What a whirlwind of all things musical! I'm just able to raise my head above water for a few moments to dispatch this message about imminent sonic happenings.
But first, Hark!, the rumblings of Montana Fix are heard beyond the horizon. Our fourth commercial CD and second studio album, this ambitious, epic, 19-song, 79 minute album will be officially released this summer. Stay tuned...
7pm, Tuesday, February 12. I'll be in the orchestra for Access Contemporary Music's performance at Architectural Artifacts, which will feature violin virtuoso Jeff Yang doing the Chicago premiere of Wolfgang Rihm's Light Games (Lichtes Spiel). Jeff has also happened to have sat in with Gunnelpumpers one a few occasions over the years. Check it out! http://www.acmusic.org/attend/concerts/light-games
This week and the next I'll be playing 10 performance with the world class Joffrey Ballet. Just like the managers in baseball, the tradition is that the orchestra wear the same costumes worn by the dancers. It's a little uncomfortable at times, but it's all about the music. And dancing! http://joffrey.org/legends
9:30, Sunday, February 17, Gunnelpumpers will be playing at The Whistler. We will perform one set, followed by Crown Larks. These are two instrumental groups that push the envelopes of mind and sound, so come out and get your groove on. There's no cover, and the cocktails are absolutely amazing. I love this place! Oh yes, the lineup will be John Meyer on guitar, David Keller on 'cello, Tom Mendel and Douglas Johnson on basses, and Randy Farr and Steve Rutstein on percs. https://www.facebook.com/events/123746361120052/
Wednesday, February 27, I'm supra-excited to be performing with talented singer-songwriter Christina Trulio at the Hard Rock Cafe! http://www.realiotruliomusic.com/
Friday, March 1, at Phyllis' Musical Inn: Gunnelpumpers is excited to join Department of Revenge for a night of progressive sounds. Really psyched for this night!
March 8-10: At the Pritzker Pavilion, I will be playing 5-string bass for the New Millenium Orchestra's performance of Viktor Ullman's opera Der Kaiser von Atlantas, a Hitler satire written by a concentration camp prisoner who tragically never saw his work performed. I had to turn down four additional performances on March 10 (Bach cantata, bass quartet, a musical theater production, and Zappa), since they all conflicted with this work, so you know it's worth checking it out! www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/new_millenium_orchestra.html
4pm, April 14: A Bach Cantata at St. Lukes Evangelical Lutheran Church, something I've been doing since 1990 or thereabouts. There's nothing quite as fun or cool as continuo playing. http://www.stlukechicago.org/church/music_bach.shtml
One last bit of news is that I've been asked to rearrange for new instruments a piece I wrote for a silent film a couple of years ago. Access Contemporary Music will be taking several of their favorite Sound of Silent Film creations to New York City in June. If you want to check out the original version of my piece, Der Wunderkammer, inspired by the Quay Brothers "The Cabinet of Jan Svankmajer", go to https://soundcloud.com/douglasjohnsonmusic/der-wunderkammer. Don't worry, it won't bite.
That's all that's fit to print. Until then, fare thee well.
Douglas "Doug" Johnson
https://www.facebook.com/Gunnelpumpers
P.S. Heartfelt thanks to Kevin Taylor for the wonderful poster design. I'd be happy to put you in touch should you ever need any graphic design work...
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But first, Hark!, the rumblings of Montana Fix are heard beyond the horizon. Our fourth commercial CD and second studio album, this ambitious, epic, 19-song, 79 minute album will be officially released this summer. Stay tuned...
7pm, Tuesday, February 12. I'll be in the orchestra for Access Contemporary Music's performance at Architectural Artifacts, which will feature violin virtuoso Jeff Yang doing the Chicago premiere of Wolfgang Rihm's Light Games (Lichtes Spiel). Jeff has also happened to have sat in with Gunnelpumpers one a few occasions over the years. Check it out! http://www.acmusic.org/attend/concerts/light-games
This week and the next I'll be playing 10 performance with the world class Joffrey Ballet. Just like the managers in baseball, the tradition is that the orchestra wear the same costumes worn by the dancers. It's a little uncomfortable at times, but it's all about the music. And dancing! http://joffrey.org/legends
9:30, Sunday, February 17, Gunnelpumpers will be playing at The Whistler. We will perform one set, followed by Crown Larks. These are two instrumental groups that push the envelopes of mind and sound, so come out and get your groove on. There's no cover, and the cocktails are absolutely amazing. I love this place! Oh yes, the lineup will be John Meyer on guitar, David Keller on 'cello, Tom Mendel and Douglas Johnson on basses, and Randy Farr and Steve Rutstein on percs. https://www.facebook.com/events/123746361120052/
Wednesday, February 27, I'm supra-excited to be performing with talented singer-songwriter Christina Trulio at the Hard Rock Cafe! http://www.realiotruliomusic.com/
Friday, March 1, at Phyllis' Musical Inn: Gunnelpumpers is excited to join Department of Revenge for a night of progressive sounds. Really psyched for this night!
March 8-10: At the Pritzker Pavilion, I will be playing 5-string bass for the New Millenium Orchestra's performance of Viktor Ullman's opera Der Kaiser von Atlantas, a Hitler satire written by a concentration camp prisoner who tragically never saw his work performed. I had to turn down four additional performances on March 10 (Bach cantata, bass quartet, a musical theater production, and Zappa), since they all conflicted with this work, so you know it's worth checking it out! www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/new_millenium_orchestra.html
4pm, April 14: A Bach Cantata at St. Lukes Evangelical Lutheran Church, something I've been doing since 1990 or thereabouts. There's nothing quite as fun or cool as continuo playing. http://www.stlukechicago.org/church/music_bach.shtml
One last bit of news is that I've been asked to rearrange for new instruments a piece I wrote for a silent film a couple of years ago. Access Contemporary Music will be taking several of their favorite Sound of Silent Film creations to New York City in June. If you want to check out the original version of my piece, Der Wunderkammer, inspired by the Quay Brothers "The Cabinet of Jan Svankmajer", go to https://soundcloud.com/douglasjohnsonmusic/der-wunderkammer. Don't worry, it won't bite.
That's all that's fit to print. Until then, fare thee well.
Douglas "Doug" Johnson
https://www.facebook.com/Gunnelpumpers
P.S. Heartfelt thanks to Kevin Taylor for the wonderful poster design. I'd be happy to put you in touch should you ever need any graphic design work...
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Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal - E-Zine
