[jazzblues] *OTHER SOUNDS OF SUMMER JAZZ*

[Jeff Machota]

From: 	Jason Finkelman <finkelma at uiuc.edu>



*OTHER SOUNDS OF SUMMER JAZZ*
**
*Nu Orbit Ensemble with special guest Jim Ryan*
*Monday, June 4, 2007  -  7pm  $5
*Iron Post, 120 S. Race, Downtown Urbana

*Nu Orbit
*Jason Finkelman - percussion
Tom Paynter - keyboard, flute
Jay Eychaner - synthesizer
*Special guest
*Jim Ryan - saxophones, flutes

Oakland, CA based saxophonist and flutist* Jim Ryan* will perform with
Urbana Champaign's Nu Orbit Ensemble as part of his FORWARD ENERGY
GREYHOUND BUS TOUR '07!  Come out and hear an improvised exchange of
musical languages as the explosive Jim Ryan, who was active in the early
1970's Paris free jazz scene, meets the ambient, avant world jazz trio
Nu Orbit for the first time.  (see below for additional info on Jim Ryan)


*Thollem McDonas  and Water Between Continents
Thursday, June 14, 2007  -  8pm  $5
*Iron Post, 120 S. Race, Downtown Urbana

Exceptionally brilliant pianist* Thollem McDonas* makes a return visit
to Urbana Champaign after living in Prague and performing throughout
Europe over the past year.  Currently Thollem plays primarily his own
music, which he now describes as post-classical circus punk world jazz
free music - for people and everyone else.  See and hear for yourselves
why many critics and musicians consider Thollem one of today's most
exciting pianists.  http://www.thollem.com

Urbana Champaign's own prog rock duo* Water Between Continents*
featuring guitarist Nick Rudd and drummer Brian Reedy consistently
please audiences with a balance of powerfully crafted rock heads
juxtaposed by free wielding improvisations.



_*Additional Information on Jim Ryan
*_In the Spring of 1997 when Jim Ryan was booking his new free jazz band
into Radio Valencia (now defunct) in San Francisco, Don Allen, the
proprietor, asked him what was the name of the band. Jim, responded,
"Ah, er . . . Forward Motion . . . er, No! Forward Energy!" Since then
it's been a varying configuration of, at first, top S.F. Bay Area
players, and then embracing musicans from San Diego to Portland to
Chicago and New York City. It's a high energy jazz band in the style
variously called: The New Thing, Outside Jazz, Free Jazz, Avant Jazz and
THE Music. Jim sometimes calls it 'underground jazz.' Forward Energy is
totally improvised music flowering from over 100 years of jazz
development and moving (without forgetting the roots) into the 21st
Century. Forward Energy has just released two trio CDs - FE3 Oakland,
and FE3 Portland. In addition to these two records, four earlier Forward
Energy recordings are available trom Edgetone Records
http://edgetonerecords.com/ryan.html as well as one (The Concept) from
Cadence Jazz Records in New York. In the late Spring of 2007 Jim plans
to bring his music to The Twin Cities, Chicago, Champaign, IL, Columbus,
Detroit, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New York City hooking up with
musicians across the Midwest and on the East Coast. It's the FORWARD
ENERGY GREYHOUND BUS TOUR '07! (May 29 to June 17). Gig dates will be
posted on Forward Energy's My Space site.
http://www.myspace.com/forwardenergy

*About Jim Ryan:
*Born 1934 and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. Piano lessons as a kid.
Discovered jazz from radio DJ program themes, Ellington's 'Creole Love
Call,' Artie Shaw's 'Summit Ridge Drive,' Teresa Brewer's 'Candy Store
Blues." Encountered Be-Bop as freshman in high school, bought 78 rpms in
appliance stores (record stores had not yet appeared) with paper route
money -- took up trombone. Graduated in philosophy from University of
Minnesota. Drafted into U.S. Army and sent to Germany. Got out and went
to Paris, France to become a writer. In about 1967 began to play a
wooden Indian flute after working at writing all day . . . immediate
gratification. Acquired concert flute and shortly thereafter a c-melody
sax. In about 1970 Free Jazz hit Paris BIG TIME. The AAMC (Chicago) BAG
(St. Louis), Bobby Few & Frank Wright (Cleveland), Sunny Murray, Alan
Silva . . . It became the fashion for several years. Jim engaged in a
year-long weekly jam led by Steve Lacy at the American Center for
Students and Artists (now for all intents and purposes defunct) and
formed the 'Free Music Formation,' etc. etc. Returned to U.S. of A. in
mid-70's, California in the Mid-80's and has been practicing music out
of Oakland, CA ever since.

-- 





__________________________
Jason Finkelman
Musician / Improvisor / Composer

217.384.8231

http://www.straylight.ws