Friday, September 10, 2010
$10 at the door / $8 in advance (only at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/124130)
Doors: 8:30 p.m. Show: 9 p.m. sharp

OSCURO QUINTET Thomas Lee, piano; Shinjoo Cho, accordion; June Bender, violin; Alban Bailly, guitar; Ben Blazer, bass

MAXFIELD GAST TRIO – CD Release Maxfield Gast, tenor, alto, & soprano saxophones; Brian Howell, bass; Mike Pietrusko, drums

THE OSCURO QUINTET is an international group of 5 accomplished musicians of diverse disciplines pursuing their collective passion for tango and contemporary music.  As Philadelphia’s first tango music ensemble, the quintet evokes the passion and the grace of tango from dance floors to concert halls with a mind toward both the music of the past and the vanguard of progression.

Militia Hill presents the release of MAXFIELD GAST’s latest recording, The Maxfield Gast Trio: Side By Side.  Following his 2009 electro-funk release, Eat Your Beats, Gast’s latest record features six original compositions written for the saxophone, upright bass, and drums.  His clear, confident voice on the alto, soprano, and tenor saxophones makes a powerful statement through sometimes simple, yet sophisticated, melodies.  Featuring Brian Howell on upright bass and Mike Pietrusko on drums, Gast’s trio takes its own approach to straight-ahead jazz and creates a wide spectrum of sound and spirit.  Gast has performed nationally and internationally in venues including the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, Carnegie Hall, and Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York.  He  is a member of the studio band SweetPro that recorded the soundtrack for “Louie,” the new hit FX television show, and performs regularly on the eastern seaboard with Wu Li, an organic groove-rock band out of Brooklyn; Puzzlebox, an original octet headed by composer and bassist Keith Destefano; and the Smash Brothers, an eclectic blend of spontaneous improvisations and intoxicating grooves.

Lucky Old Souls @ Moonstone is a monthly event, showcasing some of
Philadelphia’s most creative musicians in a laid-back, BYOB venue that
combines the intimacy of a club with a concert hall’s respect for the music.

Matthew Feldman (aka “Feldie”)
feldiesphillyjazzcalendar.com
luckyoldsouls.com
twitter.com/luckyoldsouls

Friday July 9, Doors: 8:30 p.m., Show: 9 pm – BYOB – Jazz
$10 at the door / $8 in advance
(at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/109020)

Lucky Old Souls @ Moonstone Presents
TONY “STICKMAN” WYATT TRIO & CHICO HUFF BAND

TONY “STICKMAN” WYATT TRIO: Tony “Stickman” Wyatt, drums; Marion Salaam, tenor sax & vocals; Billy Holloman, keys – TONY “STICKMAN” WYATT is a veteran drummer/percussionist who has been recording, performing, and teaching his craft for several decades. The “Stickman”–known for his professionalism and precision on the drum kit–has played with a number of great musicians locally and internationally such as Marion Salaam, Billy Holloman, Greg Lewis, and veteran songstress Ms. Melba Moore (in the world renowned play Ain’t Misbehavin’). Tony also recently recorded with talented jazz guitarist Frank Butrey for his debut solo release Malicious Delicious.  Every October students get in line to receive lessons from the “Stickman” at the Philadelphia Clef Club for his intense drumming workshop.

CHICO HUFF BAND: Chico Huff, bass; John Swana, EVI; Jef Lee Johnson, guitar; Erik Johnson, drums
Electric bassist CHICO HUFF is a familiar face around Philadelphia, playing frequently in the bands of Jef Lee Johnson, Dave Posmontier, and others.  He has also played with a wide variety of other musicians including Pat Martino, Jefferson Airplane, and Terrence Blanchard.  Tonight’s show provides a rare opportunity to hear Chico leading his own project.  He will be presenting a mix of original compositions and collective improvisations with three frequent collaborators: JOHN SWANA, called “one of the most exciting trumpeters to arrive for a decade” by Mark Gardner, co-author of Blackwell’s Guide to Recorded Jazz, has played or recorded with a long list of international jazz artists including Freddie Hubbard, Christian McBride, Kenny Barron, Tito Puente, Stanley Turrentine, and Brad Mehldau.  John will be featured on the electric valve instrument (EVI).  Guitarist JEF LEE JOHNSON is one of the most in-demand musicians in the world.  Erykah Badu, George Duke, McCoy Tyner, The Roots, Billy Joel, D’Angelo, and Chaka Khan are just a few of the musicians he’s played with.  Drummer ERIK JOHNSON is a member of the Philly-based power trio The Fractals and a former member of Huffamoose.  He has also played with Ben Schachter’s Trio of Many, Gary Bartz, Larry McKenna, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Kurt Elling, Gerald Veasley, Schooly D., Tyrone Brown, and many others.

Lucky Old Souls @ Moonstone is a monthly event, showcasing some of Philadelphia’s most creative musicians in a laid-back, BYOB venue that combines the intimacy of a club with a concert hall’s respect for the music. A Lucky Old Souls production, www.luckyoldsouls.com

Friday August 13, Doors: 8:30 p.m. Show: 9 pm sharp – BYOB – Jazz
$10 at the door / $8 in advance (at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/109020)

Lucky Old Souls @ Moonstone Presents
CLASSICAL REVOLUTION & DANIEL PETERSON’S TRUTH & CONSEQUENCE

CLASSICAL REVOLUTION presents Mozart’s Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, K. 581 performed by FABIAN FUERTES with Mandy Wolman, violin; Veronica Jurkiewicz, violin; Dario McConnie-Saad, viola; and Erin Ryan-Barnes, cello and Jacques Ibert’s Entr’acte for Flute and Guitar performed by JENNIFER SWANSON and BRENDAN EVANS
CLASSICAL REVOLUTION: Live chamber music for the people. The Philadelphia chapter of an international movement, the Classical Revolution is a collective of musicians who believe in the relevance of classical music and are bringing it outside of traditional venues. In their own words: “We hope to integrate this music into Philadelphia’s nightlife, giving people who do not otherwise hear it live the opportunity to engage intimately with it and its interpreters.
Currently in its inaugural stages, Classical Revolution Philly seeks to create an avenue for music-making which involves passionate professional, emerging, and nonprofessional musicians alike. Our performers include members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pennsylvania Ballet, local professionals, conservatory and non-conservatory students alike. We love chamber music, and we believe that everyone can enjoy the music that we love.”

DANIEL PETERSON’S TRUTH & CONSEQUENCE: Daniel Peterson, woodwinds; Behn Gellice, vibraphone; Mike Taylor, bass; Joe Falcey, drums
After moving to Philadelphia in 1995, composer and multi-instrumentalist DANIEL PETERSON embarked upon a deeply spiritual study of woodwind playing and composition–while also championing new music as a presenter. Around the same time, he began a long-standing collaboration and mentorship with saxophone legend Odean Pope. Daniel leads a diverse life in music. He shows authority, integrity, and consistency, choosing to work on original projects of high artistic merit. He leads two ensembles, both of which play his original compositions exclusively: Truth & Consequence ranges in size from trio to nonet and features Daniel on alto, tenor, and soprano saxophones; the Bottomfeeders is a gritty, bass-heavy ensemble in which Daniel plays the rarely seen or heard contra-alto clarinet. Daniel’s compositions range from the delicate, highly orchestrated material on “5 Simple Worlds” (which features vocals and poetry) to the slummy, trashy vibe on the Bottomfeeders’ “It’s an Uphill Climb To the Bottom,” as reminiscent of metal, punk, and reggae as it is of jazz. As a sideman Daniel has held long-standing positions in Odean Pope’s Saxophone Choir and Collective Voices Ensemble; Bobby Zankel’s Warriors of The Wonderful Sound; avant-rock band Agent Moosehead; modern jazz octet Puzzlebox; and the free jazz group Augmented Fourthtet. He has also been fortunate enough to perform with some of the best in modern instrumental music including Rudresh Mahanthappa, Marty Erhlich, Ravi Coltrane, Billy Harper, Dave Burrell, and Dave Liebman.

FRIDAY, JUNE 11, Doors 8:30pm, Show 9pm – Jazz – BYOB
$10 Door / $8 in advance
Lucky Old Souls Presents
DOUG HIRLINGER’S WAVEFORM RAZORBACK
BRASS, SKINS, & STRINGS COLLECTIVE

DOUG HIRLINGER’S WAVEFORM RAZORBACK: Doug Hirlinger, drums; Ben Gerstein, trombone; Matt Mitchell, keys.

BRASS, SKINS, & STRINGS COLLECTIVE featuring Jafar Barron, cornet; Elliott Levin, saxophones, flute, & poetry; Anthony Mohamed, congas.

WAVEFORM RAZORBACK: Good friends Doug Hirlinger, Ben Gerstein, and Matt Mitchell make up this exciting and dynamic trio of drums, trombone, and keyboard. These three busy musicians are entrenched in the New York and Philadelphia creative music scenes and on their own have performed extensively throughout the world. The trio approaches improvisation and composition with openness and honesty, the goals being to create with patience, fearlessness, and precision, and to explore the full spectrum of sonic texture, pattern, and color. Hirlinger and Gerstein have been playing music together since they met in New York City in 1995 while attending Manhattan School of Music. Hirlinger and Mitchell met in Philadelphia after both had relocated there. The three played together for the first time in 2009, at the now renowned Philadelphia experimental music series SciFiPhilly.

DOUG HIRLINGER plays drums, cymbals, and at times other instruments in many settings and contexts. He also composes music using various techniques, producing various results, using any and all tools available. Doug enjoys a steady schedule of performing, composing, and teaching, and has enjoyed doing so throughout the US and Europe. Originally from Missouri, Doug moved to New York City in 1995 and later relocated to Philadelphia where has been based since 2001. Current projects include a collective trio with Matt Mitchell and Tarus Mateen and an avant-rock trio with Tim Motzer and Barry Meehan known as Base3. Doug has performed with a long list of well-known artists including Peter Berstein, Seamus Blake, Jason Moran, Luis Perdomo, and Gerald Veasley. He is also creator and director of the monthly online composers collective at musiccreative.org.

Born in 1977 and raised in Santa Barbara, California, BEN GERSTEIN began playing the trombone at age 11, inspired by his family. The early ’90s offered him much experience as a jazz soloist on both west and east coasts through numerous teachers, schools, awards, ensembles and festivals. He attended the Manhattan School of Music on full scholarship from 1995-99 as a jazz major and has remained in New York City ever since, committed to improvisation and the arts, collaborating regularly with many different groups and individuals. Ben has performed with a lengthy list of prominent New York City based musicians including Tyshawn Sorey, Matt Maneri, Tony Malaby, Craig Taborn, Dan Weiss, and Mike Pride.

Pianist and composer MATT MITCHELL has lived in Philadelphia since 1999 and performs regularly in New York City and throughout the United States and Europe. He is a member of Tim Berne’s ensembles Los Totopos and Adobe Probe. He also performs with Brad Shepik’s Human Activity Quintet, John Hollenbeck’s Claudia Quintet, Tom Rainey, Ingrid Laubrock, Ralph Alessi, and Andrew D’Angelo. He is a former member of the long-standing Philadelphia improvising groups Kaktus and Feigner and of the Denver-based avant rock group Thinking Plague. He has released several albums on Scrapple Records and is a faculty member with the Brooklyn-based School for Improvisational Music [SIM].

BRASS, SKINS, & STRINGS COLLECTIVE: The intermittent gathering of some of Philadelphia’s finest musicians who, in between numerous projects, including the cable-bound documentary, Brass, Skins & Strings, find time to add to Philly’s vibrant art reputation by playing the streets of Philly’s art and tourist districts. The collective includes four musicians who also wear the hats of poets–Elliott Levin, sax and flute; Monica McIntyre, cello; Anthony Mohamed, congas; and Cassandra Xavier, guitar–as well as soloists including Byard Lancaster, sax and flute; Jafar Barron, cornet; Greg Morrison, sax; Eligio Concepcion, sax and flute; Jamika Gordon, flute; Charles Townson, violin; Felix Wilkins, flute; Connie Reeves, guitar and flute; and Leon Boykins, bass. Tonight’s performance features the trio incarnation of the collective: JAFAR BARRON, Philadelphia-born composer and ultimate soloist, studied under the tutelage of Wynton Marsalis and has recorded with Jill Scott and Erykah Badu and cut his own Atlantic Records debut, The Free Bop Movement. ELLIOTT LEVIN is the Philadelphia-based sax man, flutist, and poet whose signature single dread emits musical spores over sidewalks, music halls, and coffee houses. He has studied extensively under Michael Guera, former saxophonist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and flutist/composer Claire Polin. He has performed with such groups as Cecil Taylor’s Ensemble, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and Odean Pope’s Saxophone Choir. ANTHONY MOHAMED is a Brooklyn-born percussionist who has studied under numerous Philadelphia musicians. An educator who divides his time between music and literary performances, he can be found on a regular basis in tri-state area schools doing workshops with the belief that artists make a difference. He recently made an appearance with Mandrill at the West Oak Lane Jazz Festival. Lucky Old Souls @ Moonstone is a monthly event, showcasing some of Philadelphia’s most creative musicians in a laid-back, BYOB venue that combines the intimacy of a club with a concert hall’s respect for the music. A Lucky Old Souls production, Lucky Old Souls