With all that has been happening here in the world ( especially Minnesota, ESPECIALLY MINNEAPOLIS!) We need to catch a some moments of calm, laughter, quizzicality, and even joy. Here is what we are going to do.

BRIEF REALITIES*

Concepts and Compositions by Ian Rashkin, Carei Thomas, & Todd Harper.

Curated by Todd Harper, performed by a large ensemble of Carei’s friends.

Saturday, February 7^th,4:30 to 5:30 (open rehearsal/workshop).   Concert, 7-8:30 pm

Black Forest Inn (in their party room, with it’s own separate entrance) 26^th & Nicollet, Minneapolis.

Email todd@troutsongs.com

Website: https://troutsongs.com/

This event will have two parts: the afternoon session will be studying and workshopping works of Ian Rashkin, Todd Harper, and Carei Thomas.   The more formal concert will be from 7-8:35 pm. 

Carei Thomas (1938-2020) composed, performed, invented music for over 60 years, in a wide variety of contexts. Not simply a jazz musician, Carei juxtaposed folkloric, visual arts, new classical, poetry, theatrical aspects and more into a delightful, unmistakable approach.  Many of these works are found in his book “Compositions and Concepts”.

Ian will be presenting a body of his quirky jazz works, and a new concept called “Musical Cartography”. Mr. Rashkin is a composer and bassist ,now living in LA.

Todd will present a collection of his” Visual Intuitive Scores”, which emerged after studying the graphic scores of Carei. He will also lead new “simple songs”.

Ian and Todd had the great experience of playing together in early 90’s, in a combo called “The Seekers of Beauty”, with Eric Coursen, Dr. Mark Zanter,(guitar)  Kevin Schmidt( bass trombone) and several flautists.

We are fortunate to have a large gathering of Carei’s musical friends join us!     Gary Schulte ,(violin) Douglas Ewart, (reeds) Eric Coursen,(drums) George Cartwright, (reeds) Steve Sandberg, (low brass) Paul Cantrell, (piano) Bob Ockenden, (guitar) Nathan Hanson, (reeds) Matty Harris ,(reeds) Spencer Roth, (trumpet) Todd Harper, (piano, oration,conductifying,etc.)

General admission is 10—20$.  This will be an alcohol free event.

Thank you for coming out !

• BRIEF REALITIES are the name of one Carei Thomas’s musical concepts. Here is his explanation.
• ” Brief Realities became a foundational concept of much that has followed in my composing career. They are ever-changing series of purely invented music often spiced with cells or fragments of written material acting like a connective tissue. I feel this improvisational concept gives performers a structure that defines and focuses content while offering a broad choice of source material. Within this tonal order, invention/improvisation ignites the developmental process that creates the true composition and allows it to remain everchangingly fresh. My Brief Reality compositions seek out and call for exemplary instrumentalists to infuse or accommodate fabric that organically develops out of inclusion.“…. Carei F. Thomas, pp 6, COMPOSITIONS and CONCEPTS Cajole Productions, Minneapolis. @2010

• TWENTY FIVE. was JIVE. I can leave it behind.
• What is going to happen next, is not clear. The “Sparrow Tarot” says. ” the bird feeder is empty, and it’s snowing. Go away for a while”

The transition point. / from old to new/ but we can only live in the moment..

This summer, I got to hang out, and play music with my buddy Severin Behnen. You can see him with the accordion, in Minneapolis, sometime in the 90’s. Kevin Schmidt has the trombone. We were Unsound. The Unsound Trio.

Expect more from us.

and from Ian Rashkin. And all my buddies. Not sure which forms it will take, but it will. take form !

No New Year’s Eve gig this year.

stay posted! as the Dude said ” New Shit is about to come to life !” All the love, Todd

Be safe this evening, whatever you are doing.