the PiNG presents Aidan Baker (solo) and ARC

["PiNG" <ping@theambientping.com>]

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 

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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

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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. 

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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

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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 

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* 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.   
    
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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 

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Please forward this e-mail to any friends who may be interested in 
live ambient, chillout and experimental music performances or to 
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