Ink Well

Ink Well is a generative score created for UWM’s Experimental Improvisation Ensemble. Written in Processing, the piece generates creatures that slither and reach their tendrils outward. Improvising musicians follow these creatures and perform their shapes and movement. The piece will be premiered May 6, 7:30 pm at the Music Building Recital Hall (MUS 175). I’m …

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Recording Minor Vices: Misdemeanors

On July 13th Minor Vices got together to record Misdemeanors, a structured improvisation by Chris Burns. The 26 short movements of the piece set rules for the ensemble to follow while they play. In addition to being great music, excellent performances, and absolute fun, we got to break in new recording equipment and fully use …

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Tabla Demo

On Tuesday I visited Adam Murphy’s composition studies class at Ronald Reagan College Preparatory High School to demonstrate the basics of tabla performance. Adam lectured on Indian classical music structure and I talked a bit on rhythmic theory. The students were all attentive and sharp, and had some great questions. Hopefully I’ll see them at …

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Trevor Saint + Alligator Char

Monday night (November 12), Trevor Saint will be performing at the UWM Recital Hall at 7:30 pm. The first half of the program is a set of works for solo glockenspiel, mostly with electronics — including works by Matthew Burtner, Jeff Herriott, and Eric Sheffield/Anna Weisling, as well as a performance of Chris Burns’ work …

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TORCH – LIVE November 7th

TORCH is set to play a concert of original and classic works on November 7th at the Peck School of the Arts Recital Hall, 7:30 pm. The concert is free and open to the public, and should be an exciting debut of the ensemble. I’m really happy with the way the group has come along …

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MINOR VICES – Performance at the Borg Ward

Next Wednesday Night, August 29, I’ll be joining some excellent musicians to perform music by Christopher Burns. The show will feature some heavy improvisation with formal instruction. We had a rehearsal last night, and all I can say is that the pieces are a blast to perform. The lineup: David Collins, sax Adam Murphy, clarinet …

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