Beth Price, Heather Sommerlad, Marie Valigorsky, J.J. Beck, Mike Rugnetta, Noah Frere, John DePippo, Jesse Alejandro Cottrell, The Big Fatt, Heavy Jamal, Michael McNeill, Nick Brown, Adele Mori, Duo Orfeo, Roko Djokovic, etc.
Influences
Arvo Part, Charles Ives, Dmitri Shostakovich, Gideon Kremer, Henryk Szeryng, Igor Stravinsky, Kool Keith, John Coltrane, Morton Feldman, Mstislav Rostropovich, Olivier Messiaen, Thelonius Monk, Gogol Bordello, MF DOOM, Fela Kuti, OutKast, Chopin, Brahms, etc. etc.
We are now taking submissions and ideas for pieces and/or art/installations for our June 27th performance, CONCERT X: MAGIC LANTERN. If you are interested please email us at bklynartists@gmail.com.
THANKS!
ABOUT B.E.A
As it started to get colder in early October, Beth Price, Marie Valigorsky, and Heather Sommerlad were drinking wine in a quaint little apartment in Brooklyn. Having all gone to school with each other at Bennington College, they were talking about the good old days in Vermont, when concerts were frequent and deadlines were an incentive to work. Being a musician in New York is hard enough. When you play and create what some consider a dying art, however, motivation to continue can be especially hard to come by. Especially when you have a day job, limited funds, and a perpetual existential crisis.
As they drank, they talked about their progress in music since graduating. Price and Valigorsky both have their masters in music composition (Beth received an MM from Longy, and Marie attended Bennington for her MFA), while Heather came to New York to prepare a violin audition for grad school. Real life seemed to have taken its hold on them, though, and as they drank more wine, they lamented this and listened to old recordings.
They decided then and there, in a fit of passion, that they would not let New York decide when, where, or IF they would perform! As Ms. Price so eloquently put it, "It sounds cheesy, but it's about empowerment! I'm not going to wait for permission to be heard!" They decided to give a small concert of their new music in Marie's apartment. They would ask their other composer friends to be involved. They would invite all their friends, dress nicely, and drink wine afterwards! When they realized that Marie's living room might be too small, Beth took matters into her own hands.
She contacted co pastors Jennifer Aull and Ann Kansfield at the Greenpoint Reformed Church in Brooklyn, and they graciously agreed to open their doors for this concert. And on November 16, 2007, Brooklyn Emerging Artists gave their premiere concert including works by, Marie Valigorsky, Beth Price, J.J. Beck, John DePippo, Mike Rugnetta, and featuring the talents of Adele Mori, Heather Sommerlad, Michael McNeill, Patrick Davidson, and Nick Brown.
This new music series opens its doors to young, emerging musicians, composers, and artists.
I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)
"Can We Go Back Where We Began?" CD Release Extravaganza! We cordially invite you. Freddy's Bar and Back Room 485 Dean St. @ 6th Ave., Brooklyn 8:45 PM Thursday, October 23, 2008
THE CONTEST: Listen to our music @ myspace. com/thebigfatt. Send us a description of what you think our music sounds like. The best description wins a sandwich made in front of you or shipped to your door, depending on your location. All descriptions should be submitted via comment or message to myspace. com/thebigfatt. The deadline is June 15th.
THE DESCRIPTION: Don't use adverbs. Avoid abstractions. As William Carlos Williams once choked out between sausage stuffing sessions, "No ideas but in things."
Here's an example of a good description:
"The Big Fatt sound like a steel folding chair smashing a professional wrestler's skull. Repeatedly."
Here's a bad description:
"The Big Fatt suck really really badly. Fuck you Jesse. You fucking suck gently upon all that is gently suckable."
THE SANDWICH: Whatever you want, we'll make it. Pastrami, velveeta, iceberg lettuce, fried potato wedges, powdered milk... if it fits between two pieces of bread, you can ask for it.
Entrance into this contest is not limited to residents of New York City. Out of state winners will have the sandwich of their dreams promptly shipped to them via express mail.
May 23rd @ 9:15 p.m. Freddy's Bar and Backroom 485 Dean Street Brooklyn, NY 11215 phone: 718.622.7035 By Subway take the 2, 3 trains to Bergen Street; Freddy's is right around the corner. Or take practically any train in the city to Atlantic Avenue/Pacific Street Stations; Walk East on Flatbush and take a left on Dean.
I've been well. Playing a lot with the band. We have a show at The Cutting Room in Chelsea Friday night. You and the girls should come by! Maybe you'll see Mr. Big there (he owns the place.)
