Los Angeles Sonic Odyssey Presents Music from the Great Depression(s) 1929 / 2010

Los Angeles Sonic Odyssey (LASO) today announces that it is pleased to present two upbeat evenings of music "Free Coffee & Doughnuts" counterpointing the Great Depression of 1929 with our own depression of today. Music is often a successful antidote to stressful times. While the local soup kitchen was passing out free doughnuts and coffee for the unemployed, songs from the Great Depression provided immense hope with joyful tunes that we have since enjoyed from period films to Woody Allen comedies.

This LASO concert entitled "Free Coffee & Doughnuts" features some of the more memorable songs from this era counterpointed with new music by composers Patricio da Silva, Jennifer Logan, Ian Whitcomb, and Bryan Pezzone. Just as in the period pieces, the new music offers us the sense of hope, joy, and the sheer pleasure that music brings to our lives.

In keeping with other acclaimed Sonic Odyssey concerts, "Free Coffee & Doughnuts" features some of Los Angeles’ finest musicians presenting world premieres of several works.

1960‘s British Invasion rockstar and Grammy winning troubadour for forgotten songs of the early 20th century, Ian Whitcomb, shall be performing a suite of songs from the Great Depression of 1929 entitled "There’s No Depression ‘Round Here." LA’s What’s Next? Ensemble directed by Vimbayi Kaziboni and John Stulz shall accompany Mr. Whitcomb for this medley as well as performing the finale "Keep Calm and Carry On: A Victory Suite," based on Whitcomb's original songs. Also performed by members of the What’s Next? Ensemble, Patricio da Silva's Clarinet Quintet, which was premiered at the second London Festival for American Music in 2009. After that performance, critics said, "Here is a genuine creative voice, his [Mr. da Silva] work being full of interest and beguiling invention...The frequent pattern-like rhythmic interests were fascinating. The writing for clarinet was excellent...Only Patricio da Silva's piece demonstrated the stylistic consistency of a composer who has something to say, certain of his own direction."

LA’s consummate crossover pianist, Bryan Pezzone, shall bring his incredible versatility and virtuosity to a suite of 1930's piano music through works by several jazz, rag, and stride-piano composers. Pezzone will also perform "For Art's Sake", an improvisation inspired by "Serious Immobilities" by composer Art Jarvinen. Pezzone will refer to Eric Satie's "Vexations" as point of the departure for his solo, just as Jarvinen did in his work "Hexations", which Pezzone recorded with the recently departed composer. Jennifer Logan, composer and Director of LASO, whose work has been tagged as "enchanting" (Mark Swed, LA Times), "a triumph of acoustical imagination," (SEAMUS), "sonorous and sensuous" (Josef Woodard, LA Times, shall spatialize live the premiere of a series of new electronic music works, in a rare preview of her upcoming album release in 2011. Finally, exciting young virtuosos Michael Kudirka (guitar), Tara Schwab (flute), and Yevgeniy Milyavskiy (piano) will perform Patricio da Silva's "Imaginary Folk Tunes" for flute and guitar, while Tara Schwab shall premiere a new virtuoso flute piece entitled "Recursions," and Yevgeniy Milyavskiy shall perform the mesmerizing "Nocturne and Fantasy" and the world premiere of "No Cruising Allowed."

Los Angeles Times Music Critic Mark Swed has previously reviewed Los Angeles Sonic Odyssey concerts saying, "...Sensual flowing sound engulfed the senses, proving once more that there is no end to what you can do with electronics."

Come and experience it for yourself. Please join us for these invigorating concerts.


Concert Dates:
Monday, December 13, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010


Concert Time:
8 PM nightly


Venue:
Neighborhood Unitarian Church
301 N. Orange Grove Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91103-3599


Ticket Pricing:
$35 / $27
To purchase tickets, go to: http://lasonicodyssey.ticketleap.com/


ABOUT LOS ANGELES SONIC ODYSSEY (LASO): The Los Angeles Sonic Odyssey presents elegant and provocative concerts featuring electronic, instrumental, and period music with works by leading composers pushing the boundaries of expression through classical, contemporary, jazz, and electronic music genres. To learn more, visit www.LASonicOdyssey.org.


For more information, and to schedule media interviews with Ian Whitcomb and Jennifer Logan, please contact:
Anaisa Pie
626.789.5276
pressinfo@lasonicodyssey.org