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Pianist Peter Cassino and clarinetist Todd Brunel, premiering "Opposites Become Equals" by John Morrison. Photography courtesy of Cory Weaver and the Longy School.
Jazz Poetry concerts May 11-12 'New poems based on famous jazz and new jazz to go with famous poems'. Featuring poets Douglas Bishop, Nichole Terez Dutton, Marlon Carey and musicians Blake Newman double bass, Ken Field alto sax and flute, Todd Brunel clarinets and soprano sax and Renato Melavasi on drumset.
In rehearsal for Brian Buch's piece "Acanthus Leaves" featured during an evening that celebrated the International Cat Murr Composers Society on Tuesday May 1 at 7:30 at Old South Church in Boston. Featured in this shot are flautist Elzbieta Brandys, oboist Akane Setiawan, and the composer on piano.
Joe Reid and I just finished a video shoot of our Benny and Beyond classic swing jazz duo with help from our good friend "S" of S Productions. I'm also looking forward to The Claflin HIll Season finale which will feature William Walton's Belhassar's Feast and in early May, the Powers Story Hour with original music by Kathy Rosenbach. That same night, the Waltham Symphony will perform Tchaikovsky's violin concerto and Symphony number 5.
I have plenty of great new videos for your enjoyment, so just scroll down and plenty of original music for download!
Pianist Paul Carlson, violinist Morgan Scagliotti and I just after our concert at the Newton Free Library. It was an all clarinet program that featured a sonata by Daniel Gregory Mason, the Schubert Sonatine no 1, a contemporary improvisation, a solo work by Charles Turner, Leonard Bernstein's 'Leonardo's Vision', 5 American Ballads by Roy Harris (transcribed for clarinet and piano by Paul Carlson) and the Khachaturian Trio. Paul and I topped it off with 'Memories of You' by Eubie Blake.
The Vortex invitation only House Concert with Garrison Fewell, Eric Hoffbauer and Jerry Sabatini was a blast. Watch the Youtube Video of the duet with Garrison and I performing Erik Memento Mori by John Tchicai below.
The Regent Theater show with master suona player Yhazi Guo was amazing by all accounts. I loved arranging and composing for this group which featured such tremendous talent and musical diversity. Looking forward to a possible China tour in August. We are currently seeking people interested in becoming fiscal sponsors. Feel free to click the Youtube links below that include a new composition of mine called, "Yang Zau"
In June, The Rock Flint Contemporary Ensemble is planning performances at the Thing In the Spring Festival in Peterborough New Hampshire.
Matthew Ray's Connecting the Notes show on WZBC was a blast. I've just added the recording of Garrison and I, it's some incredible spontaneous music making...enjoy!
 Garrison Fewell and Todd Brunel photo taken by Pamela Marshall from the Vortex Cd release party, June, 2011.
New Solo clarinet recording, 'Turbulient' by composer Pamela Marshall. At just under 2 minutes, this piece packs a punch with multiphonics and other extended clarinet techniques...enjoy responsibly!
Check out a new FREE download: Abime Des Oisseau with Electronics on my recordings page. Sample it in the media player below.
New Music: Vortex Live now available at CD Baby and itunes. Click on the image below.
The Vortex Live features:
Todd Brunel clarinets, Rob Bethel cello, Esther Viola oboe, Andrew Hickman tenor sax (tracks 1 and 4),
Dave Maxwell piano, Kevin Frenette guitar, Junko Simons cello (track 7),Yael Bat-Shimon violin (track 8),
Jonathan LaMaster violin (track 6),Tom Hall tenor sax (track 2), Geni Skendo flute and shakuhachi (track 8),
Daryl Shawn guitar (track 6), Matt Davignon drum machine (track 7), Blake Newman double bass,
John McClellan drums.
New Music in the media player: Arioso by JS Bach, First Song by charlie Haden and Witchi Tai To by Jim Pepper with Larry Carsman on guitar and Blake Newman on double bass; beautiful music for any special occasion. New duets from the FMRJE factory with drummer Dennis Warren. 'Spirit Monster' from Possum Hall studios featuring Mac Richey on oud, Fabrio Pirozolla percussion, Steven Mossberg keyboard,Carl Nickerson vibes, Andrew Dow bass, and flautist Mattan Kline on shakers. Black Birds, Red Hills movmt 1 by composer Libby Larsen, featuring Paul Carlson on piano and Lisa Kempske on viola, live from Follen Church in Lexington.
The Vortex Series for New and Improvised Music has been awarded a 2011 grant from the Somerville Arts council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
New music available: The Long Night for solo bass clarinet and electronics, recorded in 2009 live at the Vortex Series.
Click here to get to CD Baby to download. This piece can also be heard in its entirety as you scroll through the media player below.
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Since 2007, the Vortex Concert Series has presented concerts with a wide range of classical, jazz and experimental musicians from the New England area and abroad. Our listeners appreciate music ranging from the fringes of improvised to the notated of modern, spanning diverse artistic styles and disciplines. Valued supporters have told us how much they relish the spontaneous energy and creativity they feel and hear at our concerts.
In 2011, we held a series of concerts at the Democracy Center in Harvard Square, the Cafe at the Somerville Armory, the Nave Gallery in Somerville and Zumix in East Boston. The Vortex Other Dimension Ensemble continues to collaborate with students throughout the Boston area, giving concerts and workshops, allowing us to share spontaneous music-making with the next generation of musicians.
We also released our first creative music CD aptly titled, "Vortex Live" and In June, we had our cd release party at the Somerville Armory Cafe. We had a wild, musically interractive day that featured pianists Daivid Maxwell and Peter Cassino, drummer Dennis Warren, oboist Esther Viola, french hornist Pam Marshall, guitarist Garrison Fewell, flutist Matt Samolis, saxophonist, electronic musician Michael Dobiel and others.
We finished 2011 with very strong concerts at the Nave Gallery in Somerville and are planning an invitation only event on Feruary 5 2012, that will feature guitarist Garrison Fewell and others.
We are currently looking to expand our performace schedule to include several cities and towns in New England and plan a tour in the summer of 2012. You can help the Vortex musical voice remain clear and strong throughout 2012 with your financial support. In the past part of our was made possible by grants from the Cambridge Arts Council, the Somerville Arts Council and Massachusetts Cultural Council, which recognized our artistic merit and contribution to the cultural life of the community. Our main support in the past has been made by donors who love great live music. You can help us build on that financial foundation. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to the Vortex by clicking on the donation button below, or contact me directly by email.
Also, please feel free to check out the Vortex Series online at: http://improvortex.blogspot.com/
Thank you!
Todd Brunel
Artistic director of the Vortex Series for New and Improvised Music
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The Eric Hoffbauer and Garrison fewell's cd release party at Johnny D's in Somerville,
supporting "Sound particale 47" was a great time.
Read Jon Garelick's review right here: http://thephoenix.com/Boston/music/110109-variable-density/
"Turbulence"
A new cd by Sonic Sanbox is now available, featuring Forrest Larson on electronics, David Brown on didgeridoo and percussion and Todd Brunel on bass clarinet and clarinet. Turbulence Part Four can be heard in its entirety, right here on the media player. We will be performing in support of our new album, 'Turbulence' at the next Vortex Show on November 5, 8:00 at Outpost 186, a show that will also feature guitarist Ben Miller as he makes a stop on his east coast tour.
New music:
I'd like to Introduce a new studio recording that I recently did with singer songwriter
Andy Pratt, called 'fools' from the album " All That Glitters" which you can listen
to right here on the media player below.
Many thanks to Warren Amerman at Rotary Records.
VOD Festival gets into the Boston Phoenix 'Bos Picks'. Read the article here
Improvisation workshops and Clarinet and Saxophone lessons!
Registration starting Now.
New Location: The Somerville Armory
Flexible times and rates apply.
Musaner's first European tour was a tremendous success. We performed in Milano and in Zurich to incredibly enthusiastic audiences. They gave us standing ovations, clapped and danced to our music and showed us so much appreciation. We knew we'd touched many hearts. A big thanks to Ara Sarkissian, my good friend and the artistic director of Musaner.
 With me In this photo are percussionist Fabio Pirazollo and bassist Blake Newman. Grazie Milano! Danke Zurich!
The Vortex Series For New and Improvised Music
2010 grant recipient from the Cambridge Arts Council
and the Massachusetts Cultural Council!
 
Clickhere to get to the Vortex blog.
New Swing jazz recording featuring, 'Shaker Jam' and other great swing era tunes!
To download Shaker Jam at
Amazon click: HERE
Itunes click: HERE
Now Playing:
Abime des Oisseaux with electronics.
See the Youtube video below that captures some of the recording process.
Great new music website from Kalvos and Damian In the House!
Click the link and scroll down to August 19, 2009, show #555: CLICK HERE
Click on theRecordings page for links to such sites as Innova Recordings,
CD Baby and Itunes or order cds directly through the mail, by filling out the order form.
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You are listening to: (Order changes in media player)
Mac and Todd Jam featuring Mac Ritchey on oud.
Fools by Andy Pratt
Pointed Attack with Tom Hall tenor sax, Pamela Marshall French horn, Todd Brunel bass clarinet, John McClellan drumset
Festival by Musaner
Sunny Side of the Street, by Jimmy McHue featuring Joe Reid on keyboard.
Abime Des Oiseaux with electronics, from the Quatuor Pour Fin du Temps by Oliver Messaien.
The Plan: Todd Brunel & Ara Sarkissian: Invocation and Dance-2008
Escape Goat excerpt: The Circadian Rhythm Kings-(Innova)2008
West of the Keys: The Rivera Brunel Method- 2008
The Long Night: for solo bass clarinet and electronics-2008
Prelude from the Gerald finzi Five Bagatelles:
Invocation and Dance-2008
In Search of Serenity: Todd Brunel & Ara Sarkissian:
Invocation and Dance- 2008
Pauls New Ride: The Circadian Rhythm Kings-Innova 2008
Shaker Jam: Todd Brunel and Joe Reid available through Amazon.com
Early Worm: The Circadian Rhythm Kings- Innova 2008
New Circadian Rhythm Kings Music (untitled) - 2010
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