Please send in your mp3s for me to stream. In the past when no one sent in a tune I sought out entries but I’m too busy now. I’m also too busy to craft a post around your stuff. Send it in and I’ll play it and include your remarks as they arrived. See the About Madison Jazz page for more details.
This week we feature Vartan Mamigonian.
“Vartan Mamigonian is the nom de skronk of sax machine Patrick Breiner, who, right now, sounds a bit like a Conic Sections Evan Parker 45 played at 33 1/3, but in an interesting way.”
- Bret McCabe, Baltimore Citypaper
“Sensitive at times, agonizing at others… and the result is excellent.”
- Stef at the Free Jazz Blog
“Virtuosic saxophone stylings a la post-minimalism.”
- In2itive Music, Madison, WI
A veteran of the New York jazz scene, Patrick Breiner now resides in Madison, WI and is a member of Billy Hart’s “Academy” band, NOOK, Myk Freedman’s Whistle Sound Band and Suit, Bing and Ruth, Basement Magic, and Greg Heffernan’s Sauce.
Patrick chooses to use the alias Vartan Mamigonian while performing his solo saxophone works. He is, after all, not himself when summoning everything from ferocious screams to velvety subtone from his instrument whilst weaving hypnotically rhythmic melodies. Vartan Mamigonian appears in both history and literature as both sinner and saint. Similarly, Breiner’s works can be tender or abrasive or anywhere in between.
Paul Broucek, a legendary music executive from New Line Cinema, is speaking in Madison on behalf of Broadjam.com and in support of the Madison Area Music Awards. His talk is entitled “The Anatomy of Film Music – Songs & Score.” The focus is on music licensing and placement of music in television and film.
The talk is from 7 – 9 PM this Thursday, February 26th at the Sundance Cinemas. A minimum donation of $5.00 is requested to go towards the Madison Area Music Awards (MAMAs).
Here’s the catch: the talk is already SOLD OUT, but is open to all members of the press in order to increase press coverage. I’ve been asked to attend but can’t make it. Contact me if you want to attend and are willing to write a review to be posted in Madison Jazz.
Sorry about the short notice, I just received the email this morning.
Here is an important opportunity for you to have an impact on music education in our schools.
The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) will be presenting the recommendations of its board-appointed Fine Arts Task Force, and seeking feedback and discussion on those recommendations, at two informational meetings in early March:
* Tuesday, 3/10/09, 6:00-8:00 PM, Memorial High School (in the school’s “Wisconsin Neighborhood Center”); and
* Thursday, 3/12/09, 6:00-8:00 PM, La Follette High School (in the school’s Library Media Center).
The task force’s recommendations identify ways that the district can improve its Fine Arts program and enhance learning opportunities in the arts for its students in all grades, K-12. The complete Task Force Report, and an Executive Summary, can be found on the district’s website at http.//www.madison.k12.wi.us/boe/finearts/. Questions/comments can also be directed to the district’s Fine Arts Coordinator, Julie Palkowski, at jpalkowski@madison.k12.wi.us.
Sometime yesterday morning the petition to save the Mitby Theater disappeared from the petition site. It’s been confirmed by a reliable source that employees of Ward Brodt started the petition, and apparently took it down now that MATC is looking at other options.
It’s too bad because the petition was a focal point for mobilizing support for the theater. Many signatures were added in the last few days (there were around 175 in the end) and many more would have been added. These situations need constant pressure until a final decision is made and now some momentum has been lost. For now, Madison Jazz will continue to follow the story and keep you informed.
Next week is a good one for jazz in Madison. I’ll write about some of the other events later, but for now let’s focus on a special event this coming Thursday night: El Clan Destino will give a concert performance and lecture on their Afro-Cuban musical influences at Capitol Lakes Grand Hall at 7:30.
El Clan Destino features music inspired by African and Cuban traditions as well as American Jazz and Funk. Their repertoire features hard-hitting renditions of works by Chucho Valdez, Michel Camilo, and Chano Dominquez (all innovators in latin jazz piano), progressive originals, and arrangements of indigenous sacred and secular vocal music of Cuba.
In addition to the musical performance, the group will provide musical and historical background on the classic, sacred, folkloric, and contemporary Afro-Cuban rhythms they use. Anyone interested in latin rhythms, latin jazz, and understanding more about the African Diaspora will want to attend.
The Madison Jazz mp3 of the week series is kicking off. One mp3 will be streamed weekly. Send in your mp3 to tniwrek AT hotmail dot com. I will play the tunes in the order received. Rarely, I may decide not to play it.
Please provide some info about the song such as name of musicians, tune name, and any other thoughts you want to include.
Your mp3 will be fairly secure from downloading. Check out the audio player to see how it works (the Richie Cole mp3 was free from Allthatjazz). It may require a bit of buffer time at startup but if you have a good connection if should play fine after that. Please let me know of any bugs.
Yes it was. Ray was simply pointing out how hard it is to imagine classical musicians being treated in the same manner as jazz musicians. Crazy as it sounds, someone actually thought his outlandish tale might be true. Jonathan Zarov, the Overture publicist had to set things straight.
The Madison Symphony Orchestra is doing well and Overture will not become a sports bar, but it appears Overture isn’t doing that well. I can’t figure it out. How can so many suburban communities find the money to build and support their own elaborate arts complexes, yet enlightened, culturally aware, and much larger Madison is struggling?
(The following post is sent in by Rick Tvedt of the MAMAs)
I’d like all jazz musicians and fans to know that the Madison Area Music Awards is open for signup and artist registration until January 10th. The first round of voting will begin on January 15th.
Participation in the jazz genre has traditionally been weak. We have not even had four entries in any jazz category in all five previous MAMA campaigns.
OK, that’s enough with the letters. I hope yesterday’s post didn’t mess with your mind too much. If you are confused, the first two letters were genuine, the last was not. You can expect it to be pretty straight around here, but it seemed like time to loosen up. Thanks, Ray, for the humor.
And thanks to everyone for your contributions to this site: articles, event notices, comments, and support. We have a great jazz community in Madison. Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Here’s a little reminder to go light on the turkey and fixings…
(The following post comes courtesy of Ray Rideout)
I was one of the jazz musicians that received a form letter from the Concourse Hotel explaining why they are discontinuing live jazz starting in 2009. Coincidentally, while walking down Fairchild Street the other day, I found a rough draft of a different letter in the street. Apparently the Overture Center is going to be sending this letter out to their classical musicians next year around this time. They must have gotten their cue from the Concourse Hotel, because the letter looks strangely similar to the one received by jazz musicians who worked at the Concourse Hotel Bar.
I can’t verify the authenticity of this letter, and I don’t know whether you want to print it or not in your blog. It might be rather alarming to all the classical musicians who perform at Overture Hall to know that in 2010 they will be out of work, and the venue will become Wisconsin’s largest sports bar, with over fifty widescreen TVs.
