A TRIBUTE TO SUN RA - at the Rainbow (Seattle)
A TRIBUTE TO SUN RA - at the Rainbow (Seattle)
Haven't seen this posted yet, so I'm sending it along. I'll be attending the Fri. show, along with banjo mystic Danny Barnes. Perhaps some of you have heard his version of "Interplanetary Music" on the Bad Livers' Ridgetop Sessions. See ya there - Michael
Subject: Fw: For Immed. Release: Fri/Sat, May 25 & 26 - A TRIBUTE TO SUN RA - at the Rainbow (Seattle)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Peruvian Night Train Productionsand the Funky Joint are proud to present:
** A TRIBUTE TO SUN RA **Friday May 25th AND Saturday May 26th * at The Rainbow * (722 NE 45th St., Seattle - 206.634.1761) http://www.therainbow.cc $7 / 10pm sharp -- each night
(adv. tickets - http://www.ticketweb.com)
- Featuring: * Reuben Radding - bassist / bandleader ("The Seattle scene's new bassist of the moment." - Seattle Weekly) * Craig Flory - reeds * Tony Grasso - trumpet * Don Goodwin - organ * Bob Rees - percussion * Mike Stone - drums
* PLUS - special surprise guests!
Press contact:James ~ 206-664-1086 ~ manhog@home.com
In memory of the great composer, keyboard master, andbandleader SUN RA (http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~moudry/), the Rainbow, in conjunction with PNT Productions and the Funky Joint, is proud to host a very special two night tribute to his classic American music, scheduled during the anniversary week of Sun Ra's birth (or, as he used to say, his "arrival" on the planet Earth - on May 22, 1914) and Sun Ra's death (30 May 1993).
Note as well that Sun Ra once performed at the Rainbow (in '85, his second to last Seattle appearance) - and a reproduction of this concert's vintage poster was recently hung at the Rainbow (along with many other vintage Rainbow posters) - courtesy of EMP! ~ And a note to those of you who are not familiar with the legendary Sun Ra -- please do consider taking the time to read the following lecture -- http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~moudry/camp1.htm -- or, for a far more summarized overview, head on over to either AllMusic (http://www.allmusic.com) and enter "Ra, Sun" in the search field (then click on "Ra, Sun") - or poke around a good jazz site such as http://www.allaboutjazz.com - or, of course, to hear some clips, visit http://www.amazon.com ~
Bassist (and bandleader) Reuben Radding is no stranger to the music of this great American composer, having previously led a powerful New York City-based Sun Ra repertory band. This fine group, called MYTH SCIENCE, starred one of Seattle's finest musical exports: alto saxophonist Briggan Krauss (now starring with "Sex Mob" - among many other projects). The band also featured tenor saxophonist Tim Otto, organist Anthony Coleman (last seen in Seattle with Marc Ribot & Los Cubanos Postizos - at Bumbershoot) and drummer Ed Ware. They played a long string of weekly shows at the Knitting Factory to capacity crowds, released a critically-acclaimed live album ("Love in Outer Space" - 1995) on Knitting Factory Works and completed a tour of Europe in 1996. Note as well that drummer Aaron Alexander, another very talented former Seattleite, played extensively with MYTH SCIENCE after their CD was recorded.
Currently living in Seattle, Reuben Radding leads the groupStreet of Crocodiles, co-leads the Creative String Trio, stars in the mighty fine free jazz trio Lost Valentine, and has also recently performed with Wally Shoup, Eyvind Kang, Stuart Dempster, Amy Denio, Wayne Horvitz, and a growing list of singer-songwriters, country fiddlers, and acoustic-swing aficionados.
Reuben is proud to once again present the great and oftenunderrated music of SUN RA - and has assembled a mighty fine group of Seattle-based players for this very special two night event. Each evening will feature two full (and completely different) sets of music - approx. 20 different tunes each night!
Lastly, note that the band will not attempt to recreate thecolorful pageantry and spectacle of a Sun Ra Arkestra concert. The Sun Ra Arkestra, after all, still exists - (under the direction of the great alto saxophonist Marshall Allen) and that aspect of Sun Ra's legacy is best left in their more experienced hands.
The focus during this special weekend will be strictly on the live performance of Sun Ra's timeless compositions.That said, here's a bit more about the individual players:
Reuben Radding... (contrabass) ...was born in Washington D.C. to a family of musicians, but spent the bulk of his career in New York City where he studied with the virtuoso bassist Mark Dresser and became a busy stalwart of the "Downtown" scene, performing frequently with a who's-who of modern creative musicians, including John Zorn, Elliott Sharp, Dave Douglas, Andrea Parkins, Roy Campbell, Susie Ibarra, Assif Tsahar, Daniel Carter, and many others. He toured Europe as a member of Marc Ribot's SHREK, and, as noted above, with his own group (Myth Science). He was also the co-leader of the experimental world music trio "Refuseniks" with Ted Reichman and John Hollenbeck. For a list of his latest (and Seattle-based) endeavors, please refer to the introductory parargraphs above, or Reuben's website: http://www.acousticinterview.com/reuben.html
Craig Flory... (reeds) ...is an incredibly versatile saxophonist & clarinetist (and longtime Seattle resident). He's been an active musician and composer in the NW r&b, jazz, rock, & improv music scenes for many years. Some of the very many artists & bands he's collaborated and/or recorded with include - Wayne Horvitz, Robin Holcomb, Tuatara (feat. Peter Buck of REM), Hammer of the Gods (a Led Zep tribute band feat. keyboardist Alex Guilbert), Jim Nolet, Michael Bisio, Fred Chalenor, Jay Clayton, George Cartwright, Amy Denio, the New Art Orchestra, the Degenerate Art Ensemble, Crack Sabbath (billed as "Craig Sabbath" or "Battlestar Dyslexica" when he subbed for Skerik), Hughscore (feat. Hugh Hopper), Jeff Greinke, Dennis Rea, Ed Pias, the Anti-Fascist Marching Band, and Julian Priester (ex-Sun Ra!)
Don Goodwin... (organ) ...has been playing the piano since he was 5. Initially he studied with his mother, but soon moved into the studios of greats such as Mary Toy, David Rostkowski, Kendall Feeney, Arnie Carruthers, Brent Edstrom and David Jones. In the early nineties, Don began to focus his tutelage on Jazz, gravitating toward the music of giants such as Bill Evans, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Keith Jarrett. He also at that time attended Eastern Washington University and received a B.A. in Music. While playing in his early musical groups, Don listened to alot of fusion-style bands, such as Medeski, Martin & Wood and the Mahavishnu Orchestra - the latter having the most profound influence on him. He's recorded albums with Mama's Dogma (Hope), The Don Goodwin Group (Center), BeeCraft (a self-titled release, Change Cuts, & Dark Matter), and with Bigfoot Zoo (incomplete as of yet). Don has been focusing on the Hammond Organ since 1996, and currently plays the instrument with BeeCraft and Bigfoot Zoo.
Bob Rees... (percussion) ...has been in Seattle about three years, and previously studied with Mary Zyskowski, Timpanist of the Spokane Symphony (at Eastern Washington University, where he majored in Developmental Music, as well as Percussion Performance). He currently performs throughout the Northwest as a member of BeeCraft - and locally on vibraphone as a member of the Don Goodwin Group (a jazz quintet). He also performs with the 'free' trio Teleologic with Greg Sinibaldi (reeds), and Mark Schlipper (bass) - and is featured on their new CD "Speechless, Aim, Lost". He's also featured on BeeCraft's "Change Cuts" & "Dark Matter" releases. Bob's also been a soloist with the Spokane Symphony & North Idaho Symphony, a featured performer with Zephyr Contemporary Music Ensemble, and has collaborated with composer Dr. David Jones, pianist Kendall Feeney, and saxophonist Wally Shoup, among others.
Mike Stone... (drums) ...has been a fixture on the Northwest avant-jazz & rock scenes for about 10 years now, ever since he took the city by storm as the drummer in Wayne Horvitz's Pigpen (perhaps best described as a raucous new-punk-swing vehicle for Mr. Horvitz's unique tunes). Also featured in this legendary Seattle band were alto sax man Briggan Krauss (now with Sex Mob, and formerly with Reuben Radding's Myth Science, as noted above) and bassist Fred Chalenor (now with Jeff Greinke's LAND, etc.). Coincidentally, Pigpen was set to open for SUN RA at Seattle's now-defunct Backstage in the early nineties, but the show was cancelled at the last minute due to illness - and Sun Ra died shortly thereafter. Later, Mike was able, however, to work with an alum of Sun Ra's Arkestra when he put together all the charts for an all-star Charles Mingus tribute at the Ok Hotel that starred trombonist Julian Priester. Other past and present credits for this powerful drummer include: Crack Sabbath, Combo Craig, the Scallywags (feat. guitarist Tim Young of Zony Mash, Very Special Forces, etc.), Guardian Alien, and Devilhead.
Tony Grasso... (trumpet) ...is currently also starring in the Tony Grasso Saxophone Quartet? - a project born when Tony gathered a group of his friends to play through a composition he'd written (while in the Navy in the early nineties) for four saxophones. But Tony could only get three saxophonists in to play the piece, so he decided to play the soprano part on his trumpet. He liked the way it sounded and began writing more compositions for this unlikely configuration of three saxes and a trumpet. The question mark at the end of the group's otherwise standard name signals not only its unexpected makeup but also its overall philosophy: to break rules, push bounds, and take chances. On their debut recording "The Tony Grasso Saxophone Quartet?", most of Tony's written melodies serve as launching pads for group improvisation. With almost no guidance from the composer, the remaining quartet members (Dan Blunck, David Johnson and Brian Kent) leap off musical cliffs. What holds it all together is the impeccable musicianship they share. "These guys are amazing players," says Tony. "From the most inside, structured line to the most outside, free-blowing idea, they
can do anything."
Press contact:James ~ 206-664-1086 ~ manhog@home.com