzmandu, “The Best Jazz Party in the Himalayas,” and plainly one of the best-named music festivals anywhere. With live sets in full fivesome mode at the club Jazz Upstairs, Gokarna Forest Resort, the U.S. Ambassador’s residence, and the Jazzmandu Finale, John also manned the batons with CQ as part of an 11-piece international pan-jazz revue, a vertible “musical Tihar,” in the words of one reviewer. You can read more firsthand accounts in that piece in the Himalayan Times here, and take in the sights that Claudia saw in Kathmandu, Nepal at this marvelously colorful photo gallery here.

SEPTEMBER MARCHES ON

Claudia Quintet’s latest record, September, continues to garner positive notice far and wide. Ralph Miriello glowingly reviewed the record and its accompanying live show in a piece now living on the Huffington Post. Jeff Dayton-Johnson wrote about the record and then even went so far as to speak with John himself, over at All About Jazz. The conversation went so deep that inside sources tell us even John’s own wife learned something new from the article. Robert Ham interviewed as well, in the Willamette Week, revealing how John’s approach to drumming has changed over the years. If these reviews so move you, you can own yourself an album by visiting the Cuneiform bandcamp here.

COMMENCING NOW: THE CLAUDIA QUINTET VIDEO PROJECT

Picture: you are listening to Royal Toast. Sound waves tumble down ear canals on both sides and make fast friends with your weirdest of neuron clusters, proliferating wondrous and strange images inside your head. Claudia has brought to light a vision, and you would show the world if only you had a good excuse to do so.

Announcing The Claudia Quintet Video Project.

Video artists, animators, filmmakers of all stripes: when next you are listening to a Claudia tune and find you’ve caught the feeling, bring your ideas to video life and send a link where we can view them to hollenbeckmusic@gmail.com. We will feature our favorites on YouTube and all across the Hollenbeck Internet as testaments to artistic procreation—and, to make it a true contest, we’ll award a prize of $250 to our #1 pick. The deadline for submission is January 15th. 

We’ve commissioned five video artists already. The first video in our project, by Jak Ritger, may be seen below. Here’s to your work joining his soon!

EUROTOUR AHEAD

You needn’t be Nepali to see John and the gang. Touring continues in Europe this month with The Claudia Quintet; all you who live there, take note and ticket up.

Nov 19  A Trane – Berlin, GERMANY

Nov 20-22  Residency at the Royal Academy of Music – London, UK

Nov 23  London Jazz Festival (with the RAM Big Band) – London, UK  

Nov 24  The Mac – Belfast, N. IRELAND

Nov 25  The Workmans Club – Dublin, IRELAND


Looking further into the future:
New Yorkers will get the chance to see John at the Cornelia Street Cafe with The Claudia Quintet on JAN 9 & 10th, and with Refuge Trio on JAN 11th…2014!!

DRIVE THROUGH TREES AND OTHER ADVENTURES

We conclude, as is sometimes our wont, with tour photo dispatches, this time from CQ’s recent travels in the US West. See the gang motor through redwoods, trundle up beaches, and more, at this photo gallery here.

September (And Everything After)

These words have been brought to you by Jacques Swartz, Chronicler of John. Jacques would like to reaffirm for all interested parties that he is not, in fact, Mr. John Hollenbeck, nor is he Mr. Hollenbeck’s imaginary alter-ego, but rather a fully discrete being in his own right.All queries, complaints, kind remarks and general feedback regarding this blog may be directed to Jacques at johnhollenwebpr@gmail.com

As of September 24th, Claudia Quintet’s latest record is available for purchase, listen, and beloving. The new album, September, features compositions that John wrote last September and features Claudia “Classic” dudes: Chris Speed, Matt Moran and Drew Gress, plus Eastman chum Red Wierenga as well as frequent bass-sub Chris Tordini.

Early reviews have not been displeased. Nate Chinen of the New York Times calls it “inspired,” noting that “the bouquet of timbres that Claudia Quintet presents hasn’t lost its freshness.”  S. Victor Aaron of Something Else! Reviews believes “Hollenbeck’s genius is very much present,” sharing equal love for the group as well, as “composing and musicianship are always at the highest level.”

All tracks were begun or completed in Septembers past, each named for and married to a date. Snatch a copy of the new album here. You can also learn more about the record, or sample the tune Chinen singled out as “most gorgeously melancholy,” “12th Coping Song:

ALSO: John and Co. join Balkan Bravuranauts, Slavic Soul Party! at (le) Poisson Rouge on October 3rd. By no means a massive venue, so New Yorkers and those nearby ought buy tickets on the double!

TOUR TIME

For every record, there is a tour (tour tour tour). Starting in October, CQ stretches bi-coastally, then bi-hemispherically, stopping along the way at the superbly-named Jazzmandu festival in Nepal where they spread peace with music amidst natural splendor. November then finds them again astride northern Europe…

Oct 2 Bucknell University – Lewisburg, PA

Oct 3 Le Poisson Rouge – NYC, NY

Oct 4 Firehouse 12 – New Haven, CT

Oct 5 Lewis & Clark College – Portland, OR

Oct 6 Cornish College – Seattle, WA

Oct 7 Willamette University – Salem, OR

Oct 8 Arcata Playhouse – Arcata, CA

Oct 9 Bows & Arrows – Sacramento, CA

Oct 10 Kuumbwaa Jazz Center – Santa Cruz, CA

Oct 11 Red Cat (Angel City Jazz Fest) –  Los Angeles, CA

Nov 19 Atrane, Berlin

Nov 20-22 Residency at the Royal Academy of Music 

Nov 23 London Jazz Festival (with the RAM Big Band) 

Nov 24 –  The Mac, Belfast

Nov 25 – The Workmans Club, Dublin

“Since I was young, I always thought jazz was the next thing, the thing that does not have a label yet. Once it is called something and has been codified, then for me it WAS jazz but is not any more”

Ready yourself for the Hollenbeck live experience by reading more from this interview John sat for recently with marlbank.

Wyoming, September, Laurie and Kris

These words have been brought to you by Jacques Swartz, Chronicler of John. Jacques would like to reaffirm for all interested parties that he is not, in fact, Mr. John Hollenbeck, nor is he Mr. Hollenbeck’s imaginary alter-ego, but rather a fully discrete being in his own right.All queries, complaints, kind remarks and general feedback regarding this blog may be directed to Jacques at johnhollenwebpr@gmail.com

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WHAT JOHN DOES ON HIS SUMMER (SEMI-)VACATION

Latest insider reports show that John has taken up temporary home on the range, where buffalo roam and projectiles fly, albeit in safely different directions. Per John himself:

“I’m at this residency on a resort lodge in Wyoming called Brush Creek for 3 more weeks. Trying to write some music, in between fun activities like gun club, hiking, archery, yoga…”

Brush Creek, we hasten to add, is no roaming-range-come-lately. As they tell it:

“Over the years, Brush Creek Ranch has built a solid reputation, serving as a home to numerous families, cattle and horse herds, offering a one-of-a-kind gathering place for guests from around the world…

The story of Brush Creek Ranch dates back to 1884 when the Sterrett brothers settled the land and built the original homestead with logs cut, skid and hauled from the adjoining National Forest. A spirit of hard work, recreation, adventure and good times shared together are prevalent in the archives of days past, from famous barn and campfire cookouts to fishing on the renowned Brush Creek…

The fall of 2011 brought the newest philanthropic program from Bruce and Beth White, Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts—the newest artist-in-residence program in the great state of Wyoming. With this unique program, we share the gift of time and space with selected artists, writers and musicians from around the world in this unforgettable landscape.”

Sounds like soul-restoring stuff, doesn’t it? Roast a few marshmallows for us, John.

ANSWERING THE CALL

Prior to his retreat, John was at the Edinburgh International Festival with Meredith Monk, performingOn Behalf of Nature, where he formed part of the dance/performance/vocal corps known as the Vocal Ensemble. This deeply Monkian evening-length piece lays bare its thematic concerns while still summoning a complex reflection from its audience—or at least so say its many well-stirred reviewers. Learn more about the piece and see an excerpt here.

FRANCO-AMERICAN STEW

John has received a grant (again!), this time in support of the 2013-2014 season of the French-American Jazz Exchange. The grant, from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation and the French-American Cultural Exchange, sustains a new project that joins John with a bangup crew of french brassmen.

From the announcement:

“JASS is a new quartet led by American drummer John Hollenbeck and French saxophonist Alban Darche that also features French double bassist Sébastien Boisseau and Swiss trombonist Samuel Blaser, who now resides in New York City. The ensemble will create a new body of work composed collaboratively by Darche and Hollenbeck, who both use polyrhythmic textures and processes borrowed from groove and minimalist music. The group will rehearse and perform seven concerts in France, record the new compositions in the United States, and follow with touring stops in Cambridge, MA; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; and Washington, DC.”

Chantmé!

Learn more and read the complete press release here.

NEW CLAUDIA IS NIGH!

Claudia Quintet’s new record comes out on September 24th. Stunningly soon! Uncontainably exciting, we know!

The new record, September, will feature compositions that John wrote last September and features Claudia “Classic” dudes:Chris Speed, Matt Moran and Drew Gress, plus Eastman chum Red Wierenga as well as frequent bass-sub Chris Tordini.

Of course, as autumn follows summer, this record’s release means new tour dates for the 5tet, including an ultrafresh release party on October 3rd at Le Poisson Rouge with special guests Slavic Soul Party. Smashing.

Check out the gig details (and jump on tickets early) here. Learn more about the upcoming release, including a fuller list of tour dates, here.

For a nice sneak preview, here’s a lovely clip of Coping Song, written on September 12th, 2001 at the Blue Mountain Center.

REMEMBRANCES

On a sad note, we mark the passing of two dear friends this summer.

In July, Laurie Frink, a charter member of JHLE, passed. You can read John’s remembrance of her through the chains of email they exchanged, here, as well as Nate Chinen’s in the Times.

And this, from John:

“recently, Kris Goessens, who has been the pianist with the New Art Orchestra since the beginning, died suddenly.

I also played a lot of trio through the years with him and Ingmar Heller (the bassist with the NAO). He was a dear, sweet guy who will be missed. His playing was unbelievable-I can’t even explain it, but it was like he was channeling a sacred priest who played the piano.

photo of kris

The following are Bob’s liner notes from Get Well Soon – Recorded In August 2002

‘Kris Goessens is one of the world’s best kept secrets, something he and I hope to alter soon, playing duo on concert tours.  He has a depth of feeling and touch that I find unequaled by anyone I have heard.  He also has a quiet daring, use of space and register that break accepted barriers AND, patience, to allow an idea to unfold and fully speak.  His language is his and he feels almost painfully the act of creation.’”

 

Laurie Frink

I can not actually remember the first time I met Laurie Frink, but when I first started a large ensemble and asked trumpet players who to hire for the Trumpet 4 book, she was on everybody’s list.  And rightly so. Only slowly did I get to know her, her sharp wit and steadfast musicianship.  At times it seemed like she was in every major big band in NYC. Later, I would hear about how she was the chops doctor/therapist for brass players of all kinds, from newbies to experienced veterans. Like most, I was and am still in disbelief that she is suddenly gone.

As a way to heal and remember, I started looking through our email exchanges over the last several years. Although they are mostly about gigs, I can still hear and see Laurie when I read through them which somehow gives me a little solace.  I’ve gathered her responses here in chronological order and wanted to share them so others could share in this memory of her dry wit and “no BS” directness!  I’m still shaken when this compilations ends so suddenly without any resolution.

With gratitude, John

 

all can work

Laurie 

 

Hi John

It looks like I will be out of town Nov 2-4 so rehearsing earlier would be better for me

Laurie

 

whoo hooooo!!  congrats!!

Laurie

 

Hey John

fun gig!!  sorry bout the $–I didn’t realize we were getting paid last nite.  Mail is cool—–thanks

Laurie

 

Hi John

2-5 nov 13–see you then—-yes, I’d like music

Laurie

 

not me

Laurie

 

I had a great time playing your music!!!!!  could you shoot me the address of the studio please.  also–do you have a cutoff time or is it open ended—–anythings cool with me —just curious

thanks

Laurie 

 

John

I am out of town so i can’t look at my passport.  I’ll be in town for a minute on tuesday and will let you know what it says for sure

(probably Laurie Ann Frink but I’m not positive about the middle name being there)

As far as flight requests, I don’t care about the meal (it all sucks) but I’ll need an aisle seat as I am a pacer with a bad back.

thanks

Laurie 

 

june 13–good

june 12–anytime

Laurie

 

ok

Laurie

 

either is fine for me

Laurie

 

ok

Laurie

 

fine

Laurie

 

confirmed

Laurie

 

same address

240 west 98th #7G NYC 10025

Laurie

 

sorry–i thought I had responded–i;m good

Laurie

 

Hi John,

I’m upstate and internet has been wacky—can’t determine whether my reply got sent to you or not—sorry if this is a repeat

everything is doable (if I could please have about 10 days notice if possible) except for the 20 and 21 from 5:30 on.

Laurie

 

I’m good

Laurie

 

anytime

Laurie

 

anytime

Laurie

 

I’m good

Laurie

 

just to clarify–is the rehearsal oct 12?

Laurie

 

thanks–i got confused

Laurie

 

Hi John–thanks for the offer below–how about my rent for the remainder of the year…haha

pay-$100 (if you have extra expenses that you would like me to cover, please let me know)

 

 

I’m good for everything and have no preferences for dates or leavetimes.

Laurie

 

Hi John

thats great!!  the main thing I have to offer is that the traffic getting across the bridge into Newport is a f*&^king NITEMARE!!!

I can’t emphasize this enough…….last year I played with 2 different bands and the ‘sound checks’ really didn’t happen……

Laurie

 

confirmed–it doesnt matter to me when we fly—one thing that does matter:

if its possible I’d like an aisle seat on the plane–i’m a restless traveler with bad knees and lower back issues—I like to get up a lot

thanks

Laurie

 

yep

Laurie

 

doesnt’ matter

Laurie

 

april 25 works–I can rehearse any day except  april 23

Laurie

 

I’d need to finish by 5:30–anytime before can work

Laurie

 

good for me

Laurie

 

im good

Laurie

 

Hi John

MSM has scheduled its trumpet entrance auditions on tuesday afternoon and as one of 3 trumpet faculty

I really need to be there for some of it at least so I’m sorry to say that I’ll be late to the soundcheck.

looking forward to the next several days.

Laurie

 

the auditions go til 6, but I figured I’d jump in a cab @ 4:30—so depending on traffic I should be there by 5.

I went to school at the University of Nebraska

Laurie

 

I’m up–standing , and awake—thanks –sorry to have to bother you with all of this……..

Laurie

 

cool

Laurie

 

cool

Laurie

 

I’m cool with this

Laurie

 

cool–sorry to be tardy

Laurie

 

cool—BTW is Newport on for aug 6 or 7??–sorry I’m such an airhead

Laurie

 

Hi John

I will be in Newport from aug 4 on…..sorry

Laurie

 

august 1  4:30 on

august 2 3 PM on

Laurie

 

John

Maybe everyone already knows this, but just in case—-getting across the Newport bridge can be a nitemare!!!!

Allow at least an extra hour….maybe even more

Laurie

 

Confirmed–I’ll need a parking permit

Laurie

 

I will be traveling with Lois–will she need a pass to get into the festival?

Laurie

 

I can also just flirt real heavy with the guard……

Laurie

 

Late afternoon on the 11th would work

Laurie

 

Hi John

I’m in Newport without nicks email address– could you please send it to me —

I need someone to translate the tickets– I can’t figure out leaving and arriving times— sorry to be so lame

Laurie

 

I will get myself to the airport tomorrow

Laurie

 

Confirmed— I will get myself to Newark tomorrow

Laurie

 

thanks john–already printed it…….

Laurie

 

Hi John

The folks you asked are exactly the ones I would have suggested.  Perhaps ask Kenny Wheeler??   I am disappointed to say that I’m going to be unable to do the KW gig…sorry.   I’ve had many inspiring times with him and was really looking forward to this gig.

Laurie

 

Re: pic from lisbon….how come I’m the only one looking at JC? (:

maybe you’re lost????

Laurie

 

good

Laurie

 

Hi John,

No problem. Thanks for the advance notice.

Happy new year!

Laurie

 

got it will be there with bells on

Laurie

 

ok for me

Laurie

 

cool

i also have in my book nov 28-dec 3–is this happening or did I forget to delete?

my mother didn’t like me

Laurie

 

Never have we doubled up

Laurie

 

 

either

Laurie

 

I am in the woods with no scanner or fax–here is a photo–

laurie frink photo

 

i’m ok–sorry–thought I’d answered

Laurie

 

How are we traveling to DC?

Laurie

 

yay!!! thanks

Laurie

 

I’m good–happy new year!!

Laurie

 

cool don’t care

Laurie

 

John,

I am very sorry to do this, but I’m not going to be able to do the tour this spring.

I will miss you all and especially playing the music, but I’m really getting jammed up.

Laurie

 

please let me know that you got my last email

Laurie

Refuge Trio, Brooklyn Conservatory BYOB, and L’Ensemble Cairn

These words have been brought to you by Jacques Swartz, Chronicler of John. Jacques would like to reaffirm for all interested parties that he is not, in fact, Mr. John Hollenbeck, nor is he Mr. Hollenbeck’s imaginary alter-ego, but rather a fully discrete being in his own right.All queries, complaints, kind remarks and general feedback regarding this blog may be directed to Jacques at johnhollenwebpr@gmail.com

POWERS OF THREE

Refuge Trio reunites for three Northwesterner gigs! First, a residency and concert at University of Oregon on May 9th, then, on May 15th, as part of Earshot’s Spring Series in Seattle, and, finally, at PDX Jazz at the Mission Theatre, on May 16th. Tickets available at the afore-linked links.

For those uninitiated or curious, check out this preview article from the Eugene Weekly(featuring a super-dashing photo of Theo to add to your collection). You’re also encouraged to scroll down for a Rashomon-style interview with each member of the group…

THE UN-CONSERVATORY

The Claudia Quintet with Matt Mitchell will appear at Brooklyn Conservatory on Thursday, June 13, at 7 and 9:30 pm. They will play the Conservatory’s “Jazz Club,” performing—per special request—music from Claudia’s 2010 LP, Royal Toast. Reports, if they can be believed, say BYOB. OK!

What could be better than classic Claudia and hand-brought beer? Why, a live pre-concert Q&A with noted music journalist David Adler! Not bad!

Personnel on hand:

John Hollenbeck, drums
Chris Speed, clarinet and tenor saxophone
Red Wierenga, accordion
Drew Gress, acoustic bass
Matt Moran, vibraphone
And SPECIAL GUEST: Matt Mitchell, piano

To purchase tickets please click here

To hear “Sphinx,” from Royal Toast, click here.

Below, a love song for John’s beloved Kate, entitled “Love Song for Kate,” from Claudia’s first record, matched with the poetry of Dylan Thomas. A splendid look for all involved.

ECOUTEZ L’ENSEMBLE CAIRN

“Flock,” John’s piece for French contemporastronauts L’Ensemble Cairn, is now listenable as a podcast by clicking here. Please note this podcast is only available for listening until JUNE 5th. No dawdling!

What you’ll hear if you’ll listen is the premiere performance at the Theatre d’Orleans, from March 8th. The Ensemble plays “Limpidity of Silences” (previously recorded by Claudia Quintet, this is its first actual performance), followed by a new commission for them, “The Commons,” then an orchestration for the Ensemble of John’s Bang On A Can commission, “Rainbow Jimmies.” “Flock” is the encore.

The concert starts with a great piece called “Aschenblume,” by Mauro Lanza, plus a premiere by the crafty New York wildcat, Alex Mincek, titled, “Donegal.” (But if you’re in a hurry, the Hollenbeck portion starts at 34:40.)

For those fortunate enough to be shouting distance from Douai, you can see L’Ensemble perform this piece live, at the Hippodrome Douai on June 1st. Allez!

AS PROMISED ABOVE, AN INTERVIEW WITH EACH OF THE MEMBERS OF REFUGE TRIO, IN CASE YOU WERE CURIOUS

Courtesy UOregon’s Liner Notes Blog

Gary Versace:

1. What are you planning to bring to the performance at the University?

Lots and lots of weed. (Not really. But if you know anyone… 🙂

2. Can you tell us the musical journey of Refuge Trio? How did you start as a band?

With instruments and microphones, then we plugged the shit in, and BAM. Wok tee, baby.

3. What are your biggest influences in music that shape your style today?

Spandex.

4. Do you have any upcoming projects that you’d like to share with the readers?

A large toothpick replica of st. patrick’s cathedral that i’ve been working on for months…it’s pretty sweet.

Theo Bleckmann:

1. What are you planning to bring to the performance at the University?

Old and new music performed in new ways.

2. Can you tell us the musical journey of Refuge Trio? How did you start as a band?

This trio was formed to play at the 2002 Wall-to-Wall Joni Mitchell Marathon Concert at Symphony Space in NYC. Since then, they have continued to explore music from all genres following a unique collaborative path.

Their repertoire includes their own originals as well as compositions by Joni Mitchell, Theolonius Monk, Dmitri Schostakovitsch, Sidsel Endresen and Allan Holdsworth among others.

3. What are your biggest influences in music that shape your style today?

Pretty much everything influences me, either in a good way that makes me want to learn about it and have more of it in my life, or in a way that defines what I want to avoid.

4. Do you have any upcoming projects that you’d like to share with the readers?

I am working on a new band with harpist Zeena Parkins (Björk) performing some of my new songs and some baroque music.

John Hollenbeck:

1. What are you planning to bring to the performance at the University?

TOYS…LOTSA TOYS

2. Can you tell us the musical journey of Refuge Trio? How did you start as a band?

gary has the funny answer, theo the real one….so I think you got all you need on this one!

3. What are your biggest influences in music that shape your style today?

yesterday I heard a great album from a band from Berlin called Schneeweiss and Rotenrot-the album is called Pool-check it out!

but usually I’m behind the current trends….as I’m writing this I’m listening to deerhoof and just to show how unhip I am-this is my first time listening to them…..I get into everything about 5-10 years after everyone else it seems……next up for me is probably The Dirty Projectors since I’ve been hearing about them for about 5 years…..

eternal favs:

Peter Garland, Brian Eno, György Ligeti

4. Do you have any upcoming projects that you’d like to share with the readers?

That reminds me that what I should be doing right now is finishing music for the upcoming Claudia Quintet record, called September that is coming out in, you guessed it-September!  Also revising some new music for this great new music ensemble from Paris, France, Ensemble Cairn, that I will play with in a few weeks….yikes I got to get back to work.

Today, Cornelia Street; Tomorrow, Dukedom

These words have been brought to you by Jacques Swartz, Chronicler of John. Jacques would like to reaffirm for all interested parties that he is not, in fact, Mr. John Hollenbeck, nor is he Mr. Hollenbeck’s imaginary alter-ego, but rather a fully discrete being in his own right.All queries, complaints, kind remarks and general feedback regarding this blog may be directed to Jacques at johnhollenwebpr@gmail.com

 

claudia in St. Louis w_Tordini

Claudia Quintet take Cornelia Street (with special guest, Chris Tordini)

This week CQ swings through old stomping grounds in the West Village. All shows are All Ages, so you can bring your baby (or your baby’s baby).

Friday, April 19 at 9 & 10:30PM 
and Saturday, April 20, at 9 & 10:30PM

Go once! Go twice in a night ! Go four times in a weekend!

Call 212-989-9319 for tickets or visit their website for details

Shortwave signals

The Claudia Qunitet will “appear” in an accordion special hosted by Ssrirus Pakzad (correct spelling!). Part of the show, “radioJazznacht,” it will be broadcast on may 4th, 6pm-8pm New York Time, on Bayern 2 (Bayerischer Rundfunk). Listen in via live stream here.

And for our readers who are fluent in Portguese, we have a nice feeling what ‘forca positiva’ might mean, but we’d appreciate your help to verify.Check the full interview here.

Next step: Knighthood

We are very proud to announce that John has been appointed to England’s Royal Academy of Music as their Visiting Professor of Jazz for the academic year 2013/2014. In John’s words as quoted by RAM:

John Hollenbeck said, ’It is a distinct honour to be invited to teach at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music as a Visiting Professor of Jazz. I anticipate it will be an insightful and enriching experience for me to work with the Academy’s students, and I hope to inspire and motivate the students in return, serving to bring them closer to their chosen path.’

See, he even used the added ‘u’ when he said ‘honor’! Righto!

Tour Pix: Dispatches from the Midwest

What began at the Jazz Standard, went to Ohio and ended in Johnson City, NY. For those not fortunate enough to see shows or play along for the ride, you can view a comprehensive gander of the proceedings right here from “Mr. Enthusiasm” Steven Lugerner!

From Radio Waves and Magazine Pages to The Jazz Standard and The Wex

 

These words have been brought to you by Jacques Swartz, Chronicler of John. Jacques would like to reaffirm for all interested parties that he is not, in fact, Mr. John Hollenbeck, nor is he Mr. Hollenbeck’s imaginary alter-ego, but rather a fully discrete being in his own right.All queries, complaints, kind remarks and general feedback regarding this blog may be directed to Jacques at johnhollenwebpr@gmail.com

 

Old Media <3’s John

Ladies and gentleman, John Hollenbeck has hit the mainstream. At long last, the unclassifiable is cool. No longer will “no labels” be an impediment to earnest attention from the masses. For on newsstands now—that’s right, I said newsstands—you can find not one but TWO highly respected journalistic organs devoting raw pagespace for John and his travails.

In this latest issue of The New Republic you can read “Music Without Category,” by David Hajdu. To wit:

Screen Shot 2013-03-30 at 7.34.41 PMScreen Shot 2013-03-30 at 7.36.54 PM

Likewise, in this current issue of Stereophile  magazine you can read an extensive article on John, written by Mr. Robert Baird.

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Let this pristine ink not be spilled in vain! Get thee to your corner store or bookshop and have at least a pagethrough of these pieces. Neither will be found on the Internet—that rascal’s den of the errant and inane—so you must go into the light of the real press and read it for yourself! Go! The sunshine will do you some good!

And did we mention…the Radio?

Not only does John appear in glossy print this month, but he and stellar vocal partner Mr. Theo Bleckmann will join Michael Bourne on his show Singers Unlimited on Sunday, March 31st at 12pm on WBGO 88.3FM. NYC/NJ Hollenfans, bust out your radio and tune in. Internet Citizens of Hollenbeck Nation, set your dials to www.wbgo.org and join the party via web.

Upcoming shows

To read and hear the words and music of John is good. But to do so in the same room as the man himself? Another story completely. Hear the music unadulterated by airwaves, and be in proximate communion with with your fellow fans. Be advised of the below shows—the critics have taken notice too—and get satisfied physically:

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble SONGS I LIKE A LOT with Kate McGarry & Theo Bleckmann @ Jazz Standard

116 E 27th St., 11th Fl., New York, NY

Sets: 7:30 PM/9:30PM
TICKETS $20

All Ages, Ticket Here

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

John Hollenbeck SONGS I LIKE A LOT with Kate McGarry & Theo Bleckmann @ Oberlin College

135 W. Lorain Street, Oberlin, OH

Set: 8:00 PM

All Ages, Tickets Here

Thursday, April 4, 2013

John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble SONGS I LIKE A LOT with Kate McGarry & Theo Bleckmann @ Wexner Center for the Arts

1871 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43210-1393

(614) 292-3535 Set: 8:00 PM

All Age, Tickets Here

Tickets: $16 members/ $18 general public/ $13 students

Friday, April 5, 2013

John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble SONGS I LIKE A LOT with Kate McGarry & Theo Bleckmann @ The Goodwill Theatre

67 Broad Street, Johnson City, NY 13790

607.772.2404 Set: 7:00 PM

All Ages, Tickets Here

Tickets: $15 / $12 / 10  

More likes for Songs I Like A Lot

The latest review begins, “„Welcome to the first classic album of 2013!“, jubelt down beat.”

Beyond that, I can’t read it, but mayhaps you can! Check it out on this most-excellent german language jazz site.

For a closer-to-home take on SILAL, may we suggest the Los Angeles Times? This quick blurb (replete with lovely action shot) says a mouthful.

JH for young ears

We close with this, from a friend of the Hollenfamily. You’ve known John Hollenbeck is outstanding listening for grownups of all stripes. But did you know it could also be delivered to younger, more formative minds, as part of a well-balanced musical awakening? Read on…

From Jack Hollenbeck’s (7th grader-nephew of John) excellent music teacher:     “Yes, today we were covering 20th century music & specifically 12-tone music.  Arnold Schoenberg was the composer that initially made that famous, so we covered him.  But I wanted to tie in something more contemporary, so Rick got me listening to John’s Meinetwegen (from his 1st Claudia Quintet CD) last night, so I played it for them today.  The kids thought it was SO cool that it was Jack’s uncle, & they were quite taken by the voices included in the tune!”

John’s response: “I wish I had a 7th Grade teacher who played me Schoenberg when I was starting out!” These kids get the benefit of them both.

If you have stories about your own intersections with John Hollenbeck’s music, be they spiritual, educational or other, do not hesitate to share! We are always listening…

 

French Engagements, New York Nights, And The Return Of JHLE 

These words have been brought to you by Jacques Swartz, Chronicler of John. Jacques would like to reaffirm for all interested parties that he is not, in fact, Mr. John Hollenbeck, nor is he Mr. Hollenbeck’s imaginary alter-ego, but rather a fully discrete being in his own right.All queries, complaints, kind remarks and general feedback regarding this blog may be directed to Jacques at johnhollenwebpr@gmail.com

20130306_171243

John ventures Franceward to join Ensemble Cairn “pour un projet qui confronte et associe musique écrite et musique improvisée, musique jazz et musique contemporaine.” Or, as we might say in English, a mindbending and ballerific evening. Ensemble Cairn specializes in what other folks might call difficult music. Spectral, post-spectral, improvisational collaborations, the works.

For this program JH has been invited to perform a brand new work commissioned by L’Ensemble, “The Commons,” based on (wait for it) The Commons framework. John et al. will also play a réorchestration of Rainbow Jimmies, initially commissioned for Bang on a Can, PLUS two works from What Is The Beautiful, including “Flock” and “Limpidity of Silences,” making its live premiere. To top it off, will also be joined for this performance by most excellent French saxophonist, Fred Gastard. Detailles ci-dessous. 

MARCH 8

Ensemble Cairn “Un Cairn à John Hollenbeck” @ Théâtre d’Orléans

Boulevard Pierre Ségelle, Orléans, 45002 (France) – Map

02 38 62 75 30  Set: 8:30 PM

All Ages

Tickets: 24 / 18

MARCH 9

Ensemble Cairn “Un Cairn à John Hollenbeck” @ Le Petit faucheux

12 rue Léonard de Vinci , Tours, 37000 (France) – Map

02 47 38 67 62  Set: 8:30 PM

All Ages

Tickets: 15 € / 12 € / 7 €

What heights of elegance could ever top these? Two words: Johnson City. In the beginning of April, it will be there in the Southern Tier, as well as in the zamboni-flat heartland of Columbus, OH, that John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble makes its triumphant return, joining Kate & Theo to perform Songs he Likes A Lot. Then, later in April, JH breaks away with Claudia Quintet for a luxurious 3-night engagement at The Cornelia Street Café in New York.

OH—and how could we forget? Claudia Quintet’s original formation reunites on March 23rd at Symphony Space, featuring alumni and faculty from Chris Speed & Matt Moran’s alma mater, New England Conservatory. They will there play a brief set with former CQ accordionist and NEC faculty member, Ted Reichman.

Details on all this and more may be found at JohnHollenbeck.com/Live

CAN’T MAKE IT LIVE?

We all are visited by reclusiveness. If unwilling or unable to see the Hollenmenschen live, we offer this as a decent substitute: Ringing out in high definition, it’s Claudia Quintet, live via Vimeo from Sunset in Paris. Courtesy of CitizenJazz point com, you can view these most excellent videos and catch the glory secondhand right here.

In a similar vein, you can download for portable listening this combination live performance/interview, courtesy Mr. Mark Hayes and his Passing Notes site, right here. Truly extensive, not to be missed.

REVIEWS, UNABATED

The love keeps a’flowing for Songs I Like A Lot, John’s latest album, now available for immediate purchase. Joining the choir of biggups is DownBeat’s Frank Alkyer, who selected the record as an Editors’ Pick, as well as emusic’s Dave Sumner, and—straight outta Irie—Mr. Cormac Larkin of the Irish Times.

Meanwhile our sizable German-fluent readership may enjoy this review of another Hollencollab, Shut Up and Dance, in the words of Mr. Sebastian Scotney (the English translation follows, in case you’re feeling rusty).

PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST

But what have you done for US lately? Sketched Mr. Hollenbeck mid-strike in charcoal and guache? No? Well at least one fellow has, and he threatens to put your fandom to shame with his efforts. His note to us, along with the masterwork he created, follow:

I am an artist from Bamberg, Germany. You played with your band in our town in the Jazzclub in the year 2009 and I made a portrait of you later with help from a photo I made this evening.

2010 I made a exhibition with different jazz musicians in our club, also with the one of you. I thought now, maybe you like it and so I send it to you as mail to look at it.

friendly greetings from Bamberg,

(Awesome Fan)

hollenportrait

FRIDAY FLUSH

Last but not least, we bring you this dispatch from The Department of Getting The Joke. We appreciate your appreciation, Ken®.

 

SONGS YOU’LL LIKE A LOT

 

These words have been brought to you by Jacques Swartz, Chronicler of John. Jacques would like to reaffirm for all interested parties that he is not, in fact, Mr. John Hollenbeck, nor is he Mr. Hollenbeck’s imaginary alter-ego, but rather a fully discrete being in his own right.All queries, complaints, kind remarks and general feedback regarding this blog may be directed to Jacques at johnhollenwebpr@gmail.com

**Songs I Like a Lot_CD Cover

 

Dear friends and lovers: The time is now. John Hollenbeck’s latest record, _Songs I Like A Lot_, has at last been released into the wild. John’s latest mad creation contains covers of songs by everyone from Ornette Coleman to Imogen Heap, and costars Theo Bleckmann, Kate McGarry, Gary Versace, and The Frankfurt Radio Big Band, all stewing and steeping together as they chase down new angles on old favorites. You can buy it as a compact disc via BANDCAMP or as a very compact indeed digital-only download via iTUNES. The choice, power, and delight, are all yours!

Still reading, yet somehow still undecided? Luckily a few kind fellows have taken it upon themselves to vet the record on your behalf.

Cliff Belamy at the Herald Sun has already pre-Liked It Alot, as did Dan Deluca of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, who remarked that it was “another display of his great work with a large ensemble.” Meanwhile Jeff Simon at the Buffalo News unabashedly Loves It Alot; his review calls it, “quite simply, the most beautiful jazz disc I have heard in months.” He also deigns to call John a “percussionist and brilliant, wildly eclectic jazz composer and orchestra leader,” the last part of which conjured delightful images of John in white tie, tails and kid gloves, mugging like Bernstein and flailing drumstick-batons in arrhythmic time. For a true Extended Analysis you can read this article from John Kelman at AllAboutJazz, praising John’s “unerring ability to find good music in any corner, nook or cranny, turning it into something personal without ever losing what made it so good in the first place.”

The day is here, the time has come; the record can, nay, SHOULD be yours. Get down with Jimmy Webb like you’ve never got down with him before. Revisit the land of Pop with some drastically revisited Queen. Join the chorus of love and generally just have a ball. SONGS I LIKE A LOT awaits your ears eagerly.

THE FUTURE

With album in hand and appetite once again re-whet, you will inevitably wonder when next you can see the man himself. Well, wonder no more, and peep the following dates on the horizon:

Friday, February 1st at 8:00 PM
at Petit Faucheux in Tours, France
with JASS — Alban Darche, Samuel Blaser, Sebastien Boisseau and John Hollenbeck
 
Saturday, February 2nd at 7:30pm
Orchestre National de Jazz performing the program “Shut Up and Dance”
at the WDR 3 JazzFest in Cologne, Germany
WDR Funkhaus, Klaus-von-Bismarck-Saal
Details ici 
 
Sunday, February 3rd at 8pm
at “Kulturzentrum Dieselstrasse,” Esslingen, Germany
It’s time for Junk Box, feat.
Natsuki Tamura on trumpet,
Satoko Fujii at the piano, and 
John Hollenbeck on the hide-n’-metal beat bins
Details here 
 
Thursday, February 14th at 7:30pm
at the GRAND THÉÂTRE in Lorient, France
ONJ is back performing SUAD

On a more extracurricular note, John joins old friends uptown in New York; to wit—

 
Mar 2, 2013, 8:00 PM-10:00 PM
Columbia University, Miller Theatre in New York City
Fred Hersch‘s My Coma Dreams
 
…looking a bit further down the road, we see John, KateTheo, and JHLE Take Ohio to perform SONGS I LIKE A LOT live! 

Wednesday, April 3rd
Oberlin College

and

Thursday, April 4th 

at the Wexner Center for the Arts at Ohio State University!

IT’S BEAT TIME IT’S HOP TIME IT’S MONK TIME

Last week Meredith Monk’s ecstatic new musical-theatre work, “On Behalf of Nature,” had its premiere at the Freud Playhouse at UCLA, and it looks deeply, entrancingly rad. Get thee to this glowing and enrapt review by Mark Swed of the LA Times, which, as a bonus, features a rare FULL BODY PHOTO of John mid-sway with his fellow Monk-ites. The verdict: “Mature and magnificent Monk.” We in the East and elsewhere await her new cuckoo eagerly.