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THE AMBiENT PiNG . http://www.theambientping.com Tuesdays @ HACiENDA . 794 Bathurst Street at Bloor . Toronto (upstairs - directly across from the Bathurst subway station) Doors open at 9pm . 1st set at 9:30 . PayWhatYouCan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THiS Tuesday March 7th . Aidan Baker (solo) and ARC In keeping with our mini arc (sorry, couldn't resist) of acts who premiered and had their first ever performance on the PiNG stage, we welcome back ARC for an evening of infectious improvisation. Way, way, way back on October 12th 1999, at the ninth AMBiENT PiNG TUESDAY, ARC (Aidan Baker, Rich Baker and Chris Kukiel) first came together to perform. Their upcoming show will make it an even dozen ARC performances @ the PiNG. http://fade.to/arc Opening the evening will be a solo set of sonic explorations by Aidan Baker. http://www.aidanbaker.org . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Before Sets CD . Chance Encounters in the Garden of Lights by Bill Nelson We're gonna have some fun this week and spin both CDs at the same time of this classic 2 CD set from 1987 of sonic explorations by Bill Nelson. These CDs stand on their own, but when played in unison, they take on a new life which seems almost intended as they morph into one another. Do this at home kids, experiment and play with your media, don't leave it to the professionals. http://www.billnelson.com Between Sets CD . 12 Reductions (2005) by salvagesound Fresh from the factory, this week we feature the new release by Matthew Poulakakis' salvagesound project. Sculptured sonics which echo and reverberate as found sound is repurposed and salvaged into uniquely beautiful atmospheres. Read more about it here in rik's *ping things* CD review below and hear it Tuesday @ the PiNG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMiNG March 14th . Michael Keith and Friends CD Release . "the story of karl" by michaeL "The story of Karl" is the new cd by guitarist/improviser Michael Keith. Michael is a highly visible member of Toronto's rapidly growing experimental and improvised music scene. This CD (originally a 3 cd box, but now back to 1 !!) release event will feature music from and inspired by the cd and it's concept which is mostly improvised. The evening will unfold much like the cd with solo, duo and trio performances. Joining Michael will be experimental guzheng player David Sait(MCF), drummer Joel Allen, as well as guitarist/saxophonist Colin Fisher(I have eaten the city) on electric bass. The sounds on the new disc are all over the map. From power trio metal to soft, slow solo guitar ambience. Fans of noisy weird ass shit will enjoy it. Cd's will be available as well as small packages of ketchup. http://geocities.com/alexiteric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . rik maclean's *ping things* CD Reviews salvagesound . "12 Reductions (2005)" There's a pervading darkness to salvagesound's release "12 Reductions (2005)", a feeling of something haunted and mysterious, enigmas and riddles and secrets all wrapped up around each other in a knot that can't be undone without losing yourself in it's intricacies. Using processed field recordings and found sounds, Matthew Poulakakis of salvagesound has created a wonderful collection of tracks that sets fire to the imagination. "corq" opens the disc with a series of scraping and abstract sounds suggesting percussive elements, but too random and alien to be heard as drums. It's a suspenseful piece, a very dramatic work that creeps along slowly but effectively towards it's resolution. "tuebe" follows, a track that brings to mind the sound of the void as portrayed by a drifting drone. It's nice work, quite engaging in it's minimalism as form and shape become apparent throughout. Track three, "alvalva", continues along similar lines, building on a theme and then diverging into new territory. Irregular chirps give this track an organic sense, a feeling of life caught in the middle of an industrial wasteland. "terranoid" introduces metallic ringing to the mix, playing randomly over top an oscillating drone. A small melody can be heard just on the edge of the track, something to anchor the listener's senses but too faint to identify beyond it's presence. "ixuni" comes in at track number five, an oscillating drone rising and falling over top a pulsing tone reminiscent of an engine. There's a feeling of movement here, a really nice use of oblique motion that suggests travel and distance crossed. A very effective track. Track six, "squeue", adds more melodic elements to the mix, a processed piano playing mournful melodies alongside the sounds of metal bowing. It's a subtle shift in the tone of the disc, but a significant one in terms of the way that the listener hears the remaining tracks. "elloidal" follows, a dark and bleak aural landscape to be sure but one filled with a tragic beauty and mournfulness that strikes a chord inside. Tones rise and fall through the mix, the sound of water and waves providing a backdrop over which everything plays. Very powerful. "hovertour" incorporates a repeated phrase over top a fragmented sample, daring the listener to identify with the sounds played just below the surface. "opheliate" continues the water imagery established in earlier tracks and expands upon it with the feeling of tides and drift. It's a vivid imagery, a very clear feeling of the sea that both inspires and frightens. Very impressive. Track nine, "decrestlers", utilizes a deep wind tunnel drone to great effect, suggesting a dark and ominous environment where nothing grows, nothing lives, yet still possessed of a certain haunted beauty. "bosphosphorus" comes next, ominous metallic scraping and faint phrases raising the hair on the back of your neck. "feleket" closes the disc, a steady moan and drone piece occasionally interspersed with other sounds. "12 Reductions (2005)" is stunning work, all of the tracks creating an environment and pace unique to themselves. Definitely one of the best examples of sonic architecture that I've heard in a long time. "12 Reductions (2005)" by Salvagesound is available now at ping things! http://www.pingthings.com/SALVAGESOUND.htm rik maclean - rik@pingthings.com http://www.pingthings.com = ambient + electronic + chill things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * Other Toronto area sonic/visual events of interest this week: * Wednesday, March 8th . CONTACT contemporary music presents GIRLFRIEND With special guest Lori Freedman A collaboration with The Music Gallery Celebrating International Women's Day In association with Amnesty International and the Association of Canadian Women Composers . Featuring the music of Eve Beglarian, Lori Freedman, Monique Jean, Deirdre Piper, Marci Rabe, Linda Catlin Smith and Ann Southam Featuring guest artist Lori Freedman with the CONTACT contemporary music ensemble: Sarah Fraser Raff, violin; Michael Gfroerer, piano; Alex Grant, cello; Akiyo Hattori, clarinet; Christine Mourre, flute; Jerry Pergolesi, percussion 8:00 PM . The Music Gallery 197 John Street $15 Adults $10 Seniors/Students * Thursday March 9th . Improvisors' Pool The improvisors' pool is a weekly gathering for musicians who practice collective free improvisation. It welcomes players of all levels and backgrounds. 7:00-9:00 . Ralph Thornton Centre 765 Queen Street East East of Broadview and west of De Grassi * Thursday March 9th . Gravitas DVD release show visuals by John Dubinski, music by John Kameel Farah (piano, pipe organ, harpsichord, computer, synth, electronics) 7:30pm Farah performs remix interpretation of Kepler's Music of the Spheres 8:00pm Dubinski to give an introduction and explanation of the visuals and the project 8:15pm live performance of Gravitas with visual projections 197 John St. @ Stephanie (1 block N of MuchMusic) $15 regular/$12 member + senior/$10 student (at concert DVDs will be available for $15 with your ticket, but $20 to purchase through the website) * Thursday, March 9th . Coexistence Series #5 A monthly series of duet collaborations; this month featuring: Alice Norton bass, Grahame Beakhust tuba, Dwight Chalmers trumpet, Jeff Luciani drums, Colin Anthony piano 8:00pm . Tranzac Club * Friday March 10th . The Ryan Driver Quartet Ryan Driver: piano/vocal, Martin Arnold: vox invader (guitar) Rob Clutton: bass, Jake Oelrichs: drums 10:00 pm . Graffiti's (Baldwin at Kensington) . PWYC * Friday March 10th . Live in Concert: CCMC and MAZINANI/VORVIS CCMC (Paul Dutton - oralizations; John Oswald - alto sax; Michael Snow - piano, synthesizer) MAZINANI/VORVIS (Mani Mazinani - piano; Jack Vorvis - drums) 8 PM . Music Room, Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle, U of T FREE admission, all are welcome. * Friday March 10th . I/O MEDIA 8:30 PM . InterAccess, 9 Ossington Ave. . no cover . all ages * Friday March 10th . Spike Fridays presents SCHEMA FACTOR with MADAME HAIR and DJ OSAZE Neutral, 349A College St. . no cover . 19+ * Friday, March 10th . AIMT presents An INTERFACE SERIES with Lori Freedman in association with Arraymusic and the NOW Lounge I- Lori Freedman w/ lori freedman- clarinets II- Clark / Dajczer / Fedrigo w/ dave clark- drums, brigitte dajczer- violin, monica fedrigo- cello III- Anothony / Freedman / Newman w/ colin anothony- piano, lori freedman- clarinets, paul newman- tenor saxophone 9pm . ARRAYMUSIC Studio 60 Atlantic Ave., Ste 218 pwyc suggested donation- $15 * Saturday, March 11th . AIMT presents An INTERFACE SERIES with Lori Freedman in association with Arraymusic and the NOW Lounge I- Attariwala / Fisher / Freedman / Lewis w/ parmela attariwala- violin, colin fisher- tenor saxophone, lori freedman- clarinets, tilman lewis- cello II- Feuermusik w/ jeremy strachan- reeds, gus weinkauf- buckets III- Freedman / Haynes / Sorbara / Waterman w/ lori freedman- clarinets, justin haynes- guitar, joe sorbara- drums, ellen waterman- flute 9pm . Now Lounge, 189 Church St. . $15 * Saturday, March 11th . One: Castlemusic (Jennifer Castle) plays songs with electric guitar and voice while mother drift (Aimée Dawn Robinson) dances. Two: The Thorpe (Colin Clark, Aimée Dawn Robinson, and Josh Thorpe) plays double-mutations of Prince, Bjork, Robert Wyatt, and others, using tape, guitars, Casio, synth, voice, bells, banjos and so on. 9.30 pm . Arraymusic Studio, 60 Atlantic, Ste. 218, side door . 5$ * Sunday, March 12th . AIMT presents An INTERFACE SERIES with Lori Freedman in association with Arraymusic and the NOW Lounge Free WORKSHOP- Lori Freedman 2pm . NOW Lounge, 189 Church St. * Sunday, March 12th . AIMT presents An INTERFACE SERIES with Lori Freedman in association with Arraymusic and the NOW Lounge I- Freedman / Piilonen / Thomson / Valdivia w/ lori freedman- clarinets, rob piilonen- flute, scott thomson- trombone, brandon valdivia- drums II- Freedman / Perera / Shaw w/ lori freedman- clarinets, nilan perera- guitar, evan shaw- alto sax III- Duncan / Freedman / Haley / Martin w/ christine duncan- voice, lori freedman- clarinets, geordie haley- guitar, jean martin- drums 4pm . NOW Lounge, 189 Church St. . $15 * Sunday March 12th . Creative Improvisation Workshops Four 3-hour sessions, starting Sunday March 5th, running each Sunday in March, from Noon to 3p.m. Recital April 2nd, 1pm. The focus of the workshop is to encourage musicians to experience the combination of latitude and discipline that distinguishes free improvisation, and to provide them with information about the resources available to them as improvisors. Emphasis is placed on the development of listening skills through playing and the material covered considers music in a comprehensive manner. Open to musicians of all levels and backgrounds, the workshop gives a clearer understanding of the process and a greater appreciation of the art of improvisation. The workshop is organized into 4 3-hour sessions, which culminate in a hour-long recital. The recital is professionally recorded, and copies made available to participants. Participation is open to musicians at all levels. You should plan on attending all four sessions and playing the recital. Cost is $100 per person. All sessions to be held at Studio 4, 60 Atlantic Ave. (southeast of King and Dufferin) Toronto. To register, or for more information, Contact: Victor Bateman- tel: 416-534-7918 email- v.bateman@sympatico.ca Presented in affiliation with the Association of Improvising Musicians, Toronto. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THE AMBiENT PiNG is a social sound/art event presenting live performances by Toronto's finest ambient, chillout, improv and experimental music artists plus performers from around the world, every Tuesday evening at HACiENDA . 794 Bathurst Street at Bloor. http://www.theambientping.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Please forward this e-mail to any friends who may be interested in live ambient, chillout and experimental music performances or to any of your appropriate newsgroups. Thanks.