Don Bikoff (Glen Cove, NY ) :

Fire Museum & Folkadelphia are proud to present Don Bikoff's first show in Philadelphia since 1965! “Anyone yearning for more of the kind of music that filled that first Takoma sampler, Contemporary Guitar (they didn’t call it American Primitive back in the day), will likely be well pleased by Celestial Explosion. Like John Fahey, Harry Taussig and Max Ochs, Bikoff synthesized elements of blues and country to come up with powerfully evocative music. Bikoff is an unhurried picker, the better to let one hear the beauty that lies beyond the technique, and a fluid slide guitarist. Since he made the record in 1968, there’s a tinge of psychedelic seasoning, mostly judiciously applied echo. But what makes this record hold up after you get over the thrill of discovery is its unfussy soulfulness. Like so many in the Takoma stable, Bikoff made music that told stories encoded with personal significance. Hiding behind the Leslie effect on “Riverside Park Blues” is a walk down a path of reverie and yearning. “Bathing Prohibited In The River Styx” never oversells its winking premise, but it’s hard not to smile as it gently tugs at your leg. And a discordant lead makes “Today Has No Tomorrow” exude quiet, yet absolute trepidation, which is only partially ameliorated by the sweeter melodies that try to take a step back from the edge. Was he imagining a draft notice when he wrote it, or maybe a Dear John letter from his girlfriend? Whatever the inspiration, its music with feeling, and it’s good to feel it now.” - Bill Meyer/Dusted

“Guitarist/composer Don Bikoff's album "Celestial Explosion" was released in 1968. The album featured acoustic guitar gently altered with studio effects, and an Eastern-influenced take on the bluesy finger-picking of Mississippi John Hurt and American Primitivism of John Fahey. This fine album of solo guitar music was issued somewhat mysteriously on Keyboard Records, and fell into obscurity soon after its release. Don Bikoff himself has continued to play and compose, and to accumulate experience with a sense of adventure and joy. The guitar-centric label Tompkins Square has just reissued "Celestial Explosion". - WNYC “Spinning on Air”

Mitch Esparza (Philadelphia):

Mitch Esparaza might be better known as (((TACO))) (the ((())) being a nod to SunnO))) but now he's leaving that nom de plume behind. He plays the delta blues infused with Mexican and Spanish folklore, not to mention some droned out psychedelics rumbling the background. His other band The Love Club is like rolling thunder, but the work he produces in a solo context is more subtle with a focus on the finger-picking shred. (adapted from Dream Oven bio)

Fire Museum Presents:

Bhob Rainey

Jun Young Song/Fausto Sierakowski duo


Saturday, June 29th 8:00PM
Highwire Gallery
2040 Frankford Ave
Philadelphia, PA
$6-$8 sliding scale

Bhob Rainey (Philadelphia) :

Bhob Rainey, a soprano saxophonist and composer, is best known as a solo artist and as one half of Nmperign, with whom he plays alien extended technique effects that are influenced by electronic music, environmental sounds and free improvisation.
Rainey studied at the New England Conservatory of Music with free jazz saxophonist Joe Maneri. Rainey's music during his early- to mid-twenties was, like Maneri's, characterized by long microtonal lines. Rainey's first CD, Ink, featuring Dan DeChellis, was released in 1997. After a controversial 1998 solo concert in Washington D. C. attracted a considerable amount of attention to Rainey's music, he and trumpeter Greg Kelley formed Nmperign with the goal of avoiding linear approaches to form and melodic contour. Nmperign, including Rainey, Kelley and Tatsuya Nakatani, recorded its first CD in 1998.
Since 1998, Rainey has recorded extensively, including a number of projects with nmperign (minus Nakatani) and collaborations with musicians and composers like Jason Lescalleet, Le Quan Ninh, Ralf Wehowsky, etc. He continues to pursue a more sound-based (as opposed to note-based) approach in his work with nmperign, whereas his solo work, while far from traditional, often involves the use of more melodic lines. Since 2000, he has also led the bsc, a large ensemble that uses both acoustic instruments and electronics.
Beginning in 2005, Rainey has released a handful of works based around electronics and field recordings, notably his 2006 collaboration with Ralf Wehowsky, I don't think I can see you tonight, and his solo EP, Two Bites of a Bitter Sweet.
Rainey also occasionally appears as a sideman in more traditional settings, most recently in recurring work with ex-Galaxie 500 indie rock duo Damon & Naomi, for whom he has also done horn and string arrangements.

Jun Young Song/Fausto Sierakowski Duo (Seoul/Boston):

Jun Young Song
Born in Seoul.
Studied at Berklee with Darren Barrett, Terri Lyne Carrington, Hal Crook, Ian Froman, Jamey Haddad, Dave Samuels, and Dave Santoro. Received the Tony Lada Award in May of 2008 and, in 2009, the Zildjian Award for outstanding percussionist at Berklee. Played at the Monterey Jazz Festival and Rochester International Jazz Festival with Alan Benzie Quartet. In 2012 graduated from the New England Conservatory, Master in Jazz Performance. As part of NEC’s Jazz Honors Ensemble, played at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and at Bimhuis in Amsterdam. Released ‘The Road to Home’ in 2013 with the Three Quartet. Has recently toured the mid-west and Canada with the trio ‘Matador’.

Fausto Sierakowski
Born in Paris.
Graduated from a master in Contemporary Improvisation at the New England Conservatory in 2012. Studied composition and improvisation with Anthony Coleman, Joe Morris, and Frank Carlberg. Has been fascinated for many years by the music of Turkey and the Balkans and has had the chance to meet masters such as Manos Achalinotopoulos, Peter Ralchev and Adam Stinga. Has played with Joe Morris, Frank London, Ted Reichman, Asan Rashid, Luther Gray and Slavic Soul Party across the US, Canada, Italy, Germany and Portugal in venues such as The Stone, Issue Project Room, Barbes, Detroit New Center Park, Errichetta Festival etc. Released “Buck Hammerstein Clear River Chapaukee” with Nigel Taylor in 2012. Appears on Tzadik as a member of Anthony Coleman’s Survivors Breakfast Ensemble “The End of Summer” (2013)

UPCOMING EVENTS

8/8/2013 - Weasel Walter/Tim Dahl/Chris Pitsiokos & Jesse Kudler/Nick Millevoi
9/6/2013 - Azerbaijani Mugham performance/lecture with Jeffrey Werbock @ The Rotunda
9/14/2013 - Ember Schrag, Susan Alcorn & Erik Ruin
9/24/2013 - Birgit Ulher/Bill Hsu/Misha Marks/Bonnie Jones
10/7/2013 - Yannick Franck, Marta Zapparoli & Craig Hilton
10/9/2013 - bAgg*fisH

all shows at the Highwire Gallery (unless otherwise stated) & all ages

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Fire Museum Presents
c/o Highwire Gallery
2040 Frankford Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19125
USA