John Zorn Presents The Stone Commissioning Series:
Kenny Wollesen’s
Uzupis
With Special Guests Dave Harrington and Laima Griciute
Kenny Wollesen’s
About the Show
New Music. New Jazz. Curated by John Zorn.
John Zorn’s The Stone Commissioning Series celebrates Zorn’s revolutionary venue, The Stone, a non-profit venue that was “dedicated to the experimental and avant-garde,” and served as a vital spot for new-music in Manhattan’s Alphabet City for over a decade. Held on the last Wednesday of every month, National Sawdust honors the spirit of the Stone, hosting the world premiere of new works.
For April, Zorn presents Uzupis, a band led by revolutionary musician Kenny Wollesen. An eclectic, shimmering trio of 2 vibraphones and electric drums, Uzupis will create a spectacular experience using with the help of Wollesonics, newly created instruments by Wollesen.
The band’s makeup consists of Wollesen, Will Shore, and Dalius Noujo. To add to the fun, Uzupis will be joined by two music wunderkinds: Dave Harrington on live electronics and Laima Griciute on vocals.
About the Artists
Uzupis
Uzupis is a band with Kenny Wollesen on vibraphone, Will Shore on electric vibraphone and Dalius Noujo on drums, electric drums & vocals. The band was formed in New York City in 2014 at one of songwriter Jesse Harris’ infamous house parties in Soho. Uzupis has since performed in many of New York’s best underground clubs: Nublu, Manhanttan Inn, The Stone, and Trans-Pecos, and they were featured at the 2017 Peronas Jazz Festival in Vilnius. Recently, Uzupis was honored to perform at the birthday party of highly influential filmmaker Jonas Mekas at the Agnes B. performance space in NYC. The 95 year old Mekas is a huge inspiration to the band and sometimes sings with the group.
Before forming Uzupis, Kenny, Will & Dalius had played for many years together, honing their musical skills in a variety of bands, including the avant-garde marching bands Himalayas and Stone Clouds, the performance happenings of Wollesonic Labs’ “Sonic Massages,” and many of Butch Morris’ ensembles, where they learned the art of “Conduction” from the master himself.
The sound of Uzupis is unique and fertile and other-worldly, yet at the same time accessible, earthy and fresh. Much like the the band’s namesake: the city/state of Uzupis in Vilnius, Lithuiania.
Their self-titled recording, due out in spring ’18, was recorded at famed Figure 8 Studios in Brooklyn.
Drummer and percussionist Kenny Wollesen has been a ubiquitous presence on the New York downtown music scene for over two decades, having played with everyone from Tom Waits to John Zorn, Bill Frisell to Sexmob, and David Byrne to Bebel Gilberto. Kenny has played on hundreds of recordings and builds his own one-of-a-kind musical instruments known as “Wollesonics.”
Will Shore is a performer, producer, composer, and one half of the avant-pop electronic duo Tmboy. He has a solo album out on Brooklyn label Mister Saturday Night Records, DJ’s a monthly show on The Lot Radio, and has played vibraphone for Nels Cline’s LOVERS, Arto Lindsay’s Noise Quartet, and The Dave Harrington Group. You can find him at willshore.com.
Drummer and persuccionmist Dalius Noujo was active in the experimental music scene in Vilnius, Lithuania in the 80’s before moving to New York in 1995. At the Anthology Film Archives he befriended filmmaker and poet Jonas Mekas and regularly put on innovative solo percussion performances at the Anthology. Dalius also scored music to 4 of Jonas’s films and played in several Nervous System performances by legendary film maker Ken Jacobs. Dalius continues to be active in the new york downtown scene and creates his own bands throughout New York & Europe. He recently organized the summer & winter version of the International Peronas Jazz festival in Vilnius in 2017.
http://www.mic.lt/en/database/jazz/composers-artists/daliusnaujokaitis/
Other Stone Series Events
John Zorn Presents: Annie Gosfield
May 30th, 2018 - 6pm doors • 7pm show This month’s featured artist is Annie Gosfield, a composer who the BBC calls “a one-woman Hadron collider.” A expert walker of the tightrope between electronic and acoustic music, Gosfield specializes in using found sounds such as machines, destroyed pianos, warped records, and jammed radio signals, which led the New York Times to call her a “master of musical feedback.”
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John Zorn Presents: Uzupis
April 25th, 2018 - 7:00pm For April, Zorn presents Uzupis, a band led by revolutionary musician Kenny Wollesen. An eclectic, shimmering trio of 2 vibraphones and electric drums, Uzupis will create a spectacular experience using with the help of Wollesonics, newly created instruments by Wollesen.
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March 28th, 2018 - 7:00pm For March, Zorn presents theremin maven Pamelia Stickney, whose playing has been described as “haunting” by People’s World.
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