REDCAT Presents The Claudia Quintet 10/28

REDCAT (the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater) presents The Claudia Quintet for a one-night engagement recasting jazz in shimmering new shapes inflected by minimalism, new music, progressive rock and post-rock on Wednesday, October 28, 2009.

Led by drummer and composer John Hollenbeck, the brilliant New York band has been called "...a true ensemble from top to bottom, a sonic equivalent to a hand-woven tapestry... Impressive." (DownBeat) The quintet's one-of-a-kind "jazz and beyond" sound, with massive emotional depth, comes organically from the uncanny interplay of its virtuosos: Hollenbeck, Drew Gress (double bass), Matt Moran (vibes), Ted Reichman (accordion) and Chris Speed (clarinet, tenor sax), accompanied by guest artist Gary Versace (piano). Their beautifully seductive work features propulsive grooves, catchy melodies and improvisations that are nothing short of telepathic.

MORE INFORMATION

The Claudia Quintet's webpage:
www.johnhollenbeck.com/music/group/claudia_quintet

Official Myspace page:
www.myspace.com/theclaudiaquintet

Watch and listen to a performance:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JisqovzYFzU

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

The Claudia Quintet's music demonstrates that "Innovative jazz does not have to be harsh, angry, loud, shrill or grating; it can be delicate, witty, ethereal and radiantly lyric, as the Claudia Quintet pointed out..." (Chicago Tribune). Formed by composer/drummer/arranger John Hollenbeck in 1997, this NYC ensemble's sound explores The Edge without alienating the mainstream, proving that genre-defying music can be for everyone. Over the past decade, the group has released four CDs that are critically acclaimed world-wide and whose appeal extends well beyond, as well as including traditional jazz audiences. The group's first album, The Claudia Quintet, was released on the Blueshift CRI record label. The group has since established a long time relationship with the Cuneiform label.

Since Hollenbeck first presented the band in an Internet cafe on Avenue A in Manhattan in 1997, the Claudia Quintet has amazed audiences from Alabama to the Amazon. Their unique sound has inspired dancing hippie girls at a New Mexico noise festival, the avant-garde cognoscenti in the concert halls of Vienna and Sao Paolo, and a generation of young musicians worldwide. In the course of the thousands of miles they have traveled together and hundreds of concerts they've played, the Claudia Quintet has evolved and grown, developing a dynamic live sound based on trust and spontaneity. They bring this powerful energy into the studio where they record the old-fashioned way, live, playing as a band.

In the Claudia Quintet, Hollenbeck has assembled a group of the foremost innovators in this new sound to create a powerhouse band. They are: Drew Gress - bass (Tim Berne, Uri Caine, Ravi Coltrane), Matt Moran - vibraphone (Slavic Soul Party, Mat Maneri, Theo Bleckmann), Ted Reichman - accordion (Anthony Braxton, Marc Ribot, Paul Simon), and Chris Speed - clarinet and tenor saxophone (Human Feel, Bloodcount, Alas No Axis).

DREW GRESS (acoustic bass) is one of NYC's most in-demand bassists, currently performing and touring with Tim Berne, Uri Caine, Ravi Coltrane, Fred Hersch, and others as well. He wants you to know that he once boxed with Muhammad Ali in Miami in 1964, scoring a TKO when he bit him on the knee. Other highlights: Babe Ruth League all-star third baseman, and "ghost writer/orchestrator" for Hanna-Barbara's "Casper" cartoon. He is currently working on standup comedy routine, which premiered in 2006.

JOHN HOLLENBECK's (drums/composition) music is a bold attempt to combine a wealth of experience into a style that is as accessible as it is advanced. Exceptionally creative and versatile, Hollenbeck continues to create a passionate new musical language based on world rhythms, lyricism, and spiritual practices. In 2001, John released three discs on CRI/Blueshift: The Claudia Quintet, Quartet Lucy, and no images. Hollenbeck performs frequently with Bob Brookmeyer, Fred Hersch, and Jim McNeely. He earned a B.M. and a M.M from the Eastman School of Music. He won the 2002 IAJE Gil Evans Fellowship; the 2003 ASCAP/IAJE Commission and was awarded a grant from Arts International to travel with his Claudia Quintet to Brazil. John has recently been commissioned by the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, Bang on a Can, and Studio Percussion.

MATT MORAN (vibraphone/percussion) has distinguished himself as a vibraphonist with a revolutionary and unique approach to the instrument. In his own words, "I'm still out on the streets, terrifying Karl Rove, Mayor Bloomberg, and Republican leaders everywhere... I'm still practicing long tones, lip slurs, and double-tonguing on the tenor tuba... I'm still playing with Slavic Soul Party! Every week at Barbes in Brooklyn... I'm trying out a new group with vibraphone, drums, tuba, trombone, trumpet in October... I'm still writing my novel. I'm still wondering where the minimalist free-jazz states are."

TED REICHMAN (accordion) has the versatility and musicality to make the accordion work in klezmer, free jazz, and pop. Ted and John can be heard playing warped versions of Christmas carols in the soundtrack to the new film Rick. Emigre, Ted's album of original compositions, is available on the Tzadik label. He is currently working on the score to the documentary Rene and I and a duo for accordion and cello for the Dusan Tynek Dance Theater.

CHRIS SPEED (clarinet/tenor saxophone) performs in the bands of Jim Black, Uri Caine, Ben Perowsky; his own ensembles include Pachora, yeah NO, Trio Iffy, The Clarinets and Human Feel. Chris couldn't think of anything funny because he is too busy starting his own label.

GARY VERSACE (piano, guest artist ) has quickly become one of the busiest and most versatile musicians on the scene, often featured in bands led by musicians such as John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Maria Schneider, Matt Wilson, Lee Konitz, Eliot Zigmund, Scott Wendholt, Joe Magnarelli, Danny Gottlieb, Seamus Blake, John Hollenbeck, Andy LaVerne, Adam Nussbaum, Brad Shepik, Ingrid Jensen, Tim Ries and many others. Voted a "rising star" on the Hammond organ in three Downbeat critics polls, Versace has been a featured soloist on several critically acclaimed recordings: accordionist on Maria Schneider's Grammy-winning recordings Concert in the Garden and Sky Blue and pianist on John Hollenbeck's Grammy-nominated large ensemble recording, A Blessing. Gary Versace has a Master's degree in music performance from the Eastman School of Music, and spent eight years as a tenured associate professor in the jazz studies department at the University of Oregon. He remains active as a clinician and guest soloist both nationally and around the world.

GENERAL INFORMATION

REDCAT
The Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater, opened by CalArts in 2003, introduces diverse audiences, students and artists to the most influential developments in the arts from around the world, and gives artists in this region the creative support they need to achieve national and international stature. REDCAT is the newest partner in an international network of adventurous art and performance centers, which together are playing a vital role in the evolution of contemporary culture. REDCAT is a center for experimentation, discovery, and lively civic discourse.

REDCAT is located at the corner of W. 2nd and Hope Streets, inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall complex (631 West 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012).

For tickets and information, call the REDCAT Box Office at 213-237-2800, or visit www.redcat.org.

REDCAT sponsors include The Standard, Yamaha, Ovation TV, Los Angeles magazine and KCRW. For REDCAT acknowledgments, visit www.redcat.org/acknowledgements.

 

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