Tag Archives: Improv

Ben Shirley and the Scrimshaw Ensemble at The Uncertainty Music Series

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July’s uncertainty music series featured Ben Shilrley(guitar) and the Scrimshaw Ensemble:
Nathan Bontrager on cello,
Adam Matlock on accordion,
Anne Rhodes voice,
& Carl Testa on bass.

The group performed a set of Ben’s original music followed by improvisational sets for duets. The group concluded the night by a piece for quintet written by Ben.

The Uncertainty music series is a regular event that takes place in Never Ending Books store on State Street in New Haven, CT.
For more information, please check their Facebook page or website.

Benjamin Shirley presents a set of his music featuring the Scrimshaw Ensemble consisting of Nathan Bontrager on cello, Adam Matlock on accordion, Ben Shirley on guitar, Carl Testa on bass and Anne Rhodes(voice)

Broadcloth & Prehistoric Horse At John Slade Ely House

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Broadcloth trio performed at John Slade Ely House in New Haven, CT last Friday with a set of their improvised music.

Broadcloth trio is:

Anne Rhodes, vocals
Nathan Bontrager, Cello &
Adam Matlock, accordion

They played 4 pieces of their music

Con Ahinco

In Stitches

Sharpie Suite

Folk Song

The entire performance may be watched on YouTube:

Broadcloth Performs at John Slade Ely House

 

While the following video shows the set performed by Brooklyn based harsh improv group: Prehistoric Horse.

Prehistoric Horse Performs at John Slade Ely House

Prehistoric Horse is:

David Grollman, percussion
Valerie Kuehne, cello &
Lucio Menegon, guitar

Finally, the two groups performed an encore piece for the crowd at Ely house:

Broadcloth & Prehistoric Horse sextette close the night at Ely House Improvising

The following picture, taken during the intermission, shows the instruments of Broadcloth

Carl Testa Trio plays for the Uncertainty Music Series in New Haven

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Carl Testa Trio did such a stellar job Saturday at Never Ending Books in New Haven that the crowd forgot about the wind and rain blowing outside and immersed in an hour of music indulgence as the trio played a set of 5 pieces of their original compositions.

Cark Testa trio is:
Carl Testa, String Bass
Mike McGinnis, Clarinet
Aaron Siegel, Percussion

The set played included the following pieces:

Intent
Improvisation
Trio (2009)
17 (melodic) and Improvisation(2 clips)
Ballad

All six pieces can be watched in the same order they were played on the following YouTube playlist:

 

Kevin Frenette trio plays for the Uncertainty Music crowd

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Yesterday was an interesting day in New England. It was dark and dreary, the sky was weeping continuously like she was crying and the overall mood was “Tell me why I moved here one more time!”.

However, things changed towards the evening when I “swam” my way to New Haven to a place called Never Ending Books that features local musicians the second Saturday every month in what is known as The Uncertainty Music Series.

Yesterday saw Boston based Kevin Frenette trio featuring

James Rohr on fender rhodes,
John McLellan on drums
and of course Kevin Frenette on guitar.

The trio played five pieces of their own improvisational Jazz work for the Uncertainty audience, all of which appear on the following YouTube playlist in the order they were played:

A tip of the hat goes to Carl Testa for his outstanding contribution to the local music scene. His trio will appear on the next blog post as they played their own set of music.

 

Broadcloth makes it to The Stone in Alphabet City, NYC

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My Cello teacher’s trio,Broadcloth, has made it to “The Stone” described by many as “ A not for profit space for the Experimental and Avant-Garde”. Its location in Alphabet city talks a ton about its vitality and dedication to up and new musicians.

Broadcloth is:

Anne Rhodes on Voice,
Nathan Bontrager on Cello and
Adam Matlock on Accordion/Recorders

The trio played a set of 5 pieces of their free improv music to the Big Apple crowd. They were accompanied towards the end by the remarkable sound of the Stone’s heater!

1- Free Improv piece

2- Windows and Walls

3- Introductus

4-In Stitches

5- Free Improv finale

The following is a playlist that has all the pieces in order instead of navigating through individual clips: