GACHAPON / HANNA BROBACK + JOHN TESKE + NOEL KENNON with ADAM LION

WEST OAKLAND SOUND SERIES

HANNA BROBACK + JOHN TESKE + NOEL KENNON (String Trio, Seattle) is an ensemble currently working with sustained frequencies, harmonic structures, and open form composition . For this evening joined by ADAM LION (Vibraphone, LA) they will realize pages from Noel's typewriter score 13 harmonic weather formations. This music unfolds slowly and attempts to sound a slow spectral image.

GACHAPON, an improvisational New Music ensemble featuring NANCY BECKMAN, shakuhachi and percussion; CINDY SAWPRANO, musical saw, accordion, voice and percussion; TOM BICKLEY, EWI electronic wind instrument; and DEAN SANTOMIERI, taishogoto and guitar, performs with dancer CHRISTINA BRAUN.

Gachapon is an improvising New Music quartet with a slightly Asian music flavor characteristic of both the Shakuhachi, an end blown flute usually made of bamboo, and Taishogoto, an electric instrument with presets that mimic both Japanese and western instruments. The EWI (electronic wind instrument) also has preset sounds capable of producing flute, brass, reed, woodwind and synthesizer sounds. The bowed saw brings unusual timbres into the mix and is capable of extreme glissandi. The guitar, accordion, and Taishogoto can play chords as well, which are often used to give a key center or sound bed for the other players to solo over. Additionally, all the group members play percussion instruments.

Gachapon often employs a Gray Code derived score to indicate which players will play or not play along a time grid. So, at various moments, one member might be playing solo while the others sit out. The score determines when solos, duos, trios or the full quartet play, which brings a unique listening experience to an audience more familiar with other improvising ensembles. “Gachapon” is also the onomatopoeic name given to a certain type of Japanese vending machine toys. Christina Braun will be dancing with the group during this performance. Her dancing incorporates elements of ballet, Jazz, Modern and Butoh styles.

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