www.peppergreenmedia.com
nEWS
05 APR 24
Announcing TILTED ATMOS: Ambient Music for Electric Guitars on 4/20
We are thrilled that climate action group 350 NYC is partnering with us to support our Tilted Axes: TILTED ATMOS Car-Free Earth Day NYC performance presented by NYC DOT.
21 MAR 24
Tilted Axes Selected As Public Realm Programming Partner 2024-2046
We're excited to announce that @tiltedaxes has been selected to join the @nyc_dot as a Public Realm Programming Partner for the 2024-2026 season! We look forward to creating new music with a vast continuum of new collaborators in the upcoming two years. — #tiltedaxes
photo: @bobkrasner @bobkrasnertoo
14 MAR 24
Tilted Axes: Celebrating Women Who Rock — #InternationalWomensDay
View the complete album HERE
07 MAR 24
"EcoSonic Timepiece: Electric Guitar Clock's Call to Action" — #earthday #art
14 FEB 24
Tilted Axes: Harlem Easter on March 31
Presented by Marcus Meets Malcolm in Harlem on Sunday, March 31 at 3pm as part of their Easter Eggstravaganza Celebration.
More iNFO TBA
09 FEB 24
SPRiNG 2024 iNFO — coming soon
01 JAN 24
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
14 DEC 23
One Week Away in NYC!
INFO:
makemusicny.org/make-music-winter-2023/tilted-axes
07 DEC 23
Tilted Axes Creator Receives ASCAP Plus Award
#TiltedAxes creator Patrick Grant: "I’m honored and grateful to get news that, along with other friends and colleagues, I have received an ASCAP PLUS+ AWARD for the latest round of compositions, free workshops, & spectacles. This comes at a good time, when we all have the opportunity to make a difference. Thank you, #ASCAP, for nurturing new music of all kinds, for so many, everywhere that it’s created."
16 NOV 23
TILTED AXES: THE LONGEST NIGHT
Make Music Winter NYC
December 21, 2023
“Tilted Axes: The Longest Night”
5:00-7:00pm at The Hugh plaza
601 Lexington Avenue at E 53rd Street (Citicorp Building).
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars, led by composer and performer Patrick Grant, is an orchestra of guitarists who perform original, untethered music via portable mini-amps accompanied by percussionists. The project is informed by urban street band traditions, avant-garde theater and ancient music, and creates interactive spectacles that spark community conversation. The program includes three numbers — “Standing Still,” “Tiltinnabulation,” and Philip Glass’ “Knee Play 3” from Einstein on the Beach — with participatory handbell roles to transform the audience into music makers, no experience necessary. Presented in partnership with BXP.
Tilted Axes is a project of Peppergreen Media and is powered by VOX Amplification USA courtesy of KORG US. We thank our performance partners Strange Music Inc. and The Alchemical Studios.
Taking New Music Out Into The World — The 12th season of Tilted Axes is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, the (ASCAP) Plus+ Awards, the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Adjunct Development Fund, but mostly through the generous support of you the public through our fiscal sponsor Fractured Atlas.
06 NOV 23
Tilted Axes Performs Lou Reed's "Halloween Parade" (excerpt)
Video by NYC Video Tours
03 NOV 23
TILTED AXES: MEMENTO MORI Photos
Complete Halloween Parade photo sets on our Facebook and Instagram Pages
15 OCT 23
TILTED AXES: MEMENTO MORI at the NYC VILLAGE HALLOWEEN PARADE
READ the Press Release HERE
TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
NYC Village Halloween Parade, Tuesday, October 31, 7:00-10:00pm
Spring Street & 6th Avenue to 16th Street and 6th Avenue
TILTED AXES: MEMENTO MORI — Electric Guitars: Gene Ardor, Angela Babin, Ben Bray, Jessica Dankowitz, Ryan Due, Michael Fisher, Patrick Grant (director), John Halo, Liz Hogg, Jim Lee, Kyle Miller, Anthony Mullin, Dmitri Shapira, Jeremy Slater, Monica Smith, Keith Steimel, Kammy Yedor —Electric Bass: Al Messina, Jeremy Nesse, Kevin Pfeiffer, Sarah Metivier Schadt — Accordion: Dean Olsher — Saxophone: George Monteleone — Violin: Karina Byakova — Percussion: John Ferrari, Roxan Jurkevich, Alec Miniero, Bileshia Sproling — Satellites: Faye Bellucci, Asya Gribov, Proinsias Hederman, Jaidev Nesse — Standard Bearers: Howie Kenty, Alex Lahoski —Choreography: Christopher Caines — Media Producer: Jocelyn Gonzales ... and others TBA
TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is an ensemble created and led by composer Patrick Grant. The project takes on aspects of spectacle informed by the tradition of urban street bands, avant-garde theater, and ancient music. It takes music out into the world and seeks transformative situations meant to change the conversation.
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is a project of Peppergreen Media and is powered by Vox Amplification courtesy of KORG USA. We thank our performance partners Strange Music Inc., and Alchemical Rehearsal Studios.
Taking New Music Out Into The World — The 12th season of Tilted Axes is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, the ASCAP Plus+ Awards, the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Adjunct Development Fund, but mostly through the generous support of you the public through our fiscal sponsor Fractured Atlas.
15 SEP 23
TILTED AXES: OUTFITS & ENSEMBLES
TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
Art in Odd Places 2023: DRESS curated by Gretchen Vitamvas
Sat., Oct. 14th, 12-3pm, 14th Street between Fifth & Sixth Avenues
TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is an ensemble created and led by composer Patrick Grant. The project takes on aspects of spectacle informed by the tradition of urban street bands, avant-garde theater, and ancient music. It takes music out into the world and seeks transformative situations meant to change the conversation.
TILTED AXES performs their latest spectacle OUTFITS & ENSEMBLES as part of Art in Odd Places 2023: DRESS, on Sat., Oct. 14th, 12-3pm, 14th Street between Fifth & Sixth Avenues
OUTFITS & ENSEMBLES: The ensemble of mobile electric guitars and percussion perform original music with choreography. The ensemble uses their traditional black and turquoise concert dress to define the liminal threshold of their imaginary proscenium in public spaces. In this work, the members will be taking this concept many steps further with changes of costume and color-coded accessories. Using the language of clothes combined with new music and movement, the group will create a narrative performance that communicates ideas of inclusion, and even exclusion, using the language of clothes.
Art in Odd Places 2023: DRESS is curated by Gretchen Vitamvas with Curatorial Assistant: Tasha Douge. Curatorial Manager: Sarah Starpoli. — artinoddplaces.org
Tilted Axes: OUTFITS & ENSEMBLES — Electric Guitars: Gene Ardor, Angela Babin, Ryan Due, Patrick Grant (director), Liz Hogg, Kyle Miller, Dmitri Shapira —Accordion: Dean Olsher — Electric Bass: Jeremy Nesse, Kevin Pfeiffer — Percussion: John Ferrari, Alec Miniero, Bileshia Sproling — Choreography: Christopher Caines —Media Producer: Jocelyn Gonzales
TILTED AXES: EQUINOX
TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars celebrates the beginning of autumn with music & movement as part of the NYC Indonesian Street Festival in a performance of their latest spectacle EQUINOX. They are joined by very special guest Balawan, Indonesian composer and Batuan Ethnic Fusion guitarist, for a musical collaboration, Equinox Rock, created especially for the event.
Their appearance and the festival are a presentation of the Indonesian Consulate of New York City on 68th Street in Manhattan between 5th Avenue & Madison, on Saturday, September 23, 10:30 am - 3:00 pm.
10:30 am — Introductory procession with dancers beginning on 5th Ave. and 69th Street.
11:00 am — Tilted Axes premieres Equinox Rock on the 68th St. stage with special guest Balawan.
11:10 am —Tilted Axes leaves on a classic procession to Bethesda Fountain and back. Performances by many other acts continue on 68th St.
1:55 pm — Band Balawan performs their set on the 68th St. stage.
3:00 pm — All performances end. See the Indonesian Consulate's social media for performer details.
Tilted Axes is an orchestra of guitarists and percussionists led by composer and performer Patrick Grant since its premiere on the winter solstice 12 years ago. Flexible in number, the group performs original music untethered via portable mini-amps strapped over their shoulders.
Their music is a set of sonic structures comprised of polyrhythmic patterns, post-rock riffing, and contemplative drones showcasing the tremendous influence that Indonesian culture has had upon the project since its inception.
Tilted Axes: EQUINOX — Electric Guitars: Gene Ardor, Ryan Due, Patrick Grant (director), John Halo, Liz Hogg, Kyle Miller, Dmitri Shapira — Accordion: Dean Olsher — Electric Bass: Jeremy Nesse, Kevin Pfeiffer — Percussion: John Ferrari, Bileshia Sproling — Choreography: Christopher Caines — Media Producer: Jocelyn Gonzales — Satellite Assistance: Alec Miniero
01 SEP 23
FALL FUNDRAISER FOR SEASON 12 COMPLETED!
Photo: Bob Krasner @bobkrasner @bobkrasnertoo
Dear friends — We did it!
We achieved our goal and then some. Everybody involved is deeply moved by the amount of love this project has generated. We look forward to growing and developing the project in the new season. It's all possible because of you.
All donations are tex-deductible in the USA to the fullest extent of the law so, please, remember that come tax time next spring.
If you chose rewards for your donation, we will be sending those out ASAP this month.
If you chose a T-shirt as your reward, we will be contacting you within a week to ask you what size you would like to receive.
September has begun. Tilted Axes has its first performance in NYC in a little over three weeks from now. We wish you could all be here for the event, but know that you are in our our hearts and in the music.
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
https://tinyurl.com/Tilted12
25 AUG 23
International sTRANGE Music Day 2023 !!!
THANK YOU everybody who took part in the 25th Annual International #StrangeMusicDay yesterday! I can't even begin to chronicle the thousands of events, postings, and new music, big and small, that transpired yesterday. The hashtag itself has gone international so tracking it in its translated versions, is more than can be imagined. Below are a few quick links to give you an idea of what went down. All I can say with any certainty, is the we made the world a better place, if just for one day. Keep listening! Keep playing!
Tip o' the iceberg:
https://tinyurl.com/SMDsearch2023
https://tinyurl.com/ISMDsearch2023
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/strangemusicday/
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/musicaextra%C3%B1a/
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/m%C3%BAsicaestranha/
https://www.instagram.com/.../internationalstrangemusicday/
15 AUG 23
JUST ANNOUNCED: Tilted Axes at the NYC Indonesian Street Festival 2023
More INFO TBA
0
1 AUG 23
Tilted Axes' New Profile Page at Fractured Atlas
https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-electric-guitars
28 JUL 23
sTRANGE MUSIC @ 25 Years!
01 JUL 23
TILTED AXES: Season 11 Completion
Dear friends,
This was an extraordinary Spring for the project, the second half of our 2022-2023 programming and the completion of our 11th season.
Already there are dates being penciled in for Autumn and there are some Summer surprises in store.
On this, the last day of June, I am grateful for a wonderful first half of 2023 and the privilege of making music with you all.
It is a great time to enjoy the holiday and refresh ourselves for whatever lies ahead, in our personal projects and in the work of Tilted Axes.
Thank you all for your artistry, thanks to our composers for the new music, thank you to our extended family for their above and beyond support, thank you to our presenting partners and sponsors, but the biggest thanks goes to our public for their support. They are the ones who make it truly possible that we can create music that we bring out into the world and fold it back into the project to begin again.
Here's to when we begin again. Again. After a well-deserved break.
Light, love, and peace,
Patrick & Tilted Axes
24 JUN 23
RIP David Tamura
He was a strong and sensitive presence in our 2018 and 2019 productions. Thank you, David. We will miss you. R.I.P.
http://patrickgrant.com/NYCSummer2019_artists.html
15 JUN 23
Tilted Axes: The Middle of June
Tilted Axes: The Middle of June — June 15, 2023
Photo: Bob Krasner @bobkrasner @bobkrasnertoo
14 JUN 23
Tilted Axes Returns to the Arts in Odd Places Festival This October
More details TBA at: https://artinoddplaces.org/dress/
31 MAY 23
The ASCAP Foundation Names Recipients of 2023 Morton Gould Young Composer Awards
JUST ANNOUNCED: The winners of the 2023 Morton Gould Young Composer Awards. The composer/judges were: Lisa Bielawa, Patrick Grant, Joseph Jones, Shuying Li, Tamar Muskal, Jorge Sosa and Kathleen Tagg.
It’s a happy day for the future of music. Congratulations to all recipients and to everybody involved! So much wonderful new music to look forward to!
ASCAP Press Release: https://www.ascap.com/press/2023/05/05-31-foundation-morton-gould-winners
New Music USA website: https://newmusicusa.org/nmbx/2023-ascap-foundation-morton-gould-young-composer-awards-announced/
29 MAY 23
Tilted Pop-Up in the Middle of June
20 MAY 23
TILTED AXES Supports the 2023 NYC PRIDE Parade
11 MAY 23
Just Annouced for MMNY 2023 — TILTED AXES: SUNBURN
Read the press release HERE
01 MAY 23
TILTED AXES to Perform at BindleStiff Family Cirkus Variety Show May 9th in Brooklyn
Tilted Axes Goes To The Cirkus!
Doors open at 7pm, show begins at 7:30pm
186 Jay Street, Brooklyn — $15 suggested
Bindlestiff Family Cirkus
23 APR 23
Tilted Axes to Pop-Up With GREEN FORTE In Brooklyn
They will move about the neighborhood as a procession
and perform on-site in different formations
on Sunday, May 7 from 1:00-3:00pm.
Read the press release HERE
05 APR 23
CAR-FREE EARTH DAY NYC — SATURDAY, APRIL 22 — TWO SHOWS!
NOW. HERE. THIS.
11:00 AM - Cooper Square, Manhattan
1:30 PM Berry Open Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Presented in partnership with NYC DOT Public Space Programming
03 APR 23
PICTURES: Tilted Axes & California Guitar Trio — CITY TRIPTYCH
Photo: Andrew Marks
Check out the photo sets HERE
01 MAR 23
NYC DOT Public Space Programming Joins As Presenter for SPRING THING
Spring Thing 3/20: Read the press release in Broadway World
25 FEB 23
TILTED AXES: CITY TRIPTYCH w/ very special guests CALIFORNIA GUITAR TRIO
City Triptych 4/2: Read the press release in Broadway World
20 FEB 23
15 FEB 23
#TBT — The Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists VII dir. Robert Fripp
#TBT 2013 — The Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists VII directed by Robert Fripp at St. Mark's Church-In-The-Bowery, East Village, NYC. I am on the far left of the circle, RF can be seen sitting in the upper right of the photo. Here we are warming up with the Orchestral Maneuvers (OM) created by Sandra Bain Cushman. OM merges the principles of the Alexander Technique with those of the Guitar Circle.
2 FEB 23
21 JAN 23
New Moon — 3:53pm EST
01 JAN 23
27 DEC 22
Two New Videos!
24 DEC 22
Happy Holidays from Tilted Axes!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS from #TiltedAxes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
Photo: Bob Krasner
Winter Luminaria with Tilted Axes presented by NYU Faculty Housing Happenings
and Make Music New York — 12/21/22
17 DEC 22
SURPISE! SURPRISE! SURPRISE!
24 NOV 22
Patrick Grant Receives Composer Compositions Award from NYSCA
GRATITUDE: We're happy to get news yesterday that composer Patrick Grant received a Composer Compositions award from NYSCA to create #newmusic for Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars in 2023. The group, its composers, and I look forward to bringing this new work to a new public in the coming year. Thank you NYSCA, thanks to our fiscal sponsor Fractured Atlas! #gratitude #nysca #tiltedaxes New York State Council on the Arts
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars' 2023 season is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
05 NOV 22
Announcing Make Music Winter 2022
01 NOV 22
TILTED AXES vs. THE PHANTOMS OF LIBERTY
01
OCT 22
TILTED AXES in The 49th Annual Village Halloween Parade
26 SEP 22
TILTED AXES: Photos from Three-Sided Circle
Art in Odd Places: STORY 2022
https://www.facebook.com/tiltedaxes
https://www.instagram.com/tiltedaxes
12 SEP 22
TILTED AXES: Photos from The Village Trip 2022 Festival
https://www.facebook.com/tiltedaxes
https://www.instagram.com/tiltedaxes
Photos by Erick and Jocelyn Gonzales
08 SEP 22
Tilted Axes: Signals Through the Flames 9/10 Procession Route for The Village Trip Festival 2022
TWO DAYS AWAY! Saturday, Sept. 10th, 2:00pm-4:00pm, Tilted Axes: Signals Through the Flames, a musical procession to kick-off The Village Trip Festival 2022, beginning and ending at St. John's In the Village, 218 W 11th St.
At approximately 3pm, they will meet up with music legend David Amram and his septet for a tilted collaboration at the 8th St. and MacDougal bandstand presented by The Village Alliance. After #TiltedAxes' return and finale at St. John's, The Village Trip GuitarFest takes over from 4:00pm-9:30pm.
More iNFO: https://www.thevillagetrip.com/
05 SEP 22
TILTED AXES WELCOMES NEW PERFORMERS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON !!!
More iNFO
23 AUG 22
AUGUST 24 IS INTERNATIONAL STRANGE MUSIC DAY
15 AUG 22
TILTED AXES: Signals Through the Flames — Sept. 10 at The Village Trip
French surrealist and theatre theorist Antonin Artaud so wished for a searing realness upon the stage, that he called for the actors to strip themselves of all artifice and to present themselves as “...being like victims burnt at the stake, signaling through the flames.” (The Theater and Its Double, 1931)
His writings had a tremendous influence on the creators of The Living Theatre, Julian Back and Judith Malina, when their vision was coming together in the 50s and 60s. A 1983 documentary about The Living is even titled, "Signals Through the Flames," such is their association with the Artaud.
In their early days, the LT's history is almost like a who's-who of Village artists and aesthetic innovators from the theater, art, musical, and progressive political worlds. In 1959, with the help of a producer in collaboration with John Cage and Merce Cunningham they were able to open the theater on 14th St. and 6th Ave. which was the Theatre’s home for five years. Cunningham had his dance studio on the top floor. The Living occupied floors two and three.
Many years after that I met Judith when I was in my 20s and was lucky to work alongside her, creating music for theater, off and on for the group, for over twenty years. This included performances in the USA and extensively throughout Europe. The modus operandi abroad was that we would perform whatever current production we were touring plus we'd give workshops and create activist street theater with the local population. NYC was no exception. Performative political protests were a part of city life when the LT was based here. Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars might not have ever come into being had I not had this experience in my formation.
It is in that spirit, taking it to the streets, that we present our latest musical procession, as part of The Village Trip Festival opening on September 10th in Greenwich Village. For the event, we will premiere a new piece with that name: "Signals Through the Flames."
This performance is dedicated to all of the politically active artists and troupes that The Village has given birth to over the years, but especially to The Living Theatre. Our aim to bring positive attention to their work and legacy and to all of us who owe them a debt for initially breaking down The Fourth Wall.
To read more about The Living Theatre and its connection to The Village go to: https://www.livingtheatre.org/detailed-history by Thomas S. Walker. Some portions of this text were taken from that page.
11 AUG 22
THREE-SIDED CIRCLE — Part of Art in Odd Places Festival 2022: STORY
TILTED AXES: THREE-SIDED CIRCLE
Sunday, Sept. 25, 2pm, Lilholt Triangle Park, Unnamed Road, NYC
More details TBA
We're excited to announce that #TiltedAxes has been invited to be a part of Art in Odd Places' 2022 festival this year, STORY. Art in Odd Places (AiOP) presents visual and performance art in unexpected public spaces and in an annual festival along 14th Street in Manhattan, NYC from Avenue C to the Hudson River. This is year the festival will take place September 23-25 and Tilted Axes will perform on one of these dates.
Art in Odd Places 2022: STORY is curated by Jessica Elaine Blinkhorn with Curatorial Assistants:
Abbie Arg, Clara Grusq, and Gretchen Vitamas. Curatorial Manager: Will Schweigert.
artinoddplaces.org
05 AUG 22
25 JUL 22
Tilted Axes: Tilt Quintet Open Streets: L.E.S. Ave. B Photos by Bob Krasner
11 JUL 22
Part-time Adimistrative Assistant Sought in NYC
10 JUL 22
Tilted Axes: Tilt Quintet to Perform at the Hackers on Planet Earth (HOPE) Conference
JUST ANNOUNCED: The Hackers on Planet Earth (HOPE) conference series is a hacker convention sponsored by the security hacker magazine 2600: The Hacker Quarterly.
It consists of three days and three nights of activities, including talks, workshops, and performances. It also features hackerspace villages, a film festival, lock picking villages, a wide variety of vendors, art installations, live video, vintage computers, robots, an amateur/ham radio station, electronics workshops, and book signings.
07 JUL 22
Tilted Axes to Perform an Oprning procession for The Village Trip Festival 2022
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars will open The Village Trip Festival 2022 with a musical procession on Sat., Sept. 10 from 2:30 to 4:00pm. The procession will begin and end at St. John's in the Village (218 W. 11th St.).
The route will circle Washington Square Park, proceed east to Astor Place, and then back again to the West Village, making street stops to engage the public along the way. The procession will culminate in the courtyard of St. John's in the Village with the premiere performance of a Tilted Axes composition created for the 2022 Village Trip Festival.
More details TBA: https://www.thevillagetrip.com/
27 JUN 22
Tilted Axes will be a part of Art in Odd Places 2022 : STORY
We're excited to announce that #TiltedAxes has been invited to be a part of Art in Odd Places' 2022 festival this year, STORY. Art in Odd Places (AiOP) presents visual and performance art in unexpected public spaces and in an annual festival along 14th Street in Manhattan, NYC from Avenue C to the Hudson River. This is year the festival will take place September 23-25 and Tilted Axes will perform on one of these dates.
Art in Odd Places 2022: STORY is curated by Jessica Elaine Blinkhorn with Curatorial Assistants: Abbie Arg, Clara Grusq, and Gretchen Vitamas. Curatorial Manager: Will Schweigert. artinoddplaces.org
07 JUN 22
Music for the Full Strawberry Moon on June 14th in the East Village, NYC
For the night of the Full Strawberry Moon, composer/performer Patrick Grant will perform ambient music live. While he may be better known as the creator of Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars, his roots are of composing music for avant-garde theater in the NYC Downtown arts scene and internationally.
His studies in Bali resulted in works with alternative tunings, ensembles with multiple keyboards, and as part of Robert Fripp & The Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists. He has created scores for theatrical visionaries The Living Theatre and Robert Wilson, installations and happenings in NYC & LA art galleries, the Louvre and musée du quai Branly in Paris, for Obama portraitist Kehinde Wiley, and for performance artist Joseph Keckler.
He is an instructor at the Film & TV school of NYU Tisch School of the Arts and is the creator of International Strange Music Day, observed every August 24 since 1998.
Hekate Cafe FB Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1196378261165114/
28 MAY 22
Ten Years Ago — The Guitar Circle w/ Robert Fripp
ON THIS DAY (2012) Camp Caravan in Royalston, MA — "10 years ago Robert Fripp pulled my name out of David Bowie's hat and it was determined that I was to create a piece of music for solo acoustic guitar in 24 hours, in an unfamiliar tuning, and then perform it before one of the most challenging audiences of my life. Twice. That was my beginning course in the Guitar Circle and I've never been the same ever since — some would argue for the better. Thank you everyone who was, and continues to be, a part of that journey, in all of its manifestations and evolutions. The work continues in so many ways for so many. We're never far apart." — Patrick Grant
"Dude, Where's My Band?" #GuitarCraft #GuitarCircle
27 MAY 22
TILTED AXES Gets Accepted Into Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Program
GRATEFUL that Tilted Axes & Peppergreen Media have been accepted into the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music's Affordable Studio Rental Program. This is great news in an uncertain world.
Thank you, BKCM, NYSCA, NYC Cultural Affairs, and NYC Media & Entertainment. We're looking forward to creating new music in Brooklyn this year!
02 MAY 22
TILTED AXES SPRING PERFORMANCE PHOTOS!
Culture Lab LIC Season Opening — April 30, 2022
https://www.facebook.com/patrickgrantnyc/posts/10227750299651426
Beltane on B — May 1, 2022
https://www.facebook.com/patrickgrantnyc/posts/10227757013419266
2 APR 22
TILTED AXES BED-STUY — Car-Free Earth Day 4/23
21 APR 22
Patrick Grant Appears as Guest on Creative Confidential Podcast
LISTEN HERE: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5VHVCVfJRuiDEpmHop7GxS
15 APR 22
BROADWAY WORLD: Tilted Axes Opens Its Spring Season in NYC
Read the article here: https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Tilted-Axes-Opens-Its-Spring-Season-In-New-York-City-20220414
01 APR 22
New Piece for Electric Guitar Solo
JUST ANNOUNCED: "I will have a new piece as part of the 10th Annual CompCord Festival - 'Science' on May 1st at DROM in the East Village." — PG
More details TBA
31 MAR 22
TILTED AXES: Beltane on B
NEW YORK CITY: Just announced for Ave. B on Sunday afternoon, May 1st: "Beltane on B" w/ #TiltedAxes and much, much more — presented by Lucky on B and Hekate Café & Elixir Lounge. Details TBA
26 MAR 22
TILTED AXES: Culture Lab LIC — 2022 Season Opening
More details TBA — Culture Lab LIC
01 MAR 22
Tilted Axes Partners with DOT Public Spaces NYC
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Delectric Guitars was awarded a partnership with DOT Public Spaces Programming. This is a 24-month partnership with the City of New York. We're looking forward to new performance possibilities throughout the five boroughs over the next 2 years.
Thank you, NYC
25 FEB 22
2022 Detroit Music Awards Official Nomination — Outstanding Classical Composer
2002 DMA Nominee
Outstanding Classical Composer —
Patrick Grant
My first publicly performed piece was "Cantata for the Easter Mass" when I was 15 years old at the Our Lady of Victory Church in Northville. It was written for soloists, choir, strings and organ. While I'm not a traditionally religious person at all, I have retained this sense of ceremony in all my work every since. It seeks to find a place in the world. And there is always a feeling of a larger narrative. My work with the Tilted Axes mobile electric guitars project is another branch of this same aesthetic. Some times it asks: What is classical music? Is it an instrumentation or an intention? Is it as the venue it's performed in or can it be found anywhere? Is it solely a technique or is it what we find beyond it if we know where to look? And yet other times the music aims to say as little as possible. It only asks you to listen with prejudice. One thing I have found to be common to all things "classical", whether it's traditional or it's pushing the envelopes of genres: It seeks to elevate us all by pulling us into the present. Together. And if the composer is from Detroit, it's also not unusual if it has a mean groove.
Final Phase DMA Voting closes on March 6th at 11:59pm.
www.detroitmusicawards.net
21 FEB 22
TILTED AXES: REEL TO REAL — Meet the Musicians
Top row: Patrick Grant, Jeremy Nesse, Surar Al-Gaylani, Noel Marie Rivard
2nd row: Marco Delicato, Jeff Adams, Gael Grant, Dean Western
3rd row: Bob Kaufman, Sean Biggs, Manny Falcon, Alex Lahoski
4th row: Chris Simpson, Sarah Metivier Schadt, Rob Knevels, Mike Balavitch
Bottom row: Maggie McCabe, John Lovaas, Jocelyn Gonzales, Chris McGorey
11
FEB 22
2022 Detroit Music Awards — Two Phase Two Nominations
Outstanding World Music Artist/Group —
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
Outstanding Classical Composer —
Patrick Grant
www.detroitmusicawards.net
19 JAN 22
Tilted Axes: Reel To Real — March 19-22 — Application Now Open!
LINK: https://forms.gle/7ZQhwFAB9Q6qjewk8
12 JAN 22
Tilted Axes to Return to the Moon at The Henry Ford
Tilted Axes returns to The Henry Ford as an aligned performance with the exhibit APOLLO: When We Walked On The Moon presented in partnership with NASA. #moonwalk This appearance is made possible in part by the 60th Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival.
More details TBA
01 JAN 22
HAPPY
31 DEC 21
Fundraiser Completion
COMPLETION: Thank you everyone for being a part of our 2021-2022 season.
We look forward to the new music and performances that await us in 2022!
https://tinyurl.com/TiltedAt10.
Happy MMXXII!
Love, #TiltedAxes
TILTED@10 — Celebrating 10 Years of Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
23 DEC 21
TILTED AXES: Standing Still — The Winter Solstice in Herald Square, Make Music New York 12/21
Miracle on 34th Street
Pictures! See below for links!
Photos on Facebook
Photos by Jocelyn Gonzales
Photos by Getty Images
Photos by Andrew Marks (1/2)
Photos by Andrew Marks (2/2)
19 DEC 21
JOIN US! Tilted Axes: Standing Still — Make Music Winter NYC
Updated: Sunday, December 19
Sheet Music PDF
Sheet Music PDF (opt 1)
MP3 Demo
MP3 Demo (opt 1)
Press Release
Email
News & Updates:
1. A mini-van has been hired to serve as our mobile green room. The night before the event, you will be notified of the corner in the Herald Square area where we will meet up ca. 10am. You can store your cases, coats, and other personals inside the mini-van if you wish. We will have a quick rehearsal on that spot and then begin our performance. After the performance, the mini-van will meet us so we can get all our stuff. More details TBA.
2. For more experienced players, an optional PDF and MP3 of the music have been posted. It is exactly the same as the original with the exception of chords that contain extra suspended notes. Fancy! It also includes the ending Asus2 chord heard at the end of the original demo. Nothing else is changed, the form remains the same. You can play one or the other because they fit together well simultaneously. Play it if you wish, for it is optional.
Be sure to get a great outfit together for the event. The press has been alerted! :)
More info coming soon. Thank you for being a part of this!
18 DEC 21
POSTPONED: Tilted@10
Due to COVID concerns amongst some of our performers, we sadly have to postpone our TILTED@10 show until next year ASAP. We regret any inconvenience. Please note that this does not affect any other concurrent Tilted Axes projects, so please keep an eye and ear out for those. 2021-2022 remains our 10th anniversary season! Thank you all for understanding.
16 DEC 21
RAIN DATE: Tilted@10, Sunday, Dec. 19, 12pm-3pm
Dear friends — Because there is no good news to found regarding the weather in NYC on Saturday, we have consolidated our Tilted@10 celebration into a single event.
It will take place at the regularly scheduled time on Sunday, December 19th at 12pm-3pm.
The procession route will encompass both the East and West Village. Details TBD.
We will begin at Alchemical Studios 104 W. 14th Street and go as far as our friends at Astor Place Hair Stylists and the Astor Place Alamo Cube and back again.
We regret any inconvenience, but the weather is what the weather does.
Keep an eye out for us if you're in Lower Manhattan this Sunday!
Thank you all,
Patrick Grant & Tilted Axes
01 DEC 21
TILTED@10 — End-Of-Year Fundraiser Launched
https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-electric-guitars/campaigns/4557
Tilted Axes performances and online content are always free to the public because of the support from team members like you.
Our 2021-2022 Season includes new music from core members Howie Kenty, Elisa Corona Aguilar, jc (Jon Clancy), and Patrick Grant. The movement direction is by Christopher Caines.
Your contributions to Tilted Axes will help pay for the necessities that enable us to make music that is free for all to enjoy. Your donation helps to defray costs such as:
Honoraria (paying the artists and performers)
Professional Fees (recording engineers, accountants)
Administrative costs (advertising, marketing, staff, web site, data storage)
Please consider becoming a member of the Tilted Axes Team!
23 NOV 21
TILTED AXES: STANDING STILL — Part of Make Music Winter on December 21
PRESS RELEASE
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars presents
Standing Still — a participatory winter solstice event on
Tuesday, Dec. 21, at 10:59am EST, in Herald Square, NYC
This performance is part of Make Music Winter NYC, presented with the 34th Street Partnership,
and celebrates Tilted@10 – Tilted Axes’ 10th Anniversary
OPEN CALL: Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars presents a participatory winter solstice event at the exact minute winter begins in NYC: 10:59am EST, Tuesday, December 21 in Herald Square (Avenue of the Americas between 34th and 35th Streets.). We would like to invite you to be a part of this special occasion!
INSTRUMENTS: If you have an instrument that you can play while mobile, we would love to have you join us for a joyous ringing of tones and chords and rhythm. For example: acoustic guitars, accordions, glockenspiels, saxophones, dumbeks, melodicas, violins, etc. etc. etc.
A SOLSTICE GIFT FOR 10 ELECTRIC GUITARISTS: Tilted Axes has 10 small, yet powerful, mini-amps that we have acquired throughout our 10-year history. If you’re eligible, we would like to give them to you to use for the performance — and you can keep them afterwards! If you are an electric guitarist and need a little amplification, we can set you up if you apply early. It’s a holiday miracle!
PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTION: On Tuesday, December 21 at 10:00am event performers that have been accepted via internet application will assemble with members of Tilted Axes at a location near Herald Square. Performers will have received a PDF of simple performance instructions and musical figures to be played (w/ notation, TAB, etc.). After a short practice and an explanation of our processional movement, we will begin the performance of Standing Still ca. 10:45. Performing as a procession, we will go into Herald Square to perform.
THE SOLSTICE IS AT 10:59 AM: This moment will be marked by the ringing of a bell and accompanied by the ensemble as a performative minute. Details TBA. The bell will ring again and the procession will resume and work its way back out of the square to where we began and complete the performance. The event will finish by 11:15am.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PERFORMING WITH US: Send an email to tiltedaxes@peppergreenmedia.com by December 15th and you will receive further information to register. You must register to be a part of this event.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING MUSIC WITH YOU THIS WINTER SOLSTICE!
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is a group of guitarists and percussionists created by composer/performer Patrick Grant. They perform original music untethered via mini-amps strapped over their shoulders. Since their inception at the first annual Make Music Winter in NYC 10 years ago, they have created and performed numerous new music events in the USA, Europe, and Brazil. It’s conceptual and it rocks.
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is a project of Peppergreen Media and is powered by Vox Amplification & Blackstar Amps courtesy of KORG USA. We thank our performance partners Make Music New York and the 34th Street Partnership. Our Tilted@10 anniversary season is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, The ASCAP Plus+ Awards, the NYU Tisch Adjunct Development Fund, but mostly through the generous support of the public.
#tiltedaxes — www.tiltedaxes.com — @tiltedaxes
13 NOV 21
Five Weeks Away in NYC: TILTED@10
PRESS RELEASE
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars presents
Tilted@10 — a solstice weekend of performances
celebrating 10 years of Tilted Axes
These performances consist of two musical processions in Lower Manhattan, New York City
EAST VILLAGE - Saturday, December 18, 12pm to 3pm – beginning at Astor Place Hair Stylists, 2 Astor Place
WEST VILLAGE – Sunday, December 19, 12pm to 3pm – beginning at Alchemical Studios, 104 W 14th St.
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is a group of guitarists and percussionists led by composer/performer Patrick Grant. They perform original music untethered via mini-amps strapped over their shoulders. Since their inception at the first annual Make Music Winter in NYC 10 years ago, they have created and performed numerous new music events in the USA, Europe, and Brazil.
Tilted Axes can perform anywhere there are people, excelling in untraditional venues. Its roster of musicians can change from performance to performance, city to city. The musicians learn a common repertoire created by diverse composers and rehearse it in workshops. Its performances are free to the public and are supported through institutional and/or private donations.
The project takes on aspects of spectacle informed by municipal band tradition, avant-garde theater, and world music. It takes music out into the world and seeks transformative situations meant to change community conversation. It is an apolitical organization, but it does support science, arts programs, and renewable energy whenever possible. Tilted Axes works best when it is part of something bigger than itself i.e. festivals, exhibitions, community initiatives, astronomical events.
These performances are part of Make Music Winter 2021 and include new music from core members Howie Kenty, Elisa Corona Aguilar, jc (Jon Clancy), and Patrick Grant. The movement direction is by Christopher Caines.
Check back for detailed procession routes closer to the dates of events.
Tilted Axes: Tilted@10 performers — Gene Ardor, Angela Babin, Michael Fisher, Jason Goldstein, Patrick Grant (music director), John Halo, Howie Kenty (asst. music. director), Alex Lahoski, Anthony Mullin, Chad Ossman, Kevin Pfieffer, Sean Satin, Dmitri Shapira, Jeremy D Slater: electric guitars — Jeremy Nesse: chapman stick — Dan Cooper, Alex Durante, Sarah Metivier Schadt: electric bass — Caitlin Cawley, jc (Jon Clancy), John Ferrari: percussion — Christopher Caines: movement director — Jocelyn Gonzales: media producer — Melinda Faylor: stage manager — Emily MacMahon, David Demnitz: performance support — Harry Scott: framing devices — Mari Gustafson & Vanessa Paulsen: standard bearers
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is a project of Peppergreen Media and is powered by Vox Amplification & Blackstar Amps courtesy of KORG USA. We thank our performance partners Make Music New York, Astor Place Hairstylists, Alchemical Studios, and The Village Alliance. Our Tilted@10 anniversary season is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, The ASCAP Plus+ Awards, the NYU Tisch Adjunct Development Fund, but mostly through the generous support of the public.
The Tilted@10 graphic depicts the tin molecule and its alchemical symbol. Tin is the traditional gift for 10th anniversaries.
#tiltedaxes — www.tiltedaxes.com — @tiltedaxes
05 NOV 21
Tilted Axes to Create New Performance to the 60th Ann Arbor Film Festival Opening Night
At 60 years, the Ann Arbor Film Festival is North America's longest running avant-garde and experimental film festival. We can officially announce that #TiltedAxes will create a special live performance event for the opening night in March 2022.
More iNFO TBA.
01 NOV 21
Tilted Axes: Children of the Night - The Village Halloween Parade
Photos on Instagram @tiltedaxes
24 OCT 21
Tilted Axes: Unlikely Characters — Photos from HONK NYC!
Photo sets on Facebook:
Unlikely Characters 1
Unlikely Characters 2
Unlikely Characters 3
1 OCT 21
Just Announced: Tilted Axes to Perform as Tilt Quintet in Upper Manhattan Oct. 16
On Saturday, October 16th from 12pm-3pm, Morningside Area Alliance will host small ensembles and single musicians to perform in the beautiful Sakura Park Band Shell located in the park between Riverside Drive and Claremont Avenue at 122nd Street — https://g.page/sakura-park?share.
The audience will include participants of Open House New York — https://ohny.org/place/harlem-culture-crawl/, International House residents, Manhattan School of Music students, parkside neighbors and the general NYC public. These events are free and open to the public.
Five Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars musicians will perform new arrangements of their music around the park as TILT QUINTET and then convene in the band shell ca. 1:30pm.
Further details TBA closer to the event.
09 OCT 21
POSTPONED — Tilted Axes: FABRICATION
Due to predicted bad weather, Tilted Axes: FABRICATION, an electric guitar procession of the Garment District in collaboration with Theaterlab, has been regretfully postponed. It will be rescheduled ASAP for a later date TBA.
In the meantime we look forward to our performances UNLIKELY CHARACTERS as part of the 15th annual HONK NYC! Festival on Oct. 23rd, CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT at the NYC Village Halloween Parade on Oct. 31, and VANDERTILT as part of OpenStreets Vanderbilt Ave. in Brooklyn on November 20th.
We will soon be announcing our Tilted@10 Anniversary performances for the Winter Solstice in December so keep an eye out for those on this web site. Thank you.
07 OCT 21
JUST ANNOUNCED: Tilted Axes to Perform at the 2021 Village Halloween Parade
Tilted Axes will perform at the 48th Annual Village Halloween Parade in a new configuration entitled Children of the Night.
Read the press release HERE.
More details at https://halloween-nyc.com/
05 OCT 21
Tilted Axes: Vanderbilt Announced for November 20th
Presented by Vanderbilt OpenStreets, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. More info TBA.
28 SEP 21
Tilted Axes: Unlikely Characters — Oct. 23 as part of Honk NYC
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is one of the many spectacular bands that will be performing in the HONK NYC! 2021 Festival.
On October 23rd, between 11am-1pm, Tilted Axes will present a new performance procession entitled Unlikely Characters in partnership with the 15th Annual HONK NYC! Festival in NYC’s East Village. The performance begins at 11th Street and Avenue B, and will stop along the way at various East Village landmarks to perform music fitting the location. The performance is free to the public and can be joined at any point along the route. They will eventually bring the procession full circle, returning to Avenue B to complete the performance.
HONK NYC! is a donation based volunteer-run organization, and each dollar pledged helps to fund and organize incredible community events for all music lovers. Please go to our kickstarter link (in our bio and comments) to contribute now to our 2021 campaign to support incredible performances like these."
Read the complete press release HERE.
22 SEP 21
Happy Autumn! Tilted Axes Article in AM New York
By Bob Krasner — "For some, the sight of a marching band of electric guitars was just another day in New York City, for others, it’s what makes the city special (you can add us to that group).
Composer Patrick Grant took Tilted Axes, his core group of nine musicians — including himself — with their Vox amplifiers (a longtime sponsor) on a walking tour of the East Village, stopping to play in various spots but never stopping the music.
The music, all composed by Grant, consisted of some pieces that were played as composed and others that followed strict rhythmic or harmonic rules but gave the players leeway to improvise. Sponsored by Make Music New York and grants from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and The New York State Council on the Arts, the group can expand to 20 players…"
READ MORE
21 SEP 21
Tilted Axes to Perform at HONK NYC 2021
JUST ANNOUNCED: Tilted Axes will be one of the performing ensembles at the 15th Annual HONK NYC Festival!
More info at: https://www.honknyc.com/
13 SEP 21
Tilted Axes Presents Fabrication, a New Performance Created for NYC’s Garment District
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars will present a new performance procession entitled Fabrication in partnership with Theaterlab in NYC’s Garment District. Tilted Axes is a group of guitarists and percussionists lead by classically trained post-rocker Patrick Grant. They perform original music untethered via mini-amps strapped over their shoulders. This event is part of Tilted@10 celebrating Tilted Axes 10th anniversary season. The performance begins at Theaterlab, 357 W 36th in NYC, and will stop along the way at various landmarks to perform special compositions significant to that location. The performance is free to the public and can be joined at any point along the route. They will eventually bring the procession full circle, returning to Theaterlab to complete the performance. Afterward the public can join Tilted Axes for a meet and greet in Theaterlab’s performance space and find out more about their work. Procession route TBA.
Read the complete press release HERE.
07 SEP 21
Read the complete press release HERE.
04 SEP 21
Production Assistant Needed for Fall 2021
Peppergreen Media is looking for a responsible and creative NYC based Production Assistant to work on light administrative duties, social content production, and event organizing for the 2021 Fall Season of its flagship project Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars. This is a paid position.
About Tilted Axes — Combining the energy of rock, the creative discipline of theater, and the experimental spirit of the downtown NYC arts scene, Tilted Axes is both a processional event and an ensemble of mobile electric guitarists created by composer/performer Patrick Grant.
The PA work will be a mix of remote and in-person activities. Peppergreen Media follows all local and current Covid-19 guidelines.
Duties will include:
- attending TA production meetings
- co-creating, scheduling, and posting social media content such as images, graphics, flyers, quote cards, stories, audiograms, or short videos for use on FB, Twitter and Instagram, all to promote the ensemble at large as well as specific TA fall events.
- providing logistical support for TA events during prep period, day of the event, and any loadout or cleanup activities.
- communications support such as email follow-ups, publicity outreach, scheduling meetings, and compiling information or media assets from ensemble members.
- drafting text or documents for publicity or fundraising purposes
Required:
- familiarity with Google applications
- experience with basic photo, video and sound editing
- active on social media and familiar with creative strategies for social promotion
- comfortable with video conference apps and running multimedia presentations
- great communicator with a tight descriptive writing style
To find out more, please send an email of interest to jocelyngonzales72@gmail.com no later than Sept, 17, 2021.
Please put “Peppergreen PA” in the subject of your email.
25 AUG 25
International Strange Music Day is a Wrap!
Thanks to everybody who participated in International sTRANGE Music Day 2021 all over the world. Literally. It was difficult to keep up with you all! A hashtag search of #strangemusicday on FB, IG, or Twitter will yield hundreds of posts from every time zone. You can find a lot more on my public feed. Well done. So, keep your ears open. There's a year's worth of listening ahead! — Patrick Grant
21 AUG 21
Robert Fripp for International Strange Music Day on August 24
19 AUG 21
Tilted Axes Performs at the Inaugural Make Music Autumn NYC
Tilted Axes Begins Its 10th Anniversary Season With a Return to Astor Place as Part of Make Music Autumn NYC
On September 19th, between 1pm-4pm, Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars returns to Astor Place and environs with a procession and performance as part of the inaugural Make Music Autumn. They perform original music untethered via min-amps strapped over their shoulders. For this occasion they have partnered with the iconic Astor Place Hair Stylists who also serve as their base. The performance spectacle will begin at the plaza sculpture The Alamo (a.k.a. The Cube). From there they will perform in-procession around the neighborhoods that have been key to their origin: The East Village and Greenwich Village. They will stop along the way at various landmarks to perform special compositions significant to the location. Bringing the event full circle, they will return to Astor Place Plaza to complete their performance.
More iNFO TBA on the Tilted Axes web page
Tilted Axes is powered by Vox Amplification & Blackstar Amps courtesy of KORG USA. Our Tilted@10 anniversary season is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, The ASCAP Plus+ Awards, the NYU Tisch Adjunct Development Fund, but mostly through the generous support of people like you. Thank you for helping us keep our performances and events free to the public whenever and wherever possible.
17 AUG 21
New Music Gathering 2021: 'cloudy water conflux' is Online!
Go to our project page HERE
15 AUG 21
Announcing Tilt Core 2021
AUGUST 15: an announcement from Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars — Meet the new members of Tilt Core, our circle within the circle, the driving force behind the larger events in the 2021 Tilted@10 anniversary season ahead:
Angela Babin — e. guitar
John Halo — e. guitar
Jeremy Nesse — chapman stick
jc (jon clancy) — percussion & composer
Elisa Corona Aguilar — e. guitar & composer
Howie Kenty — e. guitar, composer & asst. music director
Dan Cooper — 7-string e. bass
Patrick Grant — e. guitar, composer, & artistic director
Caitlin Cawley — percussion
Kevin Pfeiffer — axe alternate
Christopher Caines — movement director
Jocelyn Gonzales — media producer
Stay tuned for upcoming performance dates & other new music activities: http://www.patrickgrant.com/tiltedaxes.html
Tilted Axes is powered by Vox Amplification & Blackstar Amps courtesy of KORG USA. Our Tilted@10 anniversary season is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, The ASCAP Plus+ Awards, the NYU Tisch Adjunct Development Fund, but mostly through the generous support of people like you. Thank you for helping us keep our performances and events free to the public whenever and wherever possible.
12 AUG 21
Blackstar Joins Vox Amps As Tilted Sponsors
We are thrilled beyond thrilled that Blackstar has joined Vox Amps as a sponsor of Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars this 2021-2022 season. They are outfitting our central unit Tilt Core with a new line of gear from the new Vox Go amp series and with Blackstar USB power banks. No more batteries. This is graciously done through Korg USA who distributes this gear internationally. We are happy to represent as Korg USA Artists.
Thank you! This helps so much!
05 AUG 21
#NMG2021 One Week Away!
#NMG2021 “cloudy water conflux,” a recorded collaborative composition based on structures found in blockchain. Top row: Patti Kilroy, Kate von Bernthal, George Lam. 2nd row: Gregory Oakes, Gloria Damijan, Ryne Siesky, Ron Coulter. 3rd row: Michael Roth, Lucius Gregory Meredith, Daniel Reyes Llinas, Jair-Rohm Parker Wells. Bottom row: Patrick Grant, Ting Luo, John Ferrari.
The New Music Gathering begins one week from today! We’re looking forward to being a part of it and to all the wonderful work we’ll see and hear!
Visit our project page
01 AUG 21
The New Music Gathering 2021 Will Take Place in St. Paul, MN August 12-18
Thank you to all the composer/musicians who submitted their ideas into our audio ledger for our collaborative composition based on structures found in blockchain for the New Music Gathering 2021:
Gregory Oakes, Kate von Bernthal, Ryne Siesky, Patti Kilroy, George Lam, Daniel Reyes Llinas, Ting Luo, Michael Roth, Gloria Damijan, Ron Coulter, Jair-Rohm Parker Wells, and John Ferrari.
Thank you to Lucius Gregory Meredith of RChain Cooperative for your wisdom and patience in explaining the math to me. We look forward to the many forms this music will take, but mostly for its premiere at the #NMG2021 this month!
Our piece will premiere online at 5:00pm CDT on August 17. #cloudywater #conflux
Complete iNFO at www.newmusicgathering.org
21 JUL 21
Tilted Axes Composer Commissions
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is gearing up for the fall season. Our 10th anniversary performances will be full of surprises.
Moving forward we expand to include new musical voices in all future events beginning with featured composers Elisa Corona Aguilar, jc (Jon Clancy), and asst. music director Howie Kenty.
More details and tilted roster coming soon.
07 JUL 21
New Music Compositional Models from Blockchain - Research
BIG THANKS to Greg Meredith (RChain Cooperative) for his patience and wisdom in introducing us to Rho Calculus as it pertains to creating blockchain contracts. Included below is a deck he created for collaborative composition experiments, "A sketch of some thoughts about the transition from computational agency to biological agency," a question of sustainable food sourcing, as but one model being adapted, from his document "Towards a Living World."
29 JUN 21
New Music Gathering Blockchain Music Project Ensemble
23 JUN 21
New Music Gathering - Call for Composer/Collaborators
For the participants of the New Music Gathering 2021 in August... You will have received an email from Team NMG in which I invite you to be part of an innovative recorded musical collaboration based on structures found in blockchain.
If you would like to be a co-composer on this project, please follow the instructions and reply to the email address provided.
Thank you!
Patrick Grant
#nmg2021
21 JUN 21
Introducing The FlexOrpheum!
International Strange Music Day 2021
#StrangeMusicDay
More details TBA
24 MAY 21
3 months away ~ The 23rd Annual International sTRANGE Music Day
3 months away ~ The 23rd Annual International #StrangeMusicDay
“Strange” can mean surprising, unexpected, or seemingly puzzling. The word suggests an air of mystery, challenging and/or delightful, that compels one in search of understanding.
17 MAY 21
Tilted@10 Spring Strategy Sessions
Thank you to the 50+ participants of our Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars Spring Strategy Sessions this weekend. GREAT things in are in store as we move toward our 10th anniversary in December! Thank you all! Stay tuned! #TiltedAxes www.tiltedaxes.com
16 MAY 21
DEVO Album Podcast with PG
ATTN: SPUDS!!! On this episode of “You, Me, and An Album” PG discusses Devo‘s 1978 Warner Bros. debut “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!” with host Al Melchior. #ShrivelUp
LISTEN HERE: https://apple.co/3tSDxXI
“In the past this information has been suppressed, but now it can be told! Every man, woman and mutant on this planet shall know the truth about De-Evolution!”
11 MAY 21
New Music Gathering 2021 Participants
Patrick Grant: “I’m thrilled to be a part of this year’s New Music Gathering taking place in Minneapolis and online this August! I’ll be creating a recorded collaborative composition called Cloudy Water Conflux. More details to come. In the meantime, wow, what a stellar group of participants!!!” – #NMG2021
New Music Gathering: “We’re so excited to announce the amazing music makers and shakers who will present their sounds and ideas at the 2021 New Music Gathering! While we’re still hammering out the details of which bits will happen when and where and how to ensure maximum community access, joy, and safety, we didn’t want to wait anymore to share this news with you!”
Participant Line-up: 10th Wave Chamber Music Collective, 113 Composers Collective, 5th Wave Collective, Aaron Kerr, Aaron Larget-Caplan, Aaron Trant, Adam Marks, Adam Schumaker, AEON Ensemble, ÆPEX Contemporary Performance, Al Cerulo, Albatross, Alex Burtzos, Alexa Dexa, An-Laurence Higgins, Ana Macho, Andrea Mazzariello, Andrew Hosler, Anna Wilkens-Reed, Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti, Asia Mieleszko, Ben Phelps, Ben Roidl-Ward, Alexandra Smither, Bergamot Quartet, Bitches Set Traps, BlackBox Ensemble, Brian Mark, Calliope Duo (USA), Caroline Sackleh, Cecilia Suhr, Cereal Music, ChamberQUEER, Chris Whyte, JL Marlor & Aiden Feltcamp & Lisa Neher, Christopher Nichols, Ciyadh Wells, COULTER HAMILTON, Dana Jessen, Danielle Buonaiuto, Darragh Morgan, Dave O Mahony, Dilate Ensemble, Dorian Wallace, Duo Charango, Duo Extreme, Dylan A. Marcheschi, Edwin Joseph, Eli Trakhtenberg & Danielle McPhatter, Elisabeth Halliday-Quan, Ensemble Decipher, Evan Tucker, Flauto d’Amore Project, Gamin Kang, Garrett Schumann, Girlnoise, Go Compose North America, Golden Hornet, Greg Nahabedian, Gregory Oakes, Hassan Estakhrian, Heather Barringer, ICEBERG New Music, INPUT/OUTPUT, Isidora Nojkovic, Jake Adams, James parker, Jess, Tsang, John Dorhauer, John Mackey, Jonathan Russell, José Martínez, Joseph Bohigian, Julia Lougheed, Ka Hei Cheng, Kaley Lane Eaton, Kallie Sugatski, Katy Henriksen & Alley Stoughton, Kincaid Rabb, Kinds of Kings, Kirin McElwain, Kirsten Volness, Kyle Hutchins, Kyra Davies, Ledah Finck, Sarah Thomas, Amy Tan, Irene Han, Leonard Bopp, Leslee Smucker, Loretta Notareschi, Luisa Muhr, Magdalena Abrego, Margaret Schedel, Marianne Parker, Mary Prescott, Melody Loveless, Michael Maiorana, Michael Roth, Midnight Oil Collective, Nathan Hudson New Arts Collaboration, New Downbeat, New Music Organizing Caucus, Nicholas Shaheed, Oberlin Arts and Sciences Orchestra, Orbit Duo, Patrick Grant, Patti Kilroy, Paul Safar, Penny Brandt, Portland Percussion Group, Primary Duo, Pushback Collective, Rachel Mangold, Morgan Schoonover, Clara (Da) Yang, Reed Puleo, Rhymes With Opera, Robert Laidlow, Ron Coulter, Ron Silver, Ruby Fulton, Rusty Banks, Ryan McMasters, Ryne Siesky, Samn Johnson & Sasha Kaoru Zamler-Carhart, Sara Noble, Sarah Bob, Sarah R. Alexander, scrubdaddy, Seth Cluett, Shannon Wettstein, Sidney San Martín, Sonya Knussen, Splinter Reeds, Stephanie Ann Boyd, Strange Trace, Tesselat, The Achelois, Collective, The Arc Project, The Cotton Comes Home Series, Paul Safar and Marc Egea, The Pathless Woods, The Sonoglyph Collective, Thiago Ancelmo, Tierra de Mar Music, Tiffany Chang, Tiffany Skidmore, Ting Luo, Weily Grina-Shay, Women’s Labor, Zach Sheets, Zack Baltich and Ilan Blanck, Zeitgeist, and Zoe Sorrell
10 MAY 21
PG Receives NYU Award for Tilted Axes
"I am honored to find out today that I received a 2020-2021 cash award from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. The award, from the Adjunct Professional Development Grant Award Fund, is to further develop my work via Remote Recording Workshops in the composition, performance, and public engagement of our mobile electric guitar project Tilted Axes for its 10th anniversary.
The created work will be used to address community concerns (i.e. the use of public spaces), global concerns (i.e. climate change and renewable energy), and future concerns (i.e. space exploration and unforeseen discoveries). Above all, it’s about connecting as humans, creating music together, and moving it out into the world."
Patrick Grant #art #music #science #tiltedaxes
07 MAY 21
Tilted Axes is Powered by VOX Amps!
VERY happy to announce that VOX Amps and KORG USA have renewed and upped their sponsorship of Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars! We now embark on the road to our 10th anniversary this coming December on the Winter Solstice. Stay tuned for all the news leading up to Tilted@10.
Thank you VOX!
#TiltedAxes
01 MAY 21
Tilted@10 Strategy Sessions May 15-16
Check your email or request an invitation from tiltedaxes@peppergreenmedia.com
21 APR 21
Tin Year Anniversary: 21-12-21
More iNFO TBA
03 APR 21
RIVENOAK: An American Opera - currently in development
The American Opera Project submission - Composers & The Voice program 2021-2023
RIVEN (adjective)
: split apart, riven wood [= wood split apart along the grain]
: divided into pieces or factions, a riven nation
11 MAR 21
Remote Recording Workshops '21 - Apply Now
REMOTE RECORDING WORKSHOPS Spring '21 - FREE
3 sessions - April (8, 15, 22) or April (11, 18, 25)
APPLY NOW: https://forms.gle/otvLTMQkXuaRyH9S8
Opt. 1: Thursday nights, April 8, 15, 22 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm EDT
Opt. 2: Sunday afternoons, April 11, 18, 25 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm EDT
These will all be conducted over Zoom - details TBA
These spring courses are for new participants who did not attend any previous workshops. Placement is limited.
These courses are FREE to accepted participants. Fees are funded by the generous supporters of Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars. These courses are given by Patrick Grant, composer, performer, and educator.
The aim of these workshops is to teach recording techniques as a participant in collaborative online projects either as a performer or a producer. A basic understanding of the physics of sound, acoustics, and microphones will be given. We will use the audio application Ableton LIVE as a Digital Audio Workstation as well as a compositional tool for all styles of music.
*** Through this work we can grow our creative community beyond the limitations we all experience. ***
The course is designed for Mac and PC users, laptops or desktops. Sorry, no tablets or smart phones. You must have a working audio interface to participate. This should be set up and running before we begin. If you require help, you should ask for assistance, but there’s plenty of resources out there for you.
If you need to purchase a good audio interface, we recommend the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, but there many you can chose from.
For this course you can use an electric guitar, electric bass, electronic keyboard, or a good microphone and/or an acoustic instrument of your choice to participate. We just want you to use something that will make recording fun for you.
As stated above, we use Ableton LIVE as our default software. It works equally well on Mac or PC. If you need a copy of Ableton, you can download and use a functioning FREE trial version for 90 days at https://www.ableton.com/
The course syllabus is:
SESSION 1 - The Basic Physics of Sound - checking your interface, setting levels, creating and using a template for Tilted Axes (and other projects), initial recording, multiple takes, bouncing out your audio, Assignment A.
SESSION 2 - Acoustics: The Behavior of Sound in a Room - Post-Production, FX = Frequency, Dynamics, and Time, creating a multitrack recording, editing, panning, bouncing out your edited audio, Assignment B.
SESSION 3 - Microphones - miking techniques, multi-track recording over Zoom, extended editing techniques, paths toward more creative composition, the completion of the course.
Upon completion, participants will receive a number of professional and university level resources to take with them.
NOTE: Space is limited and these workshops often go into a waiting list. As a courtesy to all other applicants, please only apply if you intend on being at all three sessions. Sorry, partial attendance does not work for this course.
Some good words from Remote Recording Workshop participants:
http://www.peppergreenmedia.com/RRW_goodwords.pdf
APPLY NOW: https://forms.gle/otvLTMQkXuaRyH9S8
05 MAR 21
2021 Creative Engagement Award!
New music news! We're happy to receive a generous Creative Engagement Award from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council for more #TiltedAxes projects this year. Thank you! #LMCC #NYC
01 MAR 21
Winter Workshop Completion
CONGRATULATIONS to the participants of our Winter 2021 Remote Recording Workshop for completing the course with honors.
THANK YOU to our supporters and co-producers who enabled these classes be FREE of charge to the community. We now have even more musicians and music to look forward to for Tilted Axes and all other kinds of new projects in our community to present to the public.
Look out for spring sessions coming in April.
Amy Denio
"Patrick Grant is a fantastic teacher and delightful musician. Music creates community, and Patrick encourages this beautifully in his workshops.
Dave Fabris
"...(an) insightful and inspirational class!"
Jeff Adams
"I know more now than I did before. This mini course gives me more confidence moving forward with my recording endeavours!"
Peter Legowski
"Thank you for your excellent how-to that was both inspirational and grounded in immutable properties of sound. You offered a simple useful approach for using the DAW - Ableton - that I already have more effectively, and opened doors to new creative possibilities. Yay!"
Henry Lowman
"THANK YOU, Patrick, for expanding the possibilities! MANY questions answered. We proceed…"
Jeremy Slater
"Thanks so much! It was great. I learned a lot!"
Kim Cary
"This class has been eye opening and ear opening...fun and surprising in many ways.
David Ross
"I learned many important aspects of working in the studio and with others that will now become a foundation. You have a great way of distilling the essentials in every topic that you presented. I came away with a much more solid understanding of the tools and components of my studio as well as your enlightened protocols for remote collaboration… I would definitely participate in any workshop that you might offer in the future."
Joe Pfeffer
"You're super talented at the online format. I had a terrific time, and I'm smarter too."
Angela Babin
"Patrick is a great instructor - patient and welcoming while keeping our group on task and focused."
Alex Durante
"The workshop provided valuable insights into the art and science of sound recording. I had no prior experience recording music and he showed me the fundamentals of getting a good sound from my instrument."
Jason Goldstein
"Patrick Grant's class provided me with a great introduction to recording on my computer. I really appreciate his time, effort, and expertise. I especially enjoyed our guitar ensemble recordings! I highly recommend this class to anyone who might be interested in it."
Milica Paranosic
"Thank you Patrick! I've learned a lot from you. As always."
David Oskardmay
"Many thanks! This is very helpful. Time to dream of wires..."
17 FEB 21
2021 NYSCA AWARD!
“I’m very happy receive news that I have received a very generous Composers Commission award from NYSCA to create new work for Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars as a project of Fractured Atlas. This means a lot more new music and performance in the 2021-2022 season! The group and I look forward to bringing this new work to the public ASAP. Thank you NYSCA, thank Fractured Atlas!” – Patrick Grant, creator and composer for Tilted Axes #gratitude #nysca #tiltedaxes #newmusic
09 FEB 21
CREDO...
01
FEB 21
STORYSCAPES w/ Tilted Axes
2021 will mark the 10th anniversary of Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars as an evolving project. As part of our activities this year, we have resumed work on our “Storyscapes” project for New York City for the 2021-2022 season. Here is a collection of writings I created for about the project during the past month.
Part 1
Through community workshops, Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars turn the stories and histories of people inside of NYC neighborhoods into public performances that preserves them for the future as a shared legacy and point a way to a vision of a better city for all. “Storyscapes” is a site-specific musical procession based on melodies and rhythms given to Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars by neighborhood residents in a workshop. They are the composers. These melodies etc. will reflect local places and events and will be developed into a free performance for the community. A workshop will be announced that is open to the public. The workshop can be held in a community center or a small rented space.
Tilted Axes is self-contained and requires no special equipment. The participants come with a story about a neighborhood location that they would like represented in sound. After listening and sound exercises to warm everybody up, Tilted Axes members will listen to each person’s story and ask them come up with a sound, a melody, or rhythm suggestive of that place: themes. Tilted Axes members will learn these themes and play them back. They will transcribe these themes on-the-spot for further work in the next session. In the next session Tilted Axes members develop these themes and put them together as a narrative. Selected participants (the “composers” and others) will aide in the running of the session. They will do a test walkthrough, with guitars (amps off), and fine-tune the narrative and the movement. The next day will be a dress rehearsal and a performance of the resultant work throughout the neighborhood with a grand participatory finale.
Tilted Axes takes on aspects of spectacle informed by municipal band tradition, avant-garde theater, and world music. We take music out into the world and seek transformative projects meant to change community conversation. We are an apolitical organization, but it does support science, arts programs, and renewable energy whenever possible. We aim to present what is possible. As artists, we need to communicate more than what we stand against or why particular policies affect us negatively, because limiting our commentary to such reactions would confine the social imaginary to existing political frameworks and systems that we do not control. We have to show a vision of what is possible.
We should also present our vision of who we are, and show why that vision is a positive one. We can imagine and visualize a message that’s not necessarily only about action but more about shifting narratives and imagery. Art is central to social and political change, not peripheral. In the small things, we see the large things. “Storyscapes” is a natural extension of our community work. The best narratives will come from our audience. We have a history of telling stories well through music and spectacle and we aim to extend our group into the communities of NYC that would benefit most.
CONTINUE READING PARTS 2 AND 3 ON THE MMIXDOWN
21 JAN 21
No, thank YOU!
A number of the new participants in our upcoming (and fully enrolled) Remote Recording Workshops said to me, "Thank you for doing this!" but I feel that these thanks are misplaced. The only thanks that should be given are to the supporters and producing partners of Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars that enable these courses to be given FREE of charge. The aim is to educate our artistic community so that more of us can create original audio of all kinds: music, spoken word, sound design, etc. and share it in new projects. It is for that that I am the one saying, "No, thank YOU for support! None of this would be possible without the great community we foster together." - Patrick Grant
To find out more go to: https://bit.ly/3qFNMx7
15 JAN 21
FREE Remote Recording Workshops in February
REMOTE RECORDING WORKSHOPS
Opt. 1: Thursday nights, February 11, 18, 25 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm EST
Opt. 2: Sunday afternoons, February 14, 21, 28 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm EST
These will be conducted over Zoom – Details TBA.
To apply please fill out the Google Form: https://tinyurl.com/y5f2alvg
These winter courses are for new participants who did not attend last Fall’s workshops.
These courses are free to accepted participants. Fees are funded by the generous supporters of Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars. The courses are given by me, Patrick Grant, a composer, performer, music educator, and creator of Tilted Axes.
Remote recording, online sessions, file sharing – while the things these terms describe are nothing new, there are many musicians and songwriters that don’t understand them. Like many developments on the internet, there isn’t a universal nomenclature, and terms are used loosely. Which is why we thought it was worth taking the time to offer some clarity, and shed light on the opportunities that are available to people involved in every level of the music production process.
This is a great time for music and a great time to make music together. Collaborating remotely is not going away, so best to learn and sharpen those skills and be heard in every way possible.
The course is designed for Mac and PC users, laptops or desktops. Sorry, no tablets or smart phones. You must have a working audio interface to participate. This should be set up and running before we begin. If you require help, you should ask for assistance, but there’s plenty of resources out there for you.
You will need an audio interface. If you need to purchase a good audio interface, we recommend the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, but there many you can chose from. if you already use one, great. For this course you can use an electric guitar, electric bass, electronic keyboard, or a good microphone and/or an acoustic instrument of your choice to participate. We just want you to use something that will make recording fun for you.
Ableton LIVE will be our default software. If you already use, or are more comfortable with something else, that’s OK, but in these workshops we will begin with Ableton so we have a common reference and since it is common to both the Mac and PC platform. If you need a copy of Ableton, you can download and use a functioning trial version for 90 days at https://www.ableton.com/. The version that you will use depends on the computer you current own. If you cannot use Ableton, it is acceptable to use Garageband (sorry, Mac users only). We will also be using Audacity (which is free to download) in a few instances.
While this is not an Ableton Live or garageband course, we will use this programs to varying degrees in the service of learning good recording technique, how to share files in a collaborative way, and how to use any kind of software as a generative musical composition tool no matter your level of previous experience.
The proposed course syllabus is:
Session 1 – The Physics of Sound Pt. 1, checking your interface, setting levels, creating and using a template for Tilted Axes (and other projects), initial recording, multiple takes, bouncing out your audio, Assignment A.
Session 2 – The Physics of Sound Pt. 2, microphone techniques, creating a multitrack recording, editing, panning, bouncing out your audio, Assignment B.
Session 3 – Acoustics: The Behavior of Sound in a Room, FX = Frequency, Dynamics, and Time, Post-Production, extended editing techniques, bouncing out your audio, the completion of the course Assignment.
Space is limited so apply as soon as possible. I will be getting back to everybody to finalize your participant.
Again, to apply please fill out the Google Form: https://tinyurl.com/y5f2alvg
Looking forward to making more music with friends old and new.
Thank you all,
Patrick Grant &
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
01 JAN 21
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
31 DEC 20
Tilted Axes: 20/20 SOUNDSCAPE for Points of Seeing
Tilted Axes: 20/20 SOUNDSCAPE for Points of Seeing. All of the music has been posted.
You can listen HERE: https://bit.ly/3hxR16A
Musicians participating are: Aileen Bunch, Alex Durante, Amy Denio, Angela Babin, Chad Ossman, Christoph Götzen, Dan Cooper, Elisa Corona Aguilar Gene Ardor, Gerard Smith, Howie Kenty, Jane Mabrysmith, Jason Goldstein, Jeremy Nesse, John Ferrari, Leslie Stevens, Michael Fisher, Michelle Zulli, Steve Ball, and Tony Geballe.
Here's to a Happy and Healthy New Year!
Patrick Grant & Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
21 DEC 20
Happy Solstice! w/ Points of Seeing & 20/20 Soundscape
More information at the Tilted Axes Web Page
15 DEC 20
"I’m honored to get news that, along with other esteemed friends and colleagues, I have received an ASCAP PLUS+ AWARD from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) for our latest cycle of compositions, recordings, & performances. Personally, this is my ninth such consecutive award from the ASCAP Foundation. Thank you, ASCAP, for nurturing new music of all kinds, for so many, everywhere that it’s created. This couldn't come at a better time than this." - Patrick Grant
11 DEC 20
Concert Announcement in Chicago
Concert Announcement: This coming Wednesday, December 16th at 7pm CST, Chicago-based Fulcrum Point New Music Project will be performing Patrick Grant‘s “three times one minus one“* for two performers and prerecorded track in a streaming concert dedicated to our front-line workers. The performers on my piece are Kuang Hao Huang, piano, and Steve Roberts, electric guitar with electronics, under the direction of Stephen Burns. Also on the program will be music by Shatin, Saariaho, Shostakovich, and Angel Bat Dawid and Sistazz of tha Nitty Gritty.
We hope you can tune in! More info: https://www.fulcrumpoint.org/upcoming
* a.k.a. “to find a form that accommodates the mess“
07 DEC 20
Announcing the "20/20 Soundscape" as part of "Points of Seeing"
Announcing Tilted Axes’ “20/20 Soundscape” as part of our “Points of Seeing” virtual event on Dec. 21, 7PM EST
To attend this event, sign up here: http://bit.ly/points-of-seeing.
What is this? It’s 20 musicians bringing 20 musical cells each into a protean structure created and produced for the winter solstice.
Musicians participating are: Aileen Bunch, Alex Durante, Amy Denio, Angela Babin, Chad Ossman, Christoph Götzen, Dan Cooper, Elisa Corona Aguilar, Gene Ardor, Gerard Smith, Howie Kenty, Jane Mabrysmith, Jason Goldstein, Jeremy Nesse, John Ferrari, Leslie Stevens, Michael Fisher, Michelle Zulli, Steve Ball, and Tony Geballe.
This new music and event are brought to you in part by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council‘s 2020 Creative Engagement Award.
01 DEC 20
NOTICE: Tilted Axes' "A Tilt for Our Time" Has Been Postponed Until 2021
We held out for as long as we could, but due to increasing COVID concerns in New York City, we have regrettably made the decision to POSTPONE our live performance "A Tilt for Our Time." It will be rescheduled ASAP in the new year. However, our virtual presentation "Points of Seeing" will go ahead as planned on December 21, the Winter Solstice, at 7PM EST.
To join "Points of Seeing" please register at this link: http://bit.ly/points-of-seeing.
24 NOV 20
Fractured Atlas Blog: Tilted Axes Artist Spotlight
INTERVIEW: "Post-rock composer and guitarist Patrick Grant takes guitars out into the wild. Through Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars, he brings together musicians to take to the streets of New York City and bring music to the public. With the help of battery-powered amps and inspired by his work as a composer and street theater musician, Grant uses free public music to help his audience share spontaneous moments of beauty and connection where they least expect it."
Read it HERE
17 NOV 20
Meet the Performers and Participants of Tilted Axes' "A Tilt for Our Time"
FIRST ROW: Angela Babin, John Halo, Paul de Konkoly Thege, Geoff Gersh, Gene Ardor
SECOND ROW: Sean Satin, Patrick Grant, Jaxie Binder, Steve Bloom, Anthony Mullin
THIRD ROW: Chad Ossman, Alex Durante, Jeremy Nesse, Jason Napier, Dave Fabris
FOURTH ROW: John Ferrari, Kevin Pfeiffer, Tamika Gorski, Dan Cooper, Jon Clancy
09 NOV 20
Six Weeks From Today on the Winter Solstice: POINTS OF SEEING
Monday, December 21, 7pm EST: Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars presents “Points of Seeing”, an online presentation of recent work with live performance and a Q&A with the public. Tilted Axes artistic director Patrick Grant hosts an event where he and members of the ensemble discuss their past, present, and future work through music, visual art, and interaction with a live audience. The presentation will focus on how Tilted Axes has adapted its creative process in the past year, what was learned, and a look ahead. Links to view or participate in the presentation will be announced in December. “Points of Seeing” is made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC). Tilted Axes is powered by Vox Amps USA. Rehearsal space support provided by Alchemical Studios. This event is part of Make Music Winter NYC and produced by Peppergreen Media.
30 OCT 20
OCTOBER SURPRISE! A Devil's Night treat from Tilted Axes for Halloween 2020!
OCTOBER SURPRISE! A Devil's Night treat from Tilted Axes for Halloween 2020!
https://tiltedaxes.bandcamp.com/track/satans-little-circus
https://soundcloud.com/patrick-grant-9/tilted-axes-satans-little-circus-devils-night-mix-2020
Dear fiends,
Please enjoy this new music from Tilted Axes. You can listen for free on our Bandcamp page or our Soundcloud page. Our work is supported by the public and is made available to you free of charge. However, if you do wish to contribute, Satan's Little Circus is downloadable for $1 on Bandcamp.
Happy Halloween!
Patrick Grant & Tilted Axes
SATAN'S LITTLE CIRCUS
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
featured musicians on this recording:
Electric Guitar: Steve Ball, Daniel Reyes Llinas, Patrick Grant
Electric Bass: Dan Cooper, Patrick Grant
Drums & Percussion: John Ferrari
Produced by Patrick Grant/PGM
Recorded at The Whammy Bar (NYC)
and The Ferrari Factory (NJ)
Mastered by Sheldon Steiger
Composer: Patrick Grant
Publisher: Peppergreen Media (ASCAP)
This release is made possible through the vision and generosity of our Past-Present-Future Fall 2020 Co-Producers and Tilted Team members: Aaron Alter, Adam Levin, Aileen Bunch, Alex Durante, Amy Sue Quinn, Andrew Marks, Anthony Garone, Bob Kaufman, Chad Ossman, Chris Simpson, Christoph Goetzen, Christopher Gibbons, Courtney Gowan, Dan Gentges, Daniel Rothbart, Dave Grieg, DB Cooper, Deb Calvert, Detroit Guitar, Eleonor Sandresky, Eric and Tracey Wolfe, Eric Anderson, Erik Grant, Erin Leen, Erin Victoria Wigger, Gael Grant, Garry Rindfuss, Greg Meredith, Gwen Deely, Henry Lowman, Jason Goldstein, Jeff Georgas, Jeffrey Adams, Jim Schaeffer, Joel Blumsack, Jon Diaz, Jude Traxler, Julia Knevels, Jürgen Mühle, Kathy Starkey, Keith Vanden Eynden, Lynn Bechtold, Manfred Kohl, Marc Mellits, Maria Tegzes, Matthias Neumann, Michael Fisher, Mike McKenna, Milica Paranosic, Peter Kaufman, Pietro Russino, Ralph Valdez, Sandra Prow, Saori Tsukada, Sean and Laura Biggs, Steve Ball, Susan Montgomery, Teresa Peacock, Tom Peyton, Tony Weitner, Zero Boy, and anonymous individuals and organizations.
© 2020 all rights reserved
11 OCT 20
TEN WEEKS FROM TODAY
10 weeks from today in NYC... "Sunday, December 20, 12 noon to 3pm EST: Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars performs “A Tilt for Our Time”, a new music procession and socially distanced public action through Lower Manhattan. Post-rock composer Patrick Grant will lead the group in a "tilt" from Greenwich Village to the East Village and back again with a ceremonial stop at the Astor Place Cube (The Alamo). Tilted Axes will present a program of new pieces created for the event along with classics from their catalog. Procession route and performance details TBA. “A Tilt for Our Time” is made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Tilted Axes is powered by Vox Amps USA. Rehearsal space support provided by Alchemical Studios. This event is part of Make Music Winter NYC and produced by Peppergreen Media.
NOTICE: Due to the ongoing nature of necessary public health concerns, PGM/Tilted Axes is continually monitoring the situation. If this event needs to be canceled or rescheduled, we will let you know ASAP.
03 OCT 20
COMPLETION: TILTED AXES FALL FUNDRAISER
THANK YOU to all of our 83 supporters on this campaign: new, continuing, and returning. Looking forward to creating music together! We'll get back to you ASAP with your rewards if you have them coming. More project news coming soon!
So in case you missed our Fall Fundraiser: our general support page at Fractured Atlas is always up and running between campaigns. All contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent etc. .... Thx!
https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-electric-guitars
30 SEP 20
MORE "COASTAL REQUIEM" SCRRENINGS ANNOUNCED
LIIFE: LONG ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM EXPO - BELLMORE, NY
September 30 - October 8, 2020
Online and Drive-In Screenings
'Coastal Requiem' will be screened during a virtual film block on Tuesday, October 6 at 1:30PM. Tickets required for the film block ($7) and can be purchased here: https://xerb.tv/channel/liife2020/virtual-events/641
The most watched film will win the "Audience Award"!
For more information, visit their website: http://longislandfilm.com/
EUGENE ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL - EUGENE, OR
October 2 - 11, 2020
Online Screenings
Join EEFF from October 2nd through 11th, 2020 for local/global discussions and viewing of films representing diverse cultures, species, beauty, adventure, ecosystems, sustainable practices, and resistance efforts to protect our planet from different regions of the world. Free.
Film screenings will take place on Sunday, October 11 from 5:00 - 9:00 PM.
For ticketing and more information, visit their website: https://eugevoff.org
Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/357656941932643/
Festival Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn4itjcvC8M&t=2s
SAN FRANCISCO INDEPENDENT SHORT FILM FESTIVAL - SAN FRANCISCO, CA
October 9 - 18, 2020
For 22 years San Francisco IndieFest has presented the best new independent films from around the world to thousands of San Francisco film fans and as of a couple years ago, we now have an annual program of all short films: short shorts, long shorts, cool shorts, comedy shorts, weird shorts, music shorts, documentary shorts, experimental shorts, genre shorts, student shorts.
This year’s SF Indie Shorts will screen online from October 9 - 18, 2020. All films will be watchable during this period. For more information and to purchase film passes, visit their Eventive website: https://sfshorts2020.eventive.org/welcome
CLIMATE CRISIS FILM FESTIVAL - UK
November 2020
Online Screenings
'Coastal Requiem' will be shown on the 3rd day of the festival, November 18th, as a part of CCFF theme "Cultural Awakening" for that day. Full schedule to be announced.
For ticketing and more information, visit their website: https://www.climatecrisishub.co.uk
VIDEO ART & EXPERIMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL (VAEFF) - NEW YORK, NY
May 2021
Running for its 10th year, the Video Art & Experimental Film Festival (VAEFF) showcases to New York City audiences every fall some of the most innovative, provocative, and exciting works of film and video from around the world. The festival embraces a boundary-pushing spectrum of work that includes animation, music video, fashion film, documentary, visual narrative, and more.
Full schedule to be announced. For more information, visit their website: https://videoart.net
More iNFO: https://www.dianetuft.com/coastal-requiem-film
22 SEP 20
TILTED AXES FALL FUNDRAISER
https://bit.ly/32STB1h
Our Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars Fall Fundraiser has been launched HERE > https://bit.ly/32STB1h < Please become a part of our team on our Past Present Future journey this autumn. We are moving forward with a variety of new projects and media, but in order to do so, we need your support.
We are raising funds to pay our musicians, to offer free online training in remote recording and content creation, and to cover administration costs so we can continue to offer our work free to the public, whether virtually or at a safe distance. Check out the new rewards we are offering to our supporters this season.
Thank you!
10 SEP 20
"COASTAL REQUIEM" with music by PG premieres at Film Festivals
Beginning Thursday, September 10th, a short film Patrick Grant created the music for will begin its autumn run at festivals in the USA, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
More iNFO: https://www.dianetuft.com/coastal-requiem-film
"Coastal Requiem" investigates the plight of displacement due to climate change amongst five coastal communities around the globe. Weaving Diane Tuft's photography and haikus with deeply personal interviews, the short film portrays the global climate refugee crisis due to rising sea levels.
Executive Producer: Diane Tuft
Editors: Andrew Michael Ellis and Ben Stamper (HELIX)
Cinematography: Bill Megalos and Diane Tuft
Photography: Diane Tuft
Composer: Patrick Grant
25 AUG 20
International sTRANGE Music Day 2020
Thank you everyone that participated WORLDWIDE in #StrangeMusicDay on 24 August. So many places took part, hundreds by our count, many of them new partners in addition to those who've already made it a tradition. Notable actions and events took place in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Iceland, Hungary, Latvia, Russia, Ukraine, India, China, Thailand, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and many more we could not keep track of. We're still adding them up. Throughout, the theme of "listening without prejudice" resonated with all participants, and for that, we made the world a better place, just for one day. Carry it forward. Thank you.
24 AUG 20
Tilted Axes' STRANGE CHANGES for International sTRANGE Music Day 2020
STRANGE CHANGES v1 by Tilted Axes
21 AUG 20
PG Profiled in Chicago's Esthetic Lens Magazine
Patrick Grant is a Detroit-born American composer living and working in New York City. His works are a synthesis of classical, popular, and world musical styles that have found a place in concert halls, film, theater, dance, and visual media over three continents.
Read it on Esthetic Lens’ web site here:
http://www.estheticlens.com/2020/08/21/creative-quarantine-composer-patrick-grant/
06 AUG 20
Robert Fripp for International Strange Music day 2020
Robert Fripp invites you to participate in International Strange Music Day.
#StrangeMusicDay #ISMD #TiltedAxes
http://www.strangemusic.com
21 JUL 20
New TILTED AXES Video
Please join our team and support #TiltedAxes at 6:30pm EDT sharp tonight at the first #IgniteTheArts Livestream: http://www.facebook.com/events/558641044807196
If you could not attend this virtual telethon, you can support Tilted Axes directly via our fiscal sponsor Fractured Atlas. Thank you! https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-electric-guitars
#LongLiveTheArtist #Covid19 #Artists
Combining the energy of rock, the creative discipline of theater, and the experimental spirit of the NYC arts scene, Tilted Axes is both a processional event, and an ensemble of mobile electric guitarists created by Patrick Grant.
A classically trained post-rocker with a background in theatre, Patrick created Tilted Axes as a way of untethering the electric guitar from stage amps. This allows Tilted Axes to bring live music to our audiences, instead of the other way around. Tilted Axes is also a continuing expression of Patrick’s life-long interest in science and technology.
Tilted Axes’ free public performances feature music composed by Patrick, with the guitarists using portable amplifiers strapped to their sides as they walk through the streets. The procession of musicians moves along pre-planned routes in select areas, usually in honor of an event, a landmark, or an organization unique to that community.
Tilted Axes has had multiple incarnations in the USA, Europe, and South America. The ensemble performs during the annual Make Music New York celebrations for both the summer and winter solstices, in neighborhoods like the East Village, Harlem and Bushwick.
Tilted Axes has a frequent presence in Detroit as part of the city-wide cultural events Concert of Colors and the March du Nain Rouge, and at venues like the Detroit Institute of Arts, The Michigan Science Center, and Third Man Records.
The electric guitars of Tilted Axes have echoed through the streets of Sao Paulo Brazil and Düsseldorf Germany, in collaboration with local arts groups and musicians who embody the spirit and culture of their cities.
When the pandemic hit, Tilted Axes, like so many of their fellow artists, was hit hard. Unable to perform for the public, our group has had to adapt. But constant transformation is part of Patrick’s ethos as an artist. Tilted Axes was able to pull together international collaborations in the virtual sense, such as its appearance in the online celebrations of Earth Day 2020.
Tilted Axes created an audio-visual exploration on the lack of social touch during lockdown called “Touchy Subjects”, with musical tracks and home video collected from dozens of musicians. And another digital collaboration to mark International Strange Music Day is bringing together the far flung members of the group for a musical and visual meditation on the meaning of “strange” – in a year that almost defies the definition of the word.
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is working on more projects in 2020, finding new ways to bring their potent and pertinent music to the public, with an element of joyous wonder. But the ensemble needs your help to support the musicians and staff who make the project happen. Through our fiscal sponsor Fractured Atlas, you can make a tax deductible contribution to our work. Help us make sure that Tilted Axes always stays in motion.
20 JUL 20
Tilted Axes' "Strange Changes" Artists
Tilted Axes “Strange Changes” Artists (USA, Brazil, Germany)
1st row: Aileen Bunch, Alex Lahoski, Angela Babin, Anthony Garone, Christoph Goetzen, Dan Cooper,
2nd row: Daniel Reyes Llinas, Frauke Wilhelm, Gael Grant, Gerard Smith, James La Croix, Jane Mabrysmith,
3rd row: Jason Goldstein, Jeff Adams, Jeremy Nesse, Jocelyn Gonzales, John Ferrari, Jon Clancy,
4th row: Leslie Stevens, Marcelo Andrade, Michael Fisher, Michelle Zulli, Nomena Struß, Nora Elbayoumy,
5th row: Patrick Grant, Sarah Metivier Schadt, Steve Ball, Sudeip Ghosh, Thiago Cury, Tony Twilight
More iNFO HERE
15 JUL 20
UPDATE: Tilted Axes Goes To Mars
Even though we have had to curtail our performance plans this summer due to the pandemic, Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is still very excited to be a part of the upcoming launch of the Mars rover Perseverance.
Along with many other supporters, our name is engraved on the silicon chip that the rover will take with it on its mission. Hopefully, we can still musically observe its landing on Mars in February 2021.
The launch itself from Earth will take place no sooner than July 30 details TBA by NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
More info: https://www.nasa.gov/perseverance
28 JUN 20
Tilted Axes Premieres "Strange Changes" for Internatiopnal Strange Music Day
June 29, 2020: For Immediate Release
On August 24, 2020, Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars will release a new music video in observance of International Strange Music Day. The new work, entitled “Strange Changes”, is part of a multiplatform meditation on the word “strange” and its many meanings.
In what could easily be the strangest year on record for many of us, 2020 brings with it a number of challenges for us to confront as a society and individually. The idea of strangeness and the unfamiliar are obstacles for many people. What is the source of the fear that these people are experiencing? How have the roots of these fears manifested into centuries old systemic barriers that need to be removed?
On International Strange Music Day, Tilted Axes invites people to begin this work simply: to listen without prejudice, to seek first to understand.
Tilted Axes is an award-winning project of post-rock composer and performer Patrick Grant, which brings especially composed electric guitar music into public spaces. The group consists of 15-18 electric guitarists playing instrumental music through wearable mini-amps, accompanied by percussionists and other performers. Stylistically the ensemble covers a number of genres, centering on the nexus where rock, classical, and world music meet. Tilted Axes performs in public squares, museums, and festivals of all kinds. Recently the group has been creating free online content in response to the current crisis.
“For ’Strange Changes’ the aim is to create something that relates to our shared moment and yet could be understood as a project by anyone anytime anywhere,” says creator Grant. “We don’t want to create another grid-style video. We’re compiling images and video footage from our musicians and other artistic collaborators and building a narrative, visually and musically, that encompasses the personal experiences that we are all sharing in this strangest of times.”
As in similar creations from Tilted Axes, expect a large complement of auxiliary material completing the “Strange Changes” picture: related music and mixes, visual art, interviews with project participants, and micro-productions popping up in social media.
Strange Music Day is a “holiday” created by Grant in 2000 as an internet meme. Ever since then, the concept has gained wide appeal and has grown internationally. Observance of Strange Music Day has been adopted by radio stations, summer schools, music festivals, and used as a platform to celebrate music, performance, and sonic innovation all over the world every August 24th.
For complete details about “Strange Changes”, its August 24th International Strange Music Day release and related events, please follow Tilted Axes on Instagram, Facebook, or on its web site.
“Strange Changes” is presented in partnership with the Festival Música Estranha (São Paulo), Make Weird Music, and is is made possible by generous private donations through our fiscal sponsor Fractured Atlas and with support from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Adjunct Development Fund.
21 JUN 20
Tilted Axes “Touchy Subjects” - Make Music Day - 21 June 2020
On June 20-21, 2020, Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars released new music (June 20) and an accompanying video (June 21) in observance of the Summer Solstice. The new work, entitled "Touchy Subjects", is a musical meditation on the real phenomenon of “touch starvation” that many are experiencing since the onset of social distancing. “Touchy Subjects” explores the tonalities of touch, or the ways in which we physically connect to the world we inhabit have changed.
Touchy Subjects contributing artists, video and/or audio, from the USA, Brazil, Germany, and beyond: Angela Babin, Alex Lahoski, Jeff Adams, Marcelo Andrade, Steve Ball, Aileen Bunch, Eduardo Cabral, Jude Closson, Nora Elbayoumy, John Ferrari, Michael Fisher, Michael Foti, Sudeip Ghosh, Christoph Goezten, Jocelyn Gonzales, Gael Grant, Patrick Grant, James La Croix, Daniel Reyes Llinas, Jane Mabrysmith, Anthony Mullin, Jeremy Nesse, Reinaldo Perez, Sarah Metivier Schadt, Christopher Simpson, Gerard Smith, Leslie Stevens, Skeeto Valdez.
19 JUN 20
Tilted Axes “Touchy Subjects” video trailer (0:59)
On June 20-21, 2020, Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars will release new music (June 20) and an accompanying video (June 21) in observance of the Summer Solstice. The new work, entitled "Touchy Subjects", is a musical meditation on the real phenomenon of “touch starvation” that many are experiencing since the onset of social distancing. “Touchy Subjects” will explore the tonalities of touch, or the ways in which we physically connect to the world we inhabit have changed.
Touchy Subjects contributing artists, video and/or audio: (1st row) Angela Babin, Alex Lahoski, Jeff Adams, Marcelo Andrade, Steve Ball, Aileen Bunch, Eduardo Cabral, (2nd row) Jude Closson, Nora Elbayoumy, John Ferrari, Michael Fisher, Michael Foti, Sudeip Ghosh, Christoph Goezten, (3rd row) Jocelyn Gonzales, Gael Grant, Patrick Grant, James La Croix, Daniel Reyes Llinas, Jane Mabrysmith, Anthony Mullin, (4th row) Jeremy Nesse, Reinaldo Perez, Sarah Metivier Schadt, Christopher Simpson, Gerard Smith, Leslie Stevens, Skeeto Valdez, (from the USA, Brazil, Germany, and beyond).
More iNFO: https://bit.ly/3cXPWRM
19 JUN 20
Tilted Axes: Past, Present, Future
"Since its creation almost a decade ago, Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars has been an open ensemble where musicians and artists of different backgrounds and identities create performances together. As the group’s creative director and composer, I would like to express my gratitude to the many musicians who have contributed their artistic voices to the overall mix. This is what makes Tilted Axes unique and every tilt we undertake different from the ones that came before. Our mission and tradition of going out into the world and performing free for the public will hopefully be curtailed for only as short a while as is safe and possible. In the meantime, we are adapting our approach to continue to create meaningful art for our changing times. We support all efforts to end ignorance, social inequity, and systemic racism. As musicians, we learn that the greater part of performing well is to listen to each other. Our ears are open.” - Patrick Grant
07 JUN 20
Tilted Axes "Touch Subjects" Artists
Tilted Axes Touchy Subjects: (1st row) Angela Babin, Alex Lahoski, Jeff Adams, Marcelo Andrade, Steve Ball, Aileen Bunch, Eduardo Cabral, (2nd row) Jude Closson, Nora Elbayoumy, John Ferrari, Michael Fisher, Michael Foti, Sudeip Ghosh, Christoph Goezten, (3rd row) Jocelyn Gonzales, Gael Grant, Patrick Grant, James La Croix, Daniel Reyes Llinas, Jane Mabrysmith, Anthony Mullin, (4th row) Jeremy Nesse, Reinaldo Perez, Sarah Metivier Schadt, Christopher Simpson, Gerard Smith, Leslie Stevens, Skeeto Valdez (from the USA, Brazil, Germany, and beyond) Not pictured: Dan Cooper
6/20 audio link launches at 5:43 pm EDT ... https://bit.ly/30QWpLV
6/21 video link launches at 8:00 pm EDT ... https://vimeo.com/426311201
22 MAY 20
Tilted Axes to Tilted Axes to premiere "Touchy Subjects,” video and music for the Summer Solstice
6/20 audio link launches at 5:43 pm EDT ... https://bit.ly/30QWpLV
6/21 video link launches at 8:00 pm EDT ... https://vimeo.com/426311201
New York, NY, Release: May 22, 2020. For Immediate Release
On June 20-21, 2020, Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars will release new music (June 20) and a video (June 21) in celebration of the Summer Solstice. The new work, entitled "Touchy Subjects", is a musical meditation on the real phenomenon of “touch starvation” that many are experiencing since the onset of social distancing. “Touchy Subjects” will explore the tonalities of touch, or the ways in which we physically connect to the world we inhabit have changed.
Tilted Axes is an award-winning project of post-rock composer and performer Patrick Grant, which brings specially composed electric guitar music into public spaces. The group consists of 15-18 electric guitarists playing instrumental music through wearable mini-amps, accompanied by percussionists and other performers. Stylistically the ensemble covers a number of genres, centering on the nexus where rock, classical, and world music meet. Tilted Axes performs in public squares, museums, and festivals of all kinds.
Since the pandemic, like so many other performing ensembles, the group has had to adapt to the current crisis. A number of large-scale performances were in the pre-production stage when Tilted Axes had to cancel rehearsals, postpone performances, and search for alternative outlets for their work.
In April, the group released a video for the Earth Day 50 Virtual Kick-Off as a commission from 350NYC called “Climate S.O.S.” This exposed the ensemble to a diverse new audience and illuminated fresh opportunities to make an impact in this moment.
“For ‘Touchy Subjects’ the aim is to create something that relates to our universal situation and can be understood anytime anywhere, past, present, or future,” says creator Grant. “At the same time, we don’t want to create another Zoom-style video. We're compiling images and video footage from our musicians and other collaborators and building a musical and visual narrative that encompasses the personal experiences we all share. Like other works that I have produced which are informed by real science ("Genome: The Autobiography of a Species”, “Moonwalk” for the Apollo 11 anniversary, etc.), we are consulting actual psychologists in the creation of this work. We are lucky that one of our Tilted Axes members is a doctor of psychology. We feel confident that, while we are certainly making art that is open to interpretation, that the sources of inspiration are informed and enlightened.”
For details about “Touchy Subjects" and the June 20-21 release info, please follow Tilted Axes on Facebook, Instagram, or go to its web site.
The work is being presented in conjunction with Make Music New York and Make Music Day.
05 MAY 20
#GivingTuesdayNow
Dear friends and supporters,
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is looking at today's #GivingTuesdayNow as a new beginning. We're grateful for the recognition we've received in the past year, much of it for boundary breaking performances in unusual spaces. Now, like so many others, we are adjusting the focus of our projects. Moving forward, our current work investigates our sense of place and the many ways we are redefining our exterior world to meet the needs of our inner selves. Please, we are looking to expand our team, not just musically, but in terms of integrating with the other arts and widening our mission. Please join us ... all forms of support are welcome.
Please go to: https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-electric-guitars
Thank you
23 APR 20
"Our Courageous Workers" a NYC city-wide fanfare, April 29 at 7PM EDT
“For Our Courageous Workers” – a New York City-wide fanfare April 29th at 7:00 pm
#TiltedAxes is honored to be a co-sponsor of a massive, city-wide music performance of “For Our Courageous Workers” to be played on Wednesday, April 29, at the 7pm ‘cheer honoring our front-line workers.’
From Tenth Intervention: “Our goal is to have over a thousand participants — musicians of every level and all the people of New York City — perform the symphonic fanfare “For Our Courageous Workers” across the city. Everyone is welcome to participate. There are parts for all: musicians of any and every level — beginners, young musicians, amateurs, and professionals; on voices, strings, brass, winds, keyboards, drums — as well as all the people of the city making noise, singing, and banging on pots and pans.
Please help us spread the word today! Share this flyer with your mailing list and social media. Together we can realize this grand project as a way of both bringing the city together and honoring those who are risking their health for all of us.
Co-sponsors to date include: Make Music New York, City Winery, Kaufman Music Center, The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, DROM NYC, Greenwich House Music School, Tenth Intervention, HONK NYC, Sing In Solidarity, Galinsky Coaching, Seth Rogovoy Productions, Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars, GOH Productions, Jazz Promo Services/ Jim Eigo, Slavic Soul Party!, Center for Traditional Music and Dance, Yiddish New York, Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra; and are being updated regularly.”
For more information, detailed instructions, and a downloadable score that does not require the ability to read music, go to http://www.tenthintervention.com/workers
#playbecausewecare
22 APR 20
EARTH DAY VIDEO "TILTED AXES: CLIMATE S.O.S."
Tilted Axes: Climate S.O.S.
Performed by Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
Presented and commissioned by 350NYC
DISCLAIMER: This video is intended for educational purposes only and is not to be duplicated, broadcast, nor is it for any commercial use. The images and music contained herein are presented under the statutes of Fair Use (USA), Fair Dealing (UK), in all applicable territories, and are credited accordingly. Our aim is to educate, inform, and inspire the people of our planet to participate in climate change activism while we can still make a difference.
Created for the Earth Day 2020
#EarthDay #EarthDay50
Composed and produced by Patrick Grant
Electric Guitars: Patrick Grant, Daniel Reyes Llinas, John Halo, Matt Grossman
Chapman Stick: Jeremy Nesse
Electric Bass: Dan Cooper, Patrick Grant
Drums & Percussion: John Ferrari, Cesare Papetti
Produced by Patrick Grant
Mixing engineer: Garry Rindfuss
Mastered by Sheldon Steiger
© 2016-2020 Peppergreen Media (ASCAP)
19 APR 20
Music for "Coastal Requiem," a Short Film by Diane Tuft
For its 50th Anniversary, Earth Day 2020 will be a worldwide 24-hour virtual event. ‘COASTAL REQUIEM‘, a short film by Diane Tuft, will be premiered at some point between 12:00PM and 2:00PM EDT.
Patrick Grant created the sound design and score for this film, inspired by classical music, and performed by the brilliant cellist Sterling Elliott.
Tune in Wednesday, April 22nd for this and other digital events at www.earthday.org.
#earthday #earthday50
17 APR 20
EARTH DAY 50 VIRTUAL KICK-OFF & DETROIT MUSIC AWARDS
Dear friends and supporters,
We hope that everyone reading this is safe and healthy.
There are two streaming events that are coming up that we wanted to tell you about that can be watched remotely.
EARTH DAY 50 VIRTUAL KICK-OFF
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is proud to be a part of the Earth Day 50 Virtual Kick-off this Sunday April 19, via a new video commissioned by 350NYC. The event is presented by Earth Day Initiative and March for Science NYC from 4pm to 10pm EDT. The line up includes Al Gore, Senator Elizabeth Warren, actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ian Somerhalder, and others with exhibitions by 350NYC, Climate Clock, and many more. Together we can build a better world.
To join the stream, RSVP to the Virtual Stage HERE:
http://www.earthdayinitiative.org/virtual-kick-off
#350nyc #TiltedAxes #TogetherWeCan #ClimateActionNow
THE DETROIT MUSIC AWARDS
Patrick Grant is nominated for Outstanding Classical Composer and Tilted Axes is nominated in the same field for Outstanding Small Ensemble. We are honored to be included with so many talented friends and colleagues. The 29th Annual Detroit Music Awards ceremony will be held online for the first time ever at 8pm EDT, also on Sunday, April 19. Tune in for some fantastic surprise appearances and special, never before seen, performances as Detroit celebrates its music community.
To watch the awards, follow this link:
https://bit.ly/2Vv0fpw
TILTED TIMES
In our last update, we announced some upcoming performances and new grant funding. As with so many others, our live performances and site specific events have been put on hold during this current crisis. We will be updating you soon with news of rescheduled performances and new projects.
On a brighter note, we would like to welcome Nora Elbayoumy to Peppergreen Media in her administrative role. Nora comes to us via Alchemical Studios where she works as the Technical Facilities Manager and we look forward to utilizing her Stage Managing skills for our future productions.
Thank you, stay safe, be well,
www.peppergreenmedia.com
06 APR 20
Guitarkadia's Tilted Axes Flashback
Guitarkadia Issue April 6, 2020: “It’s not a parade, it’s a procession!”
A flashback to Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars 2011 origin.
LINK >> https://bit.ly/2JEXYCG
22 MAR 20
TILTED AXES New Video Premiere for the EARTH DAY 50 Virtual Kick-Off
Coming to Earth Week 2020: a new video from Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars commissioned by 350 NYC
to be premiered as part of the March for Science NYC/Earth Day Initiative’s EARTH DAY 50 Virtual Kick-Off on Sunday, April 19th.
"Our aim is to convince the media to carry more climate science in their content!"
Stay tuned for more information: https://www.marchforsciencenyc.com
15 MAR 20
March for Science NYC to Announce New Plans for April 19th
As most of you know, NYC is banning gatherings of above 10 people in response to COVID-19. The March for Science NYC is currently putting together contingency plans for a virtual Day of Action on April 19th.
Details to come from the M4S organizers when they are formed. If it is possible and practical, I look forward to making a musical contribution of some sort in support of the event and the fine organizations involved. For now, the priority is everyone’s health.
#TiltedAxes
12 MAR 20
We Received Two FINAL ROUND Nominations in the Detroit Music Awards!
Outstanding Small Ensemble - Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
Outstanding Classical Composer - Patrick Grant
The Detroit Music Awards FINAL BALLOT is now open! If you are a registered member of the DMAs,
please consider the impactful music that Tilted Axes Detroit has created for our community when casting your vote.
Voting closes at 11:59pm on March 22nd.
Thank you!
01 MAR 20
Tilted Axes Creator Patrick Grant Joins Robert Fripp's 2020 Guitar Circle Team
From Tilted Axes creator Patrick Grant:
“I’m happy to announce that I will be a crafty member of the Associate Staff at this Guitar Circle event. If you are able to participate this coming October, I look forward to seeing you there!” - PG
To find out more about how you can become a participant of An Introduction to the Guitar Circle with Robert Fripp go to this web site:
https://robertfrippsguitarcircle.com/
14 FEB 20
Tilted Axes Creator Patrick Grant Receives Detroit Music Awards Phase 2 Nominations
I wanted to share news of recent nominations that were received in the past week.
Part of my identity as an artist has been that of being a passionate cultural ambassador for my home town of Detroit and of the bounty of musical innovation that continues to pour forth from its people.
I'm honored that I have been able to create a number of large-scale multidisciplinary musical events there with friends and musicians I know.
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars as a project is a mystery to a lot of people. Is it rock, world, or classical music? Actually, if you take a step back, it is all of these things and more tied together in kind of Gordian knot. It combines art, science, and theatricality in all of its presentations.
The work we do in Detroit continues to resonate via Phase 2 nominations in the Detroit Music Awards. If you are, or know a registered member of, the Detroit Music Awards, please take a moment to find out more about Tilted Axes and of the continued positive impact we've had on a number of Detroit communities since 2013.
Please vote! - Patrick Grant
Detroit Music Awards Phase 2 Voting is Now Open to All Registered Members!
Go To: https://www.detroitmusicawards.net/
Phase 2 voting closes Sunday, March 1st at 11:59pm
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
1. Outstanding Live Performance: Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
2. Outstanding World Artist/Group: Tilted Axes
3. Outstanding World Songwriter: Patrick Grant (Tilted Axes)
4. Outstanding Small Ensemble (Classical): Tilted Axes
5. Outstanding Classical Composer: Patrick Grant
Thank you, Detroit and Third Man Records Cass Corridor, The Henry Ford, Marche du Nain Rouge, "Promenade" at the Detroit Institute of Arts, "Moonwalk" at the Michigan Science Center, 27th Annual Concert of Colors)
10 FEB 20
Tilted Axes Creator Patrick Grant Receives a Creative Engagement Award from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council for 2020 Projects
More iNFO TBA on the Tilted Axes Page
02 FEB 20
TILT CORE Instensive Workshops February-April
Feb. 5, 12, 19 * Mar. 4, 11, 25 * Apr. 8, 15, 22
Alchemical Studios, 104 W 14th St. NYC
Invitation: 9 Tilt Core Workshops for Tilted Axes (Feb-Apr)
This post is for electric guitarists that have expressed an interest in Tilted Axes and How It Works.
Send an email to the address below if you would be available to attend some upcoming Tilt Core Development Workshops.
The focus of these workshops will be to:
1. Sharpen the skills we've developed as a group in the last year using new and traditionally tilted etudes comprised of unconventional scales, world rhythms, and unfamiliar forms.
2. Incorporate movement into our playing. We will be working with guest choreographers. We will be mobile.
3. To develop performers in general and specifically for a current Tilt Core in service of Storyscapes, The Mars Project, and other multidisciplinary work.
Workshops will take place at the Alchemical Studios, 104 W 14th St., studio# TBA, on the following Wednesday nights, 7:00-10:00pm, dates are below.
You do not have to be present at all workshops. If interested, please indicate which of these dates are possible for you to attend:
FEB 05
FEB 12
FEB 19
MAR 04
MAR 11
MAR 25
APR 08
APR 15
APR 22
To apply, please send an email to tiltedaxes@peppergreenmedia.com with your name, email, cell phone, reason why you'd like to participate, and any related links to your work if you are new to us.
Please reply ASAP. The deadline is January 31st.
Feel free to reach out with any questions.
N.B. If you do not have a VOX Mini3 G2 or similar portable amp, you will be given an amp to borrow for the duration of the workshops.
These workshops are made possible by the generous support of the public through our fiscal sponsor Fractured Atlas. Won’t you consider joining our team? To support this and future projects, please go to: https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-electric-guitars
Web page: tiltedaxes.com/tiltedaxes.html
01 JAN 20
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
21 DEC 19
"SOUNDSCAPES" ~ Community Stories Told in Sound
Coming in 20/20: "Storyscapes" are site-specific musical processions based on melodies and rhythms given to Tilted Axes by neighborhood residents in an introductory workshop. Over the course of a weekend, the collected melodies etc., reflecting local places and events, will be developed into a free performance done throughout the neighborhood that inspired it. Please support: https://bit.ly/396ifMQ
15 DEC 19
Wishing You a VERY New Year!
Tilted Axes 20/20 Vision = Music + Art + Science: Moving Out Into the World
Join our team >>> https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-electric-guitars
Thank you all for a wonderful 2019! With your generous support we were able to bring free Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars performances to the public, both indoors and out-of-doors, while transforming communities in the process. Here are some of our highlights from the last 12 months:
Cold Moon Consort I & II NYC
Winter Workshops at Alchemical Studios (6)
Third Man Records Cass Corridor Equinox
Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
The Marche du Nain Rouge, Detroit
Spring Workshops at Alchemical Studios (6)
Space Camp at the DIME
Tilted Axes @ Rubulad Brooklyn
Tilted Axes Make Music Harlem
“Promenade” at the Detroit Institute of Arts*
Apollo 11 “Moonwalk” at the Michigan Science Center*
*Part of the 27th Annual Concert of Colors
Info and pictures > http://tiltedaxes.com/tiltedaxes.html
Over an album’s worth of new material was created and performed by Tilted Axes for these events. Look forward to new recordings being released in the coming year.
Please Join Us for Our 2020 Projects!
Donation link: https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-electric-guitars
By supporting our work with your *tax deductible* donation, we are able to rent rehearsal space, maintain our mini-amps, buy batteries, engrave and print our scores, hire security and staff for our performances, create print materials and ads to spread the word about our mission, but most important of all, to pay our fine musicians. With your help, we've been able to keep our performances free to the public.
If you’ve been a part of our team in the past, now is a good time upgrade your status and renew your membership!
Tilted Axes Goes to Mars (working title)
Save yourself a figurative seat in Mission Control for next summer's launch of the new Mars Rover! Why are we going to Mars when there are so many problems here on Earth? Because it is through initiatives like this that we will find the terrestrial solutions we need so badly. The very technology you're using right now is directly descended from the Earth to Moon missions of yesteryear. Become a part of our Mars mission and help us get out the word to all possible pioneers in a way that only music+art+science can inspire us to action. More iNFO here: http://tiltedaxes.com/tiltedaxes.html
A Tilted Trajectory
The year ahead begins with Winter Workshops of all new material. We have the March Equinox to look forward to, as well as the Spring Workshops that will follow. We will be working with some of the city’s finest choreographers to refine our moto-narrative. Expect big events in June and July as we mark the launch of the 2020 Mars rover. Count on even bigger events to transpire in October through December as we track the Rover’s progress to Mars, scheduled to land in February 2021. It’s too soon to spill the details, but if this year was any indication, then next year will be even bigger as we move into truly uncharted territory.
"If you've ever experienced the unexpected sight and sounds of Tilted Axes filling the city streets, you know how special the project is! Help us keep going! Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is ready to create new music and movement-based performance throughout the urban landscape and into unexpected venues. Please be a part of our team! Check out the info or video and make a *tax deductible* donation - every little bit Tilts!" - Jocelyn Gonzales, radio producer
A Solstice Wish
The winter solstice is the anniversary of Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars. We began on Dec. 21, 2011 as part of the first Make Music Winter celebration in NYC. Since then, we have expanded out into the world, and over the airwaves. Please support our mission via our donation link here: https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-electric-guitars. 2020 will be a landmark year for the project with special guests, rare opportunities, and the potential for music, art, and science to change the world for the better, a community at a time. We believe this.
Wishing you all the best and a VERY New Year!
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
05 DEC 19
ASCAP Plus+ Awards 2019
"I’m honored to get news that I, along with other esteemed friends and colleagues, have received an ASCAP PLUS+ AWARD for our latest cycle of compositions, recordings, & performances. Personally, this is my eighth such consecutive award from the ASCAP Foundation.
The award is mostly reflective of my relaunch of "TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars” and our performances involving art and astronomy, especially “MOONWALK” that was created in commemoration of the Apollo 11 mission. The award is given to "...writer members...whose works were performed in unsurveyed media as well as writer members whose catalogs have prestige value." Since much of this work takes place off the beaten path, it's great when the pioneering spirit of Tilted Axes gets recognized.
Beyond the honor, it’s also a monetary award that will go straight into the budget for 2020's upcoming work "Tilted Axes Goes to Mars". What a great addition to the completion of this year and as preparation for the next. Thank you, ASCAP, for nurturing new music of all kinds for so many everywhere that it’s created." - Patrick Grant, NYC
03 DEC 19
THANK YOU EVERYONE Who Gave Generously for #GivingTuesday
We are honored by your support! #TiltedAxes
Join Our Team
Tilted Axes Goes to Mars 2020 - Save yourself a figurative seat in Mission Control for next summer's launch of the new Mars rover! Why are we going to Mars when there are so many problems here on Earth? Because it is through initiatives like this that we will find the terrestrial solutions we need so badly. The very technology you're using right now is directly descended from the Earth to Moon missions of yesteryear. Become a part of our Mars mission and help us get out the word to all possible pioneers in a way that only art+music+science can do.
05 NOV 19
Wall Street Journal Review of New Albums by Glenn Branca and Dither Quartet
Read the complete review by Allan Kozinn HERE
29 OCT 19
NYU Awards Funding to Composer Patrick Grant for Tilted Axes Projects
"I am happy to find out that I received a 2019-2020 cash award from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. The award, from the Adjunct Professional Development Fund, is to further develop my work with mobile electric guitar ensembles in composition, performance, and public engagement. As a medium, the work will be used to address community concerns (i.e. the use of public spaces), global concerns (i.e. climate change and renewable energy), and future concerns (i.e. space exploration and unforeseen discoveries). Above all, it’s about creating music together and moving it out into the world. Thank you, NYU!" – Patrick Grant
#art #music #science #tiltedaxes
27 OCT 19
Don Gillespie R.I.P. - A True Champion of New Music
Don Gillespie R.I.P. (1936-2019) ~ I’m very saddened to learn of the passing of new music champion Don Gillespie. He was a friend. Don was Vice President of C.F. Peters music publishers when a very young me got a job there in the late 80s. He taught me so much about music, especially John Cage, Lou Harrison (he was good friends of both and introduced me to them), an expert on Delius, and my gateway to lesser known (to me at the time) composers like Nancarrow, John J. Becker, and Ruth Crawford Seeger.
I remember drunken music nights at his apartment where we’d have Busoni sight-reading contests (The Piano Concerto), debate the non-narrative structure of Robert Ashley‘s “Now Eleanor’s Idea“, and then he’d turn around and make us listen to a 1920s recording by The Skillet Lickers. The week that Lou Reed’s “New York” album came out, we listened to it at his place while eating the freshly smoked mozzarella he’d pick up for us from Joe’s Dairy on Sullivan Street. Let’s not even get started on his fascination with Sorabji!
Don and C.F. Peters’ Evelyn Hinrichsen were amongst the first supporters of my Silent Treatment concert series, my first productions, in the East Village back in 1989-90. He supported all kinds of new music up-and-comers, he connected many of us, young and old, near and far.
I would continue to see Don over the years either at concerts or get togethers at Margaret Leng Tan‘s house in Brooklyn for a performance of Lucier‘s Strawberry Fields Forever-inspired “Nothing is Real.” I remember Don and his then wife Sabine coming over to gorge ourselves on caviar that I had just smuggled back from Russia and playing “Cage’s “Ophelia (1946)” on the piano for him on the 41st floor looking out over Central Park.
Don got really mad at me one time when, on the newly invented internet, I spoke for him (incorrectly) in an argument with Howard Stokar. He had every right to be really mad because I did something dumb. Something good came out of it. When asking him for forgiveness I was able to tell him how much he meant to me and everything I learned from him. We got back on track, but I wish I could tell him all over again.
The last time I saw Don I was playing a piece of music of mine on Cornelia Street in an ensemble that was celebrating Terry Riley’s “In C”‘s 50th anniversary. I saw him in the audience, he lived around the corner, and we just smiled. I haven’t seen him since, though I thought of him often. It was fitting.
When I think of all the hell he caught at C.F. Peters (it was an ugly scene back then for non-serialists; Don called it Fort Dodecaphonic) for supporting tonal, rhythmically innovative, non-European-inspired forms of new music, I’m glad he held his ground, and even put his job on the line a few times (truth), for the music he believed in.
So, seeing him there that sunny afternoon, with new compositions playing in the air inspired by “In C” to a diverse and interested crowd of New Yorkers, it felt like a victory for all of us who followed the musical pathways he showed to so many of us.
That fight’s over.
You won, Don.
Thank you.
Rest in Peace.
“John Cage at 100” by Don Gillespie
http://www.johncage2012.com/speakers/gillespie.html
“Don Gillespie New Music Box Profile”
https://nmbx.newmusicusa.org/new-music-advocate-don-gillespie-steps-down-at-c-f-peters/
Don’s middle name was Chance
24 OCT 19
"96 Tears" - Tracing the Roots of American Punk Back to Detroit
An American Icon on Public Radio International's STUDIO 360
"53 years ago this week, '96 Tears' by ? and The Mysterians rose to #1 on the pop charts. This week on Studio 360, the roots of American punk are traced back to Detroit in this brand new American Icons piece produced by Jocelyn Gonzales and Pedro Rafael Rosado, with Rob St. Mary, Ralph Valdez, Mary Cobra, New York Times' Jon Pareles, and help from Patrick Grant and WDET 101.9FM." (27 min.)
LISTEN: www.pri.org/stories/2019-10-24/american-icons-96-tears
01 OCT 19
2020: Tilted Axes Goes To Mars
#NASA - "On a more cosmic note, Tilted Axes goes to Mars in 2020. Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars has joined the roster of names that will be inscribed onto a silicon chip as part of the 2020 Mars rover mission. Engineers with the Microdevices Laboratory at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California will stencil all the names onto the chip with an electron beam. "This is part of a public engagement campaign to highlight missions involved with NASA’s journey from the Moon to Mars," NASA officials wrote in a statement.
The 2020 Mars rover is scheduled to launch to the Red Planet on July 2020 and land inside the 28-mile-wide (45 kilometers) Jezero Crater. The 2,300-lb. (1,040 kilograms) rover, with its nuclear power source, will search for signs of past microbial life, study the climate and geology of Mars, and collect samples that may be returned to Earth on a future mission". #TiltedAxes #GoesToMars
27 SEP 19
Kehinde Wiley’s Times Square Monument: That’s No Robert E. Lee
New York Times: The sculpture, of an African-American man in streetwear and mounted on a horse, was unveiled Friday and will eventually move to Richmond, Va., home to a number of Confederate memorials.
"Good memories of when I would compose and arrange music for artist (and Obama portraitist) Kehinde Wiley's openings some years ago (i.e. see video in link below). It's great to see that the Malcolm X. Shabazz High School Marching Band is still on the case w/ the unveiling of his latest work yesterday in #TimesSquare." - Patrick Grant
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/27/arts/design/kehinde-wiley-times-square-statue.html
25 SEP 19
First-Round Grammy Awards® Voting is Open
For Your 2019 GRAMMY AWARDS® Consideration
“FIELDS AMAZE and other sTRANGE music”
by Tilted Axes creator Patrick Grant
new recordings from his classic catalog
* Contemporary Instrumental Album
* Instrumental Composition: “Keeping Still”
* Chamber Music / Small Ensemble Performance: “Imaginary Horror Film – Part 2″
The 62nd GRAMMY AWARDS® First Round Voting begins September 25th
Listen on Soundcloud: http://bit.ly/2n1Phue
More iNFO: http://bit.ly/2mtfemf
09 SEP 19
Grammys® Phase One Voting Begins In a Few Weeks!
More iNFO HERE
24 AUG 19
International Strange Music Day Interview in EL CORREO, Bilbao, Spain
BILBAO, SPAIN: An International Strange Music Day interview for the leading daily newspaper in Bilbao and the Basque Country, El Correo, by Iciar Ochoa de Olano.
> Here's a link to the PDF <
18 AUG 19
TILTED AXES 3.0
Today, in a directors meeting at 12:34pm, phase 3.0 of the Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars project was begun, commencing with Season 2019-2020. More iNFO TBA
17 AUG 19
The One and Only ULTIMATE GUITAR
Read the Ultimate Guitar article by David Slavković HERE
07 AUG 19
MUSIC-NEWS.COM (London, UK): "Tilted Axes Composer PG's 'Fields Amaze' Receives Three Grammy® Entries"
"The album is a Gordian Knot of tracks embracing classical, rock, and world music traditions where, according to the UK’s Prog Magazine, '…themes circle round but sound like they are twisting themselves out on a Moebius strip…a perpetual motion of agitated activity…although this music is richly melodic and rhythmic…there is a particular lightness about it, like a stone being skimmed across a lake.'"
READ the full article here: https://bit.ly/2YNDkFH
01 AUG 19
ALTERNATIVE NATION: "PG's 'Fields Amaze' Received Three Grammy® Entries"
“Last year, Alternative Nation praised composer-guitarist Patrick Grant’s album, Fields Amaze and other sTRANGE music. And it turns out that the applause was indeed well deserved, as the album has three entries in the running for selection for the 62nd Grammy Awards taking place January 2020 – Best Contemporary Instrumental Album (for Fields Amaze), Best Instrumental Composition (for ‘Keeping Still’), and Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance (for ‘Imaginary Horror Film – Part 2’). Described as “Unexpected rhythms, outside of the box instrumentation and a completely, uncompromising barrage of artistic individuality” by Alt Nation’s Joe Hughes, several genres are touched upon concerning Grant’s original style/approach, which blends together instrumental, experimental/avant-garde, prog, jazz, and soundscapes…”
READ the full article here: https://bit.ly/2MtZZEv
22 JUL 19
FIELDS AMAZE & Other sTRANGE Music Gets Three Entries in the 62nd Grammy Awards®!
20 JUL 19
Two Sets of CONCERT OF COLORS Pictures on Facebook!
Tilted Axes: PROMENADE at the Detroit Insitute of Arts
https://bit.ly/2xVXAtP
CONCERT OF COLORS: A procession through the Detroit Institute of Arts and surrounding cultural campus as part of the 27th Annual Concert of Colors on July 12, 2019. Photos by Jocelyn Gonzales.
Tilted Axes: MOONWALK at the Michigan Science Center
https://bit.ly/2M01I49
APOLLO 11 ANNIVERSARY: A narrative procession with original music for mobile electric guitars through the Michigan Science Center in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. This event was part of the 27th Annual Concert of Colors 2019. Three performances were given to the public: an open rehearsal on July 12 and two shows on July 13. Photos by Jocelyn Gonzales except where noted. #Apollo11 #MOONWALK
18 JUL 19
Two New TILTED AXES Video Clips...
1. Tilted Axes: Performing "Techno Tilt" on Fox 2 Detroit
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars promotes the 27th Annual Concert of Colors on Fox 2 Detroit.
2. Tilted Axes: "On the Steps of the Kresge Court"
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars performs in the Kresge Court at the Detroit Institute of Arts as part of the 27th Annual Concert of Colors on July 12, 2019. #TiltedAxes Original video shot by @doooovid and music © 2019 Patrick Grant/Peppergreen Media (ASCAP)
05 JUL 19
TILTED AXES: MUSIC FOR MOBILE ELECTRIC GUITARS joins the 2019 Concert of Colors
TILTED AXES: MUSIC FOR MOBILE ELECTRIC GUITARS joins the 2019 Concert of Colors with two special musical processions.
On Friday, July 12 between 5:30pm-7:30pm, Tilted Axes presents "PROMENADE", which begins at the Charles H. Wright Museum and makes its way through the Detroit Institute of Arts before returning to the Wright.
On Saturday, July 13 at 1:00pm and 3:30pm, Tilted Axes premieres "MOONWALK", a new work in collaboration with The Michigan Science Center. The piece commemorates the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, the first manned space mission to land on the moon.
10. Tilted Axes is a musical project created by composer Patrick Grant.
09. Tilted Axes is a procession of electric guitarists who wear mini-amps.
08. Tilted Axes can perform anywhere there are people, excelling in untraditional venues.
07. Tilted Axes’ roster of musicians can change from performance to performance, city to city.
06. Tilted Axes’ musicians learn a common repertoire created by PG and rehearse it in workshops.
05. Tilted Axes performances are free to the public and are supported through institutional and/or private donations.
04. Tilted Axes takes on aspects of spectacle informed by municipal band tradition, avant-garde theater, and world music.
03. Tilted Axes takes music out into the world and seeks transformative projects meant to change community conversation.
02. Tilted Axes is an apolitical organization, but it does support science, arts programs, and renewable energy whenever possible.
01. Tilted Axes works best when it is part of something bigger than itself i.e. festivals, exhibitions, community initiatives, astronomical events.
Produced by: Patrick Grant & Peppergreen Media
Presented in partnership with: The Michigan Science Center (Carole Wrubel, Paulette Epstein, Julia Lynn Marsh), The Detroit Institute of Arts (Larry Baranski), The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (Charles Ferrell), Midtown Detroit Inc. (Susan T. Mosey) and The Concert of Colors (Ismael Ahmed).
Sponsors and Supporters: Vox Amps & Korg USA (amps), DIME Detroit Institute of Music Education (rehearsal space), Brooklyn Battery Works, Tan’s Club (bandanas), Fractured Atlas (fiscal sponsorship)
Electric Guitars: Adam Bodeep, Alex Lahoski, Chris Simpson, Daniel Reyes Llinas, Eugene Strobe, James Keith La Croix, Jeff Georgas, John Lovaas, Jude Closson, Manny Falcon, Pacal Zelaya, Patrick Grant, Rick Matle, Rob Knevels Baritone Ukelele: Frank Pahl Electric Bass: Tim Taebel Percussion: Skeeto Valdez, Gael Grant Associate Producer: Jocelyn Gonzales Stage Manager: Julia Lynn Marsh Tilting AAD: Jeff Adams, Sarah Metivier Schadt
04 JUL 19
We are Over 100% of our Musicians Fund Goal!
Congratulations to all! We are over 100% of our Musicians Fund goal! THANK YOU to everyone who recently joined and to those who are continuing supporters. The fund is still open and there's plenty of rewards to be had (T-shirts, CDs, etc.), but we are on our way to the moon. ALL SYSTEMS GO!
Join Our Team: https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-electric-guitars/campaigns/2770
25 JUN 19
Please Support the Tilted Axes Concert of Colors Musicians Fund
https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-electric-guitars/campaigns/2770
The Concert of Colors, The Michigan Science Center, and the Detroit Institute of Arts provide excellent opportunities for the group to offer transformative performances that are free of charge to the Detroit community. But Tilted Axes is entirely self-funded and relies on your generous support to pay for its musicians, rehearsal space, and other administrative costs. Please consider joining our team and contribute to Detroit’s musical history!
Campaign page: https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-electric-guitars/campaigns/2770
22 JUN 19
FB Pictures: Tilted Axes NYC Perfroms at Make Music Harlem 6/21
#TiltedAxes @ Make Music Harlem - North to 125th St. on Frederick Douglass Blvd. photo: Jocelyn Gonzales
View the set of photos on Facebook HERE
19 JUN 19
Meet the Performers and Producers of TILTED AXES DETROIT: Concert of Colors
Click HERE to go to the Performers and Producers page
17 JUN 19
Official Logo for TILTED AXES: CONCERT OF COLORS 2019
www.concertofcolors.com
10
JUN 19
YEAR OF SPACE at the MICHIGAN SCIENCE CENTER
Celebrate space exploration all year in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969. Visit MiSci to explore space with exhibits, shows and events all year long.
More iNFO on the Mi-Sci web page:
https://www.mi-sci.org/year-of-space/
06 JUN 19
TILTED AXES DETROIT Seeks Guitarists, Bassists, and Percussion
Detroit area electric guitarists and bassists needed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission.
Please read the details and APPLY via the Google Form here:
https://forms.gle/QaUMZo7cQqNAmsqTA
FRIDAY, JULY 12
Michigan Science Center presents:
5020 John R St., Detroit, 48202
5-8 p.m. (Moving between Various Locations) TILTED AXES: MUSIC FOR MOBILE ELECTRIC GUITARS, created by Patrick Grant. Musical processions leading guests through the DIA (Detroit Institute of Arts), The Detroit Historical Society, + spaces in-between, ending at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
SATURDAY, JULY 13
Michigan Science Center
5020 John R St., Detroit, 48202
1 & 3:30 p.m. TILTED AXES: MUSIC FOR MOBILE ELECTRIC GUITARS. Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the first crewed lunar landing in 1969, "MOONWALK" by Patrick Grant. Performances around the center and in the planetarium.
www.concertofcolors.com
25 MAY 19
The Tilted Axes: Concert of Colors Application is Open!
THE APPLICATION IS OPEN!
Google Form >>> https://forms.gle/QaUMZo7cQqNAmsqTA
WANTED: Astronauts, Flight Commanders, and Ground Control
21 MAY 19
Meet the Performers and Producers of Tilted Axes NYC Summer 2019
Click HERE to go to the page
17 MAY 19
Tilted Tetralogy: T-minus 3, 5, 6, and 8 weeks away...
15 MAY 19
Just Announced for June - TILTED AXES: RUBULAD
Tilted Axes has accepted the opportunity to perform at Rubulad, a community of artists, performers and entertainers based in Brooklyn, NY, on Saturday, June 29th. This will take place ca. 9:00pm and will involve (perhaps) a nearby neighborhood foray, a procession through their garden, and a performance on and around their big stage. It will be Pride Weekend all around, so expect a joyful scene. #LikeARainbow
09 MAY 19
CONCERT OF COLORS Press Conference Today at the DIA
Concert of Colors Web Page
CONCERT OF COLORS Press Conference today at 11:30 am, Crystal Gallery at the DIA (Detroit Institute of Arts). Doors open at 11. Hear the lineup and news of this year's world music festival! #TiltedAxes #Moonwalk
The Detroit Free Press
"...The following seven days will bring a variety of performances and events, including a mobile electric-guitar procession by TILTED AXES and screenings of films such as "Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami" and "God Said Give 'Em Drum Machines: The Story of Detroit Techno."
Hour Detroit
"Performers include Tilted Axes, a traveling guitar processional that will honor the 50th anniversary of the moon landing with a piece titled “Moonwalk;” Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa, a traditional Nigerian Yoruba music group; and Jordanian Palestinian electronic music group 47Soul.
On July 13, the festival will host the Detroit All-Star Revue concert. The concert is curated by successful Detroit producer Don Was, and it celebrates the 60th anniversary of Motown. Performers include Martha Reeves, Mitch Ryder, Carolyn Crawford, The Drinkard Sisters, Kenny Watson, and many more."
25 APR 19
Just Announced for July at the CONCERT OF COLORS
FRIDAY, JULY 12
Michigan Science Center presents:
5020 John R St., Detroit, 48202
5-8 p.m. (Moving between Various Locations) TILTED AXES: MUSIC FOR MOBILE ELECTRIC GUITARS, created by Patrick Grant. Musical processions leading guests through the DIA (Detroit Institute of Arts), The Detroit Historical Society, + spaces in-between, ending at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
SATURDAY, JULY 13
Michigan Science Center
5020 John R St., Detroit, 48202
1 & 3:30 p.m. TILTED AXES: MUSIC FOR MOBILE ELECTRIC GUITARS. Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the first crewed lunar landing in 1969, "MOONWALK" by Patrick Grant. Performances around the center and in the planetarium.
#ConcertOfColors
More iNFO TBA
24 APR 19
Just Announced: MAKE MUSIC HARLEM June 21
5-7pm, June 21:
a Make Music block party on W 119th Street
w/ a procession to The Apollo Theater and back.
More iNFO TBA
31 MAR 19
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is Relaunched in Detroit!
The Henry Ford Museum - photos by Jocelyn Gonzales
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kimba2/sets/72157690683205713
Third Man Records Cass Corridor - photos by Greg Siemasz
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kimba2/sets/72157706301073331
Rehearsals at DIME - photos by Jocelyn Gonzales
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kimba2/sets/72157690678917923
Third Man Records Cass Corridor, Detroit, MI, March 20th. Photo credit: Greg Siemasz
The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Dearborn, MI, March 23th. Photocredit: Jocelyn Gonzales
The 10th Annual Marche Du Nain Rouge, Detroit, MI, March 24th. Photo credit: Jocelyn Gonzales
We achieved the three aims we set out to accomplish:
1. Relaunch the project (DIME Detroit, Third Man Records),
2. Create new partnerships (The Henry Ford, The Michigan Science Center), and
3. Renew our audience and public presence there (The Metro Times, The Detroit News, The Marche Du Nain Rouge).
Come back for more details regarding more of Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars in Detroit soon. In the meantime, see more pics of our recent performance on our Instagram page.
23 MAR 19
Detroit Music Awards Nomination for Composer Patrick Grant
NOMINATION for "Outstanding Classical Composer" from the Detroit Music Awards! The Final Ballot is open until April 7th. I am honored to receive this nomination.
If you are a member of the DMA, please consider my recordings and recent work with Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars when casting your ballot.
Thank you! www.detroitmusicawards.net
20 MAR 19
Tilted Axes Return Is Detroit Metro Times' Staff Pick
Read it on the Metro Times web site HERE
13 MAR 19
One Week From Today: Tilted Axes Detroit!
TILTED AXES DETROIT: MUSIC FOR MOBILE ELECTRIC GUITARS was created by Detroit Music Awards-nominated composer & performer Patrick Grant. It was premiered at the 2011 winter solstice for Make Music New York and first performed in Detroit on the vernal equinox 2013. The project’s last area performance was at the 2015 Concert of Colors. This series of performances marks its Detroit relaunch. It’s new again. Tilted Axes events are *transformational* projects. Transformational projects are ones of such scale and scope that they can change the way a community looks at everyday things. Transformational projects can change the conversation, drawing attention to new or overlooked issues, artists, or areas. Examples could be science, renewable energy, or the public place itself in which the project inhabits. Transformational projects of immensity and innovation invite audiences, intentional or incidental, to experience the work in an unexpected manner. Tilted Axes’ performances are given free to the public.
Produced by: Patrick Grant & Peppergreen Media
Presented in partnership with Third Man Records Cass Corridor (David Buick, Roe Peterhans), The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation (Cynthia Jones), and The Marche Du Nain Rouge
Sponsors and Supporters: Vox Amps & Korg USA (amps), DIME Detroit Institute of Music Education (rehearsal space), Brooklyn Battery Works, Tan’s Club (bandanas), Fractured Atlas (fiscal sponsorship)
Electric Guitars: Jeff Adams, Aileen Bunch, Jude Closson, Jeff Georgas, Christoph Götzen, Erik Grant, Patrick Grant, John Halo, Bob Kaufman, James Keith La Croix, John Lovaas, James McGlinnen, Chris McGorey, Chris Simpson, Gerard Smith
Baritone Ukelele: Frank Pahl
Electric Bass: Aaron Butler, Alex Durante, Sarah Metivier Schadt
Percussion: Skeeto Valdez, Zac Bru, Gael Grant
Associate Producer: Jocelyn Gonzales
Stage Manager: Rob Knevels
Tilting AAD: Steve Ball
Co-producers and Tilted Team Members: In Honor of Patricia E. McKenna, Julia Knevels, Richard Wise, Leslie Stevens, David Greig, Detroit Guitars - Birmingham (Eric and Tracey Wolfe), Jeff Georgas, Erik Grant, Alex Lahoski, Sarah Metivier Schadt, Susan Montgomery, Paracademia NYC (Milica Paranosic), Mary Beth Abel, Jeremy Nesse, Alchemical Studios NYC (Carlo Altomare), Tracy Seneca, In Honor of Helen Keene McKenna, Richard Rodkin, Dan Gentges, Deborah Calvert, Gael Grant, Jason Kanter, Daniel Grant, Alexander Baxter, Lana Durante, In Honor of Herman and Elizabeth Keene, Aileen Bunch, Aaron Alter, Andrew McKenna Lee, Frank Brickle, Michael Fisher, Tamara Turner, Patricia Taylor, Dennis Bathory-Kitsz
We would like to thank: Ralph Valdez, “Showtime Dan” Tatarian, Neal Cortright at DIME, The Metro Times (Jim Cohen, Jerilyn Jordan, Jeff Nutter), Paulette Epstein and Carole Wrubel from The Michigan Science Center, Ismael Ahmed at The Concert of Colors, Third Wave Music, WDET 101.9 FM, Robert Fripp and guitars circles past, present, and future, and to our numerous standard bearers, satellites, and extended family around the world who, in these uncertain times, focus on doing what’s possible (plus 10%).
All music © Patrick Grant & Peppergreen Media (ASCAP)
Fractured Atlas is our fiscal sponsor. Tilted Axes performances are performed and provided free to the public. Won’t you consider making a tax-deductible contribution today for our future presentations?
DONATE
01 MAR 19
The Tilted Axes Detroit: New Again Fund is Up and Running!
We have launched our Tilted Axes Detroit: New Again Fund through our fiscal sponsor Fractured Atlas. Tilted Axes provides free performances for the public and relies on tax-deductible support from people like you.
Your help will be put to use securing rehearsal space, the covering of production costs, transportation, and the offering of honorariums to our musicians for their time and talent. We offer all kinds of perks to our supporters in the form of albums, tilted t-shirts, and more.
Please consider becoming a co-producer with a donation of any size. Please help spread the word!
Here is the link: https://bit.ly/2Un6gTi
28 FEB 19
Patrick Grant Receives Two Entries in the Detroit Music Awards 2019
Today I found out that I am entered into two categories for this Detroit Music Awards this season: Outstanding Classical Composer and Outstanding World Recording for my album "FIELDS AMAZE ..." (2018).
If you are a member or know someone who is a member of the Detroit Music Awards Foundation, please consider voting for my nomination in my categories during Phase 2.
Album info can be found here: https://bit.ly/2CxV5Cd
Thank you, @DetroitMusicAwards, thank you, Detroit!
-PG
23 FEB 19
All Systems Go: New Music to Commemorate the First Lunar Landing
"Composer/performer Patrick Grant and Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars will collaborate with the Michigan Science Center to create a new musical work to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the First Lunar Landing.
This new music will get its premiere in the planetarium and at various points around the center as part of the 27th Annual Concert of Colors in Detroit, MI the weekend of July 12th, 2019.
More details will be announced at the Tilted Axes Detroit: New Again relaunch event at Third Man Records Cass Corridor during the full moon equinox, Wednesday, March 20th ca. 6pm." #AllSystemsGo
20 FEB 19
PRESS RELEASE: Four Weeks Away... Tilted Axes Detroit: New Again
Download the Press Release HERE
POST-ROCK COMPOSER PATRICK GRANT RETURNS TO DETROIT WITH HIS TILTED AXES: MUSIC FOR MOBILE ELECTRIC GUITARS PROJECT IN A TRIO OF PERFORMANCES COLLECTIVELY BILLED AS “TILTED AXES DETROIT: NEW AGAIN” AT THIRD MAN RECORDS CASS CORRIDOR, THE HENRY FORD, AND THE MARCHE DU NAIN ROUGE.
“New Again” is comprised of the following three events and more details are available at http://tiltedaxes.com/tiltedaxes.html:
On Wednesday, March 20th (The Full Moon Equinox) The 18-plus musicians of Tilted Axes Detroit will assemble at 5:30pm at Third Man Records Cass Corridor at 441 W. Canfield, Detroit, MI to mark the project’s return to the city. Third Man Records was founded by Jack White in 2001 with locations in Nashville (2009) and in the Cass Corridor (2015). At this event, Tilted Axes director Patrick Grant will welcome visitors at 5:58pm, the minute the season transitions from winter to spring. A short in-store performance by Tilted Axes will follow. Then, during the 6 o’clock hour, Tilted Axes Detroit will perform a musical procession around the neighborhood to celebrate and promote their upcoming appearances at The Henry Ford (3/23) and the Marche Du Nain Rouge (3/24). The group will reconvene at Third Man Records Cass Corridor to complete the performance. This event is free and open to the public.
On Saturday, March 23rd at 1:00pm, Tilted Axes Detroit will appear at The Henry Ford as part of Make Something: Saturdays. The Henry Ford (also known as the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village, and as the Edison Institute) is a sprawling history museum complex located in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, and was named a National Historic Landmark in 1981. The museum’s Model I Theme for March is “Collaborate”. In honor of that theme, Patrick Grant will premiere new compositions that emulate an assembly line in full swing during a Tilted Axes procession throughout the museum. The event is open to museum visitors, no extra tickets required. The Henry Ford, 20900 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn, MI, (313) 982-6001.
On Sunday, March 24th at 1:00pm, Tilted Axes Detroit will participate in the 10th Annual March Du Nain Rouge. Every March around the Equinox, thousands of revelers gather for a parade through Midtown Detroit to celebrate their city. At 12:00 noon, the crowd gathers at the corner of Canfield and Second, right next to Traffic Jam & Snug, for a celebration of Detroit with live entertainment. At 1:00pm the Tilted Axes procession will join the parade down Second to the Masonic Temple. This event is free and open to the public.
More about Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars: Tilted Axes was created in 2011 by Detroit-born, NYC-based composer/performer Patrick Grant. Tilted Axes cuts musical pathways through the urban landscape, turning neighborhoods into their own sonic narratives. Since its inception, Grant has produced a number of Tilted Axes processions in various cities upon three continents. In 2013 Grant brought Tilted Axes to his hometown of Detroit and created a version of the project with a core of local musicians. They have performed in partnership with the DIA, WDET, the Charles H. Wright Museum, The Detroit Historical Society, the 2015 Concert of Colors, and other area sponsors.
Since Tilted Axes Detroit’s last area appearance in 2015, Grant released an award-winning album of Tilted Axes music as well as other works, one of which was nominated for a Detroit Music Award in 2018.
TILTED AXES DETROIT is a project of Peppergreen Media, sponsored by Vox Amps/Korg USA and local partnerships with Third Man Records Cass Corridor, The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, and The Marche Du Nain Rouge, with additional support from the DIME Detroit Institute of Music Education, Third Wave Music, and generous private co-producers and tax deductible donations made through our fiscal sponsor Fractured Atlas.
15 FEB 19
Tilted Axes Detroit to Rehearse at the DIME Detroit Institute of Music Education
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars gratefully acknowledges the support and partnership of DIME in hosting all of our rehearsals during the project's return to Detroit next month.
https://www.dime-detroit.com/
13 FEB 19
Five Weeks Away... Meet the Tilted Axes Detroit Artists
Electric Guitars: Patrick Grant, Jeff Adams, Aileen Bunch (Philadelphia), Jude Closson, Christoph Götzen (Düsseldorf), Erik Grant, John Halo (NYC), Bob Kaufman, James Keith La Croix, John Lovaas (Chicago), James McGlinnen, Chris McGorey, Chris Simpson, and Gerard Smith
Baritone Ukelele: Frank Pahl
Electric Bass: Aaron Butler (Columbus), Alex Durante (Washington D.C.), and Sarah Metevier Schadt (Chicago)
Percussion: Skeeto Valdez, Zac Bru, and Gael Grant
Associate Producer: Jocelyn Gonzales (NYC)
Stage Manager: Rob Knevels
Read more iNFO HERE
06 FEB 19
SIx Weeks Away...
More iNFO HERE
27 JAN 19
APPLICATIONS Are Now Being Accepted
APPLICATIONS are being accepted for musicians and other performers interested in being a part of
TILTED AXES DETROIT: NEW AGAIN. Performances are on March 20, 23, and 24.
ALL participants, even if you’ve tilted with us before, MUST register via the Google Form:
CLOSED
Selected performers will receive an honorarium $$$
Apply soon. This application will close without notice.
25 JAN 19
Just Announced > TILTED AXES To Perform at The Henry Ford
The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation presents
TILTED AXES DETROIT - music for mobile electric guitars
in a procession and performance with premieres
throughout the exhibits of the museum.
23 MARCH 2019 at 1pm
More iNFO TBA
24 JAN 19
Just Announced > TILTED AXES: DETROIT
In partnership with Third Man Records Cass Corridor
March 2019 - More iNFO TBA
19 JAN 19
30 Years Ago Today >>>
30 YEARS AGO TODAY, January 19, 1989, I produced my first concert in NYC, the inaugural performance of the SILENT TREATMENT music series. We were a group of composer/performers and musicians presenting original music for concert, theater, and dance.
More iNFO: https://bit.ly/2W5F3G7
07 JAN 19
TILTED AXES 2019 Producers and Updated Roster (so far)
Thank you everyone for joining our team this season!
Performers from our tilts in North America, South America, and Europe.
03 JAN 19
PG Wins an ASCAP Plus + Award
Happy to get news that I have received an ASCAP PLUS+ AWARD (ka-ching!) from its Concert Music Division for "2018's cycle of compositions, recordings, & performances." This marks a number of consecutive awards from ascap.com now, years in a row.
These awards are given to "...writer members...whose works were performed in unsurveyed media as well as writer members whose catalogs have prestige value.”
Since much of the work takes place off-the-beaten path (that would be in-every-sense in Tilted Axes' case), it's great that our pioneering spirit gets recognized.
My deepest gratitude to the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP).
Thank you! - PG & the crew askew
01 JAN 19
Happy New Year!
28 DEC 18
COVER STORY: Tilted Axes Recent Winter Soltice Performance in NYC
BY BOB KRASNER | If you feel the need to simplify composer Patrick Grant’s long-running “Tilted Axes” project, you could call it a marching band for electric guitars. But given the complexity of the compositions and the dedication of the musicians, that description falls way short.
The latest performance of Grant’s “Music for Mobile Electric Guitars” was realized by 24 musicians, including Grant, on the winter solstice, in the Sasaki Garden at Washington Square Village, “The Alamo” at Astor Place a.k.a. “The Cube” and the streets between.
The event was commissioned by Faculty Housing Happenings at New York University — where Grant is a professor — as part of “Make Music New York.” The confab featured music evenly divided between older pieces, structured improvisations and premieres written specifically for Friday night.
One of the new pieces, “Tiltinnabulation,” was written to include another Make Music group, “Bell By Bell.” According to Tom Peyton, the leader of that multigenerational group of bell ringers, they were notified that their path might cross with “Tilted Axes” and they were given the choice of avoiding each other or playing together.
Happily, they chose to do two numbers together at “The Cube” and the result was a perfect combo of chiming guitars and bells. Guitarist Angela Babin, a “Tilted Axes” veteran, called the collaboration “fabulous!”
“It was like a ‘West Side Story’ gang meet-up, with music and camaraderie and solstice celebration love,” she said.
Carrying an electric guitar and an amp through the streets while playing somewhat complex music is a daunting task, but the participants found it more than worthwhile.
“The universal joy of the people we encountered on our parade route caused me to transcend the discomfort I felt at not being fully in command of the music, the weight on my back and shoulders,” David Demnitz said.
Sam Weisberg voiced a similar sentiment, noting, “It’s a rush like no other. It was so worth the chronic right-shoulder pain!”
Grant made it through the balmy evening with a case of laryngitis that forced him to hoarsely whisper directions to bassist Sarah Metivier Schadt, who amply conveyed his instructions to the crew.
“There are many unforeseen elements that we could never have predicted,” Grant reflected. “We’re thinking on our feet, we’re performing live, we’re adjusting to the public in real time. Being there, mobile, right up against the public, brings out musical choices that we’d never come up with in rehearsal. There’s nothing like it.”
Onlookers concurred.
“The public went nuts, in a good way!” Grant enthused. “We couldn’t be happier.”
more at The Villager
23 DEC 18
TILTED AXES: Winter Luminaria & Cold Moon Consort
COLD MOON CONSORT - Dec. 21 & 22, New York City
FLICKR Pics
https://bit.ly/2LwsIG8
FACEBOOK Clips
https://bit.ly/2SfIA2g
GETTY IMAGES
https://bit.ly/2EKErR1
13 DEC 18
New Interview for Make Music New York
Winter Luminaria with Tilted Axes
Make Music New York’s Executive Director, James Burke, spoke with composer Patrick Grant and Erin Donnelly, Community Liaison for the NYU Office of Faculty Housing & Residential Services about “Winter Luminaria with Tilted Axes,” a new Make Music Winter procession for the 2018 season.
Read the interview HERE
11 DEC 18
Tilted Axes 2019 Rehearsal and Development Fund
Dear People!
PLEASE consider making a *tax deductible* contribution during this short campaign for
TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars HERE > https://bit.ly/2QkJldE.
The goal is clear: to raise $2500 for rehearsal space and guest artist fees for January-June 2019.
TILTED AXES is ready to create new music and movement-based performance throughout
the urban landscape and into unexpected venues once again.
Please be a part of our team!
07 DEC 18
A Thank You to Our TILTED Sponsors!
Tilted Axes' sound is powered by Vox Amps through the courtesy of our friends at Korg USA.
Tilted Axes thanks everyone who has made this music possible, especially NYU Faculty Housing Happenings, Aaron Friedman and James Burke at Make Music New York, and the kindred spirits at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and Alchemical Studios for rehearsal space.
We also give thanks to Rivington Guitars for their ongoing support.
Our biggest shout-out is reserved for our numerous satellites, standard bearers, and extended family around the world who do what's possible (plus 10%).
Fractured Atlas is the fiscal sponsor for Tilted Axes. Won't you consider making an end-of-the-year tax-deductible contribution today for our future productions?
> Go to this link <
01 DEC 18
PROG Magazine Review of "FIELDS AMAZE..."
PROG Magazine 93 (UK) - ALBUM REVIEW
Thank you PROG magazine for listening to FIELDS AMAZE…
“...an intricate mosaic of themes…but there is a particular lightness about it, like a stone being skimmed across a lake.”
“...keyboard themes circle round but sound like they are twisting themselves inside out on a Möbius strip.”
“...frantic chases through dark woods and dramatic surging guitar chords when the monster’s face is finally revealed.”
“…eerie dream sequences and spooky still-life passages…”
“...richly melodic…relentless.”
PROG - https://www.loudersound.com/prog
PG Fields Amaze Page - http://www.strangemusic.com/famaze.html
28 NOV 18
A Make Music New York First!
On December 21st, as part of Make Music Winter 2018, two groups will cross paths in NYC and perform a collaborative piece together. Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars’ Patrick Grant and Bell By Bell’s Tom Peyton will have their groups perform at The Alamo, the Astor Place Cube, ca. 5:55 pm to ring in the new season with the premiere of a new composition, "Tiltinnabulation."
More Cold Moon Consort details TBA at http://tiltedaxes.com/tiltedaxes.html
18 NOV 18
PG Interview in Ultimate Guitar About Tilted Axes Relaunch
"This.Is.Huge. - SO grateful to Ultimate Guitar and its 12 million subscribers for letting me answer questions about Tilted Axes, Make Music Winter, NYU, Guitar Craft & Circles, Balinese gamelan, Vox amps, and group dynamics, small and large." - PG
Read the interview HERE
15 NOV 18
TILTED AXES: Cold Moon Consort
Performers and Participants
Pictures and Bios HERE
09 NOV 18
Six Weeks From Today
More iNFO HERE
24 OCT 18
Tilted Axes Application Form For Guitarists
Are you a guitarist who is interested in participating
In Tilted Axes December NYC performances?
Please apply by filling in your information here:
> APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED <
Positions in the ensemble are limited
Please apply ASAP - Please share
17 OCT 18
"A Sequence of Waves" is an official entry in the 61st Grammy Awards Nominations!
61st GRAMMY AWARDS ENTRIES - It's a thrill to see the album "A SEQUENCE OF WAVES" and two of its tracks, "One Note Samba" and "Seven Years at Sea," entered into the first round of nominations.
If you are a voting member of the Recording Academy / GRAMMYs, please consider this critically acclaimed work during this awards season. Web page
15 OCT 18
Winter Luminaria with TILTED AXES: Cold Moon Consort
Make Music Winter NYC - Dec. 21
Winter Luminaria with Tilted Axes: Cold Moon Consort
Sasaki Garden in Washington Square Village through Greenwich Village and back. Event begins at 5:00pm and runs 120 minutes.
Composer Patrick Grant and Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars, in partnership with NYU Faculty Housing Happenings, present an evening of innovative musical performance featuring a procession through Greenwich Village that begins and ends with a solstice soundscape in honor of Sasaki Garden set aglow with enchanting lights. The evening’s musical commission is titled “Cold Moon Consort” in reference to 2018’s winter solstice and the December full moon occurring within the same day. Arrive at Sasaki Garden at 5:00pm and receive a small flashlight to participate in the spectacle and illuminate the performance route.
WHEN & WHERE:
The music procession kicks off in Sasaki Garden, located in Washington Square Village, just north of Bleecker Street and west of Mercer Street, at 5:00pm and wends its way throughout Greenwich Village before returning to the garden for the finale.
HOW TO JOIN:
Just arrive at Sasaki Garden by 5:00pm to receive a small flashlight to participate in the spectacle and illuminate the performance route!
ABOUT THE PROGRAM CREATOR, COMPOSER AND CONDUCTOR:
Tilted Axes was created in 2011 for the inaugural Make Music Winter festival by Detroit-born, NYC-based composer/performer Patrick Grant. Tilted Axes cuts musical pathways through the urban landscape, turning neighborhoods into their own sonic narratives. Since its inception, Grant has produced a number of Tilted Axes processions in various cities upon three continents.
ABOUT NYU FACULTY HOUSING HAPPENINGS:
NYU Faculty Housing Happenings include occasional open to the public community events designed to celebrate outdoor spaces on the superblocks headlined by Sasaki Garden, one of the finest modernist landscapes in the city. Recommended by the Superblock Stewardship Advisory Committee, community events are generously supported by Provost Katherine E. Fleming and organized by Erin Donnelly, Community Liaison, Office of Faculty Housing & Residential Services. More info at https://www.nyu.edu/faculty/faculty-housing/happenings/Winter_Luminaria.html
09 OCT 18
RECENT PRESS
http://www.strangemusic.com/famaze.html
01 OCT 18
ALBUM RELEASE
available at
iTunes ~ Amazon ~ Google ~ BandCamp
listen on
Spotify ~ Tidal
Patrick Grant
FIELDS AMAZE
and other sTRANGE music
www.strangemusic.com/famaze.html
20th Anniversary Edition: remixed + remastered + reimagined w/ bonus tracks
"Unexpected rhythms, outside of the box instrumentation, and a completely uncompromising barrage of artistic individuality. Innovative... exciting... mind-blowing... Patrick Grant's FIELDS AMAZE will leave you speechless." - Alternative Nation
"FIELDS AMAZE has a driving and rather harsh energy redolent of rock, as well as a clean sense of melodicism ... the music's momentum and intricate cross-rhythms rarely let up, making the occasional infectious tunes that emerge all the more beautiful for surprise." - The Village Voice (RIP)
"Created for percussion and tuned instruments, it’s a varied collection of instrumentals that – to my ears, anyway – owes more to Steve Reich and/or Edgard Varèse. It also (at least some of the time) sounds a bit like a more conventionally tuneful answer to Frank Zappa’s Jazz From Hell.” - Musoscribe: Bill Kopp’s Music Blog
“‘FIELDS AMAZE' (the track) has this X-Files urgency to it as electric keys rush through with the darkness of the piano...it reminds me of the soundtrack to a John Carpenter movie...” - Raised By Gypsies
"With a mixture of homages to 60s and 70s cinema and the traditional piano overtures, Grant excels at arranging all of these tracks into more than a remake, but rather a collection of new tracks.” - The Music Court
"'FIELDS AMAZE and other sTRANGE music' contains a hodgepodge of intricate rhythms played in unconventional and experimental ways using a variety of instruments and methods.” - Know More Music
“This music is soul warming and at times so strange that the world surrounding us acts as if its changing.” - Metal Centre
"It is quite strange...I’m left wondering what I just listened to.” - The Weekly Spoon
1. KEEPING STILL (3:50)
percussion quintet
2. FIELDS AMAZE (8:31)
homemade gamelan & microtonal keyboard
3. A VISIBLE TRACK OF TURBULENCE I (5:01)
flute, clarinet, & piano
4. EVERYTHING DISTINCT: EVERYTHING THE SAME (11:17)
three keyboards in Gb just intonation & three percussion
5. A VISIBLE TRACK OF TURBULENCE II (4:06)
flute, clarinet, & piano
6. IMAGINARY HORROR FILM - Part 1 (8:37)
electric chamber ensemble
The Accident - Hospital - Nine Months Later
Daily Living (Gnossienne) - Baiting the Trap - Going for a Drive
7. THE WEIGHTS OF NUMBERS (8:36)
a.k.a. Fractured Fictions
three electronic keyboards & drum kit
8. IMAGINARY HORROR FILM - Part 2 (7:27)
electric chamber ensemble
Cemetery - Hitchhiker No. 3 - Unsuspecting Victim
Under the Knife - Evening Prayer - New Day to Face - End Title
9. IF ONE SHOULD HAPPEN TO FALL (3:38)
singer vs. thesaurus
Total Running Time (61:12)
℗ and © sTRANGE Music Inc. d/b/a Peppergreen Media, 2018. All Rights Reserved. www.peppergreenmedia.com
Patrick Grant: piano, keyboards, electric guitars, gamelan, percussion
John Ferrari: drums & percussion
Kathleen Supove & Marija Ilic: keyboards
Barbara Benary: additional gamelan
David Simons: Balinese percussion & theremin
Keith Bonner: flute
Thomas P. Oberle: clarinet
Darryl Gregory: trombone
Martha Mooke: viola
Maxine Neumann: cello
Mark Steven Brooks: electric bass
Alexandra Montano: vocalise
Lisa Karrer: lead vocal on If One Should Happen to Fall
All 2018 production, overdubs, revisions, and new stems recorded at Peppergreen Media, NYC and The Ferrari Factory, NJ. Mixed at Mercy Sound Studios, NYC - Garry Rindfuss: mixing engineer - Sheldon Steiger: album mastering - Patrick Grant: producer
Cover photo Cuming Co. Supercell, June 14, 2013 taken by Dave Rebot and used with permission. Flowchart graphic by Peppergreen Media. Album artwork, layout, and design by Eric Iverson. Peppergreen Media logo by Steve Ball. CD image collage inspired by Elément bleu XII, 1967 by Jean Dubuffet, photo credit: sTRANGE Music archive.
All music © 1997-2018 Patrick Grant and published by Peppergreen Media (ASCAP). This album ℗ and © 2018. All rights reserved.
Recording history: Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5 stems recorded and edited at Philip Glass' Looking Glass Studios, NYC, 1997 - Garry Rindfuss: recording engineer - Dante DeSole: asst. engineer and editor - Ryoji Hata: asst. editor - Amanda Riesman: administration - gamelan instruments provided by Barbara Benary and Gamelan Son of Lion - large kendang drum and additional gongs provided by Skip LaPlante and Music for Homemade Instruments - originally released on the album Attack Decay Sustain Release by sTRANGE Music Records 1998 - Tracks 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 stems recorded at sTUDIO 41, NYC, 1998-2000 - Patrick Grant: recording engineer and editor - originally released as a Special Edition EP for the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAMcafé Live) by sTRANGE Music Records, 2000.
This album ℗ and © sTRANGE Music Inc. / Peppergreen Media, 2018. All Rights Reserved.
28 SEP 18
TODAY: Bandcamp Voting Rights Fundraiser
Today, September 28, Bandcamp (from midnight to midnight Pacific Time), will donate 100% of their share of the proceeds towards the Voting Rights Project. When you buy music today on Bandcamp you will help protect the right to vote and ensure that right is afforded equally to all. Thank you!
>>>
https://tiltedaxes.bandcamp.com/
15 SEP 18
FIELDS AMAZE Press Release Featured on Broadway Music World
Go to Broadway Music World HERE
05 SEP 18
Pre-orders available now on Bandcamp
FIELDS AMAZE and other sTRANGE music
release date October 1st
Bandcamp page HERE
24 AUG 18
International sTRANGE Music Day: 20th anniversary celebration
02 AUG 18
Award-Winning Vocal Group ROOMFUL OF TEETH Mixed By sTRANGE Music's Patrick Grant for Public Radio International's STUDIO 360
Composer/producer Patrick Grant / sTRANGE Music contributed distinctive musical mixes to this week’s episode of Studio 360 with tracks performed by Roomful of Teeth. This episode includes musical selections composed by Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Shaw, Rinde Eckert, and others.
Listen online, download as podcast, or find it on a public radio station near you.
Roomful of Teeth is a cutting-edge, eight-person vocal ensemble that commissions and performs music of all sorts of genres and techniques from all over the world. They’ve studied yodeling, Tuvan throat singing, Sardinian cantu a tenore, Korean pansori, etc.
“We study with masters from these other singing traditions and get some degree of comfort and flexibility from those interactions,” explains founder and director Brad Wells. “And then the commissioned composers observe that process, hear what the singers are capable of and then explore, ‘Given these possibilities what might I create?’”
Episode: https://www.pri.org/stories/2018-08-02/roomful-teeth-around-world-eight-voices
Studio360: https://www.pri.org/programs/studio-360
28 JUL 18
Patrick Grant Group - sTRANGE MUSIC
premiere concert 20 years ago today
FB photo set:
https://www.facebook.com/patrickgrantnyc/posts/10216813856767189
11 JUL 18
FIELDS AMAZE
& other sTRANGE Music
20th anniversary edition
More iNFO TBA HERE
27 JUN 18
Austin Film Festival - Fiction Podcasts
Congratulations to Peppergreen Media’s Jocelyn Gonzales on being named one of the judges in the upcoming Austin Film Festival Oct. 25 to Nov. 1!
The category is Fiction Podcast:
https://www.pri.org/pri-announced-judge-austin-film-festival-fiction-podcast-script-competition
Filmmakers and podcast people still have time to submit their work (July 6 deadline):
https://austinfilmfestival.com/submit/podcast-competition/
More information at:
https://austinfilmfestival.com
13 JUN 18
NEW ALBUM: editing & mixing begins TODAY
Tracking is complete save an overdub here or there. Many guest artists. Surprising ones. Happy to have our production team reassemble for this work – Garry Rindfuss, Sheldon Steiger, John Ferrari, and Mercy Sound Recording Studios NYC ~ #newmoon
09 JUN 18
PG Creates Radio Mixes for ROOMFUL OF TEETH
PG creates *distinctive* mixes of the Grammy Award-winning vocal group Roomful of Teeth for broadcast later this summer on public radio's Studio 360. Composers include the Pulitzer Prize-winning Caroline Shaw, Rinde Eckert, & Judd Greenstein. #music #mixing #producer #podcast
01 JUN 18
The MMiXdown is updated with the latest interviews, reviews, etc...
Check out all the new content HERE
15 MAY 18
PG Interview in "It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine"
"The NYC-based composer and performer Patrick Grant has had a long and gleaming career that continues on with his newest release, A Sequence of Waves (Twelve Stories and a Dream). The album is a refined collection of genre-bending and experimental tracks that many critics struggle to pin down. Stumbling into post-minimalism, modern classical, prog rock, and post-rock territory, the album wears many masks. And for good reason, given Grant’s accomplished background."
Read the It's Psychedelic Magazine Baby interview HERE
04 MAY 18
Detroit Music Award for Outstanding Classical Recording
It was an honor to be nominated for Outstanding Classical Recording in The Detroit Music Awards and my warmest congratulations to winner The Detroit Symphony Orchestra for their recording of Aaron Copland's "Symphony No. 3."
I mean, who wouldn't be humbled to step aside for the work that contains "Fanfare for the Common Man"?
#thumbsup !!!
01 MAY 18
PG Interview in ECHOES AND DUST (UK)
The creator of Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars discusses his recent album A Sequence of Waves and his Detroit Music Awards nomination for Outstanding Classical Recording.
"Only classical compositions and that kind of inter-related album architecture could pull together elements of rock, world, and techno into a cohesive whole that goes beyond mere pastiche and that is integrated into its core." Ljubinko Zivkovic chats to experimental / prog musician Patrick Grant.
Read the complete interview HERE
14 APR 18
Detroit Music Awards Final Ballot: "A SEQUENCE OF WAVES"
is nominated for Outstanding Classical Recording
Thank you Detroit Music Awards for nominating my album "A Sequence of Waves" for OUTSTANDING CLASSICAL RECORDING!
An even bigger thanks is due to all of the musicians, artists, and engineers who helped create it.
More iNFO:
www.detroitmusicawards.net/
www.detroitmusicawards.net/nominees
29 MAR 18
Patrick Grant Interview for Fireworks Magazine UK
"Rock and metal? It's there, it's in the mix, it's part of the story.
Thanks to everyone at Fireworks UK for their extra wide listening." - Patrick Grant
INTERVIEW - Fireworks Magazine (UK) interview with musician and producer Patrick Grant, creator of A Sequence of Waves (twelve stories and a dream) released on the Peppergreen Media label. By Nicky Baldrian http://www.rocktopia.co.uk/
"The last time we spoke, you were talking about your Detroit origins in classical and rock music, your early avant-garde theatrical work in New York City, but mostly about your album Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars..."
Q: What’s coming up next for Tilted Axes?
Q: What do you mean when you say “film sound and associated disciplines?”
Q: What’s affecting your current work?
Q: You’re a professor two days a week. What about the other five days?
Q: What do you think are the standout tracks on your new album, "A Sequence of Waves"?
Q: What are your interests outside of music?
Q: What's in store for the future?
Read the complete interview HERE
15 MAR 18
#TBT - Creating & Performing THE LADDER OF RED at The Watermill Center w/ Robert Wilson & Andrey Bartenev
15 MAR 18
#TBT - METRO TIMES Cover Story
composer Patrick Grant & the Tilted Axes project
Read the article HERE
02 MAR 18
PG and A Sequence of Waves Receive 7 Detroit Music Awards Nominations!
Thank you to the 2018 Detroit Music Awards for seven nominations for "A Sequence of Waves," writing, performing, and, what is very special to me, outstanding record producer. The ceremonies will take place at The Fillmore Detroit on May 4th.
The Detroit Music Awards Foundation's mission is to recognize Detroit area musicians working on a national, regional and local level. Their purpose is also to support and nurture the musical community in the Detroit metropolitan area, and to create a network for musicians that cuts across genres and styles.
15 FEB 18
Videos with Music by PG in The Bass Museum's Permanent Collection
Miami Beach: The Bass Museum of Art has just added to its Permanent Collection two videos by the artist Gary Beeber with original music by Patrick Grant. These videos are “Happy Ride, Coney Island” and “Victoriana,” both created in 2005.
More iNFO TBA at https://thebass.org/
Artist’s note: "Happy Ride" premiered at The Coney Island Film Festival, it was also played continually at the Coney Island Museum. It was also exhibited at the first Slapstick Festival, 2005, Bristol, England.
This was my first video, shot in 2005, several years before Coney Island’s famed amusement park was sanitized and modernized. At that time everything was shabby and the rides seemed to be on their last legs. I particularly loved those rides, even though they were barely functioning. With this piece I wanted to show motion and bright color.
I was privileged to work with composer Patrick Grant who wrote and performed the music for this piece.
Composer’s note: "Coney Island is an American icon. Like that, much of the score is made up of musical icons that are associated with the park: calliope, hurry-gurdy, doo-wop, blues, and a good dose of rock and roll. The score uses the uneven lengths of the edits to predetermine measures, beats, and time signatures. In this way the music is the audible equivalent of seeing oneself in a fun house mirror."
Artist’s additional note on “Victoriana": I commissioned composer/musician Patrick Grant to create music combining hip-hop and opera. Meredith Borden sings a soprano melody with three repetitions, each one with additional instruments and new harmonies. This reflects the increasing complexity and pace of the visuals.
Photos: (top) from The Bass Museum web site, (bottom left) from “Happy Ride, Coney Island” by Gary Beeber, (bottom right) from “Victoriana” by Gary Beeber.
12 FEB 18
Artist Kehinde Wiley Unveils His Official Portrait of President Barack Obama
Congratulations to Kehinde Wiley for his portrait of President Barack Obama that was unveiled this morning. I've had the honor of composing and music directing for a number of Kehinde’s openings and videos over the years at Roberts Projects (LA), The Columbus Museum of Art, The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, The Studio Museum in Harlem, Deitch Projects (NYC), and others. The Smithsonian-commissioned portrait was revealed today at The National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. - PG
30 JAN 18
San Franciso Classical Voice Review: A Sequence of Waves
by Allan Kozinn
Classical Musicians Aren’t Hiding Their Rock Enthusiasms Anymore (excerpt)
https://www.sfcv.org/article/classical-musicians-arent-hiding-their-rock-enthusiasms-anymore
Patrick Grant’s new album, A Sequence of Waves (Twelve Stories and a Dream) (Peppergreen Media) drives that point home. Grant began his career, after all, writing chamber music and incidental theater music, mostly using conventional classical instrumentation. He made his way towards electronic works and certain corners of non-European musics — the gamelan, most notably — in the 1990s. But he also spent some time with the Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists, a project directed by Robert Fripp, the founder of, and creative force behind, King Crimson. Electric guitars began turning up in Grant’s music as early as 1986 (in The Power of Light, for electric guitars, bass, synthesizers, and percussion), and if his use of rock instrumentation was sporadic back then, his experiments have become bolder — and, it seems, the central focus of his work — over the past decade.
A Sequence of Waves (Twelve Stories and a Dream) is a fascinating merger of the universes Grant inhabits. “Lucid Intervals,” its opener, is a Trojan horse: It begins as a Glassian chamber score, with a repeating viola figure around which a string, keyboard, and percussion ensemble weaves an increasingly ornate, contrapuntal fabric before crashing into chaos – and a swirling, electronic ending that tells you that this won’t be a conventional post-minimalist collection.
From there, it’s quickly down the rabbit hole. “Driving Patterns,” the second track, begins with a 1960s pop reference, in the form of the brisk repeating oscillation of a fifth that opens the Easybeats’ “Friday on My Mind.” Beyond that first few seconds, the figure never returns; instead, the piece grows into a punchy texture with angular melodies in a style that brings Fripp’s work to mind.
It’s not the last we hear of that style: In the insistently riffy “To Find a Form That Accommodates the Mess” and “Breaking Butterflies Upon a Wheel,” Grant’s distortion-laden guitar toggles between Fripp-style solo lines and quasi-Minimalist repeat-and-morph figures, which are set against an assertive, tightly interlocking guitar, keyboard, bass, and drums backdrop. And there is a distinct Zappa influence in “Firearms” (the finale of a mini-suite that also includes “Alcohol” and “Tobacco”) and in the “Primary Blues,” which pulls together blues riffs, Leon Russell-like piano punctuation, a recurring touch of 60s go-go music, unpredictable rhythmic play, and screaming metal guitar solos, played by the composer-guitarist Nick Didkovsky.
There is a lot to be said for the energy Grant and his ensemble bring to these pieces, but the collection’s real joy is its variety. True, “Prelude I” introduces another 60s reference (a reconfigured version of the riff that opens Johnny Rivers’ “Secret Agent Man”), but that piece and “Prelude II” are richly-detailed studies for solo electric guitar and some of its sound-shaping devices.
“Seven Years at Sea” and “Lonely Ride Coney Island” are largely electronic essays, the first built around looped and heavily processed excerpts from a 1934 Library of Congress recording of sea chanties, sung by Elita, Mary, and Ella Hoffpauir, and the second a wistful soundscape of electronic keyboard washes and what sound like sequencer riffs that begins to brighten, at least slightly, with John Ferrari’s drum entrance at the piece’s halfway point. And the album’s closer, the only piece not by Grant, is a radically reworked version of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “One Note Samba,” for telephone tones and rock band.
Allan Kozinn (@kozinn) began writing about music for The New York Times in 1977, and served on its culture staff from 1991 to 2014. He was born in New York and studied music and journalism at Syracuse University.
15 JAN 18
It's an Anniversary Year
more iNFO TBA
05 JAN 18
"DETROIT INDUSTRY" by Diego Rivera, music by Patrick Grant
1 of 3 (string orchestra version), The Diego Rivera murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts, music © 2008 by Patrick Grant / www.StrangeMusic.com, performed by SONYC: String Orchestra of NYC
2 of 3 (electric guitar version), The Diego Rivera murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts, music © 2013 by Patrick Grant, performed by Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars and recorded as "Rivera Court" ℗ 2016 PGM1601 (ASCAP). Premiered March 20, 2013 at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI
3 of 3 (techno music version), The Diego Rivera murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts, music © 2011 by Patrick Grant / www.StrangeMusic.com, performed by Hi-Q
01 JAN 18
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
28 DEC 17
ASCAP PLUS+ AWARD!!!
"Happy to get news that I have received an ASCAP PLUS+ AWARD for 2017's cycle of compositions, recordings, & performances. This marks a number of consecutive awards, years in a row.
These awards are given to '...writer members...whose works were performed in unsurveyed media as well as writer members whose catalogs have prestige value.'
Since much of this work takes place off the beaten path, it's great that its pioneering spirit gets recognized. My deepest thanks to the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP)." -PG
21 DEC 17
TILTED AXES First Premiered 2011
#TBT 2011 ~ On this day, Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars was born when it performed as part of Make Music New York. It has been through a number of incarnations since and will be returning in 2018 as part of the RENEWABLE RIFFS project #solarpower
Photo by Emon Hassan from his TILTED AXES documentary (2012)
10 DEC 17
A SEQUENCE OF WAVES Tops Best of List in Canadian Progressive Radio !!!
http://nbtmusic.de/best-albums2017-top-100/
NUMBER ONE !!! - We're shocked (and happy) to be on this list of Top Twenty Five Albums of 2017. The NBTMusic Radio Station & Martin NBTProject (Canada & Germany) play all kinds of great #progressive music and I'm happy this album resonates with their listeners.
Thank you! >>> http://nbtmusic.de/best-albums2017-top-100/ #classical #jazz #rock #world
25 Labyrinth Lounge – Porgy
24 Priests – Nothing Feels Natural
23 Sampha – Process
22 Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile – Lotta Sea Lice
21 Bobbo Byrnes – Motel Americana
20 St. Vincent – MASSEDUCTION
19 Russell Joslin – Hey Mathematician
18 Wolf Alice – Visions Of A Life
17 Various – Alternative Melodies Vol 6
16 Perfume Genius – No Shape
15 Arcade Fire – Everything Now
14 Murmur Tooth – Dropping Like Flies
13 Noga Erez – Off The Radar
12 Lorde – Melodrama
11 Andrew Kay – Brand New Suit
10 Spook – Because ( Gary Herselman and Die Lemme )
9 A Tree Grows – A Tree Grows
8 Kendrick Lamar – Damn
7 Gorillaz – Humanz
6 Dirty Projectors – Dirty Projectors
5 TOKYO ROSENTHAL - This Minstrel Life
4 Sudan Archives – Sudan Archives
3 The XX – I See You
2 Agency – Resist
1 Patrick Grant – A Sequence Of Waves
http://nbtmusic.de/best-albums2017-top-100/
08 DEC 17
ALL ABOUT JAZZ Reviews A SEQUENCE OF WAVES
by Paul Naser
December 08, 2017
Four out of five stars
Multi-instrumentalist and composer Patrick Grant's music can be difficult to classify. This is probably, at least to a degree, intentional. The NYU film school professor and multiple-time ASCAP Plus Award winner was a long time member of the legendary Robert Fripp's Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists and has scored multiple theater and dance companies' projects.
Those with even a passing familiarity with Fripp's work, which became iconic during his time with the relentlessly experimental, impossible to categorize King Crimson, will correctly assume that Grant's music has a forward-thinking edge. Fans of King Crimson, Fripp, progressive rock, or contemporary film scoring a la Hans Zimmer will undoubtedly find much to appreciate in Grant's latest release A Sequence of Waves (Twelve Stories and a Dream), as will people with eclectic musical tastes or those with an affinity for unique instrumentations and rhythmic complexity.
The instrumentation on the record varies widely, but is glued together by consistently compelling rhythmic motifs and development. The timbres range from distorted electric guitars to beautiful swelling synths to acoustic percussion and strings. They manage to work together very well, such as in the beautifully composed and produced "Seven Years At Sea." Other highlights include the rhythmically intense, and aptly named, "Driving Patterns," as well as the epic "To Find a Form That Accommodates the Mess." The album even includes an extremely original cover of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "One Note Samba," that at the very least warrants one listen through, if not three or four.
From the unique and inventive production to the remarkably creative compositions and the uncommon and effective instrumentations, fans of innovative creative music would do well to give this record at least one listen through. Then see if the genre-defying work doesn't have you coming back for multiple listens, if for no other reason than to figure out exactly what was going on.
Track Listing: Lucid Intervals; Driving Patterns; Prelude I; Alcohol; Tobacco; Firearms; Seven Years at Sea; Breaking Butterflies Upon a Wheel; Lonely Ride Coney Island; Primary Blues; Prelude II; To Find a Form That Accommodates the Mess; One Note Samba
Personnel: Patrick Grant: guitar, bass, viola, piano, keyboards and percussion John Ferrari: drums, mallet instruments, percussion and production; Nick Didkovsky: guitar solo on "Primary Blues"; Dan Cooper: 7-string electric bass; Lynn Bechtold: violin; Dan Barrett: cello
Title: A Sequence of Waves (Twelve Stories and a Dream) | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Peppergreen Media
07 DEC 17
Announcing RENEWABLE RIFFS
"Announcing RENEWABLE RIFFS – a 2018 project for electric guitars, orchestral instruments, and the sun!
Sustainable energy awareness is raised in a partnership between composer Patrick Grant & Solar One (NYC’s first self-sustaining solar powered building) with new music promoting Solar One's Stuyvesant Cove Park facility on the East River and its energy education programs.
These new works will have their premiere as part of RENEWABLE RIFFS and performed by TILTED AXES.
More details to be announced by soon. #classical #jazz #rock #world
11 NOV 17
A New and Dedicated Web Page for A SEQUENCE OF WAVES
Official release date October 24
Click HERE
31 OCT 17
Joseph Keckler's "STRANGERS FROM THE INTERNET"
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! We're all celebrating with a video release:
Joseph Keckler's "STRANGERS FROM THE INTERNET"
composed and performed by Joseph Keckler
musical arrangement by Patrick Grant
produced and mixed by Isaac Levine
mastered by Patrick Derivaz
full credits @ video
27 OCT 17
A SEQUENCE OF WAVES – album previews & other news Oct. 20-27
Sputnik Music
http://bit.ly/2yOzrHt
WNYC New Sounds
Echoes of Crafty Guitar
http://bit.ly/2gNEEbt
The Ripple Effect
the site for the musical omnivore
http://bit.ly/2iEgf8M
WHUS 91.7 FM ~ Pushing the Envelope
Music Decidedly Left of Center
http://bit.ly/2yUTDal
New Prog Releases
http://bit.ly/2heOz71
NBTMusic Radio Station
Ontario, Canada
http://bit.ly/2y87IC7
Radio Onde Furlane
FM 90.0 Udine, Italia
http://bit.ly/2xso2cx
14 OCT 17
PATRICK GRANT WANDERS INTO EDM TERRITORY WITH ‘LONELY RIDE CONEY ISLAND’
by Layla Marino, YourEDM
http://www.youredm.com/2017/10/13/patrick-grant-wanders-edm-territory-lonely-ride-coney-island/
New York experimental producer Patrick Grant is best known for his fantastic guitar skills and his interesting composition, but by all accounts electronica usually takes a back burner in most of his work. By any and all EDM fan accounts, said electronica doesn’t even come close to actual EDM but stays firmly planted on the experimental side of things. Such is generally the case with Grant’s sophomore album, A Sequence of Waves, with one glaring exception: track nine, “Lonely Ride Coney Island.” Here, Grant ventures out from his usual Dadaist classical/guitar structure and goes right past ambient electronica into legitimate EDM territory.
“Lonely Ride Coney Island” doesn’t give the impression at first that it will be anything other than ambient electronic music as it opens, with not much of beat and, surprisingly, none of Grant’s ubiquitous guitars. The track is indeed more along the lines of a spacey, modernized version of a Tangerine Dream song for nearly the first half of the track. Then it is surprisingly the introduction of a quite clearly analog drumset and finally the guitars which push this track into EDM territory. Why? Quite simply the setup and the beat which follows. As the track moves into the guitar and drum portion, there is an actual drum break and buildup into this section. The spacey, ambient vibe continues and that definitely adds to it but now because of the drums, which straddle house and old school breakbeat we suddenly have a danceable electronic track: EDM.
It’s unclear whether Patrick Grant intended to move the ambient, spacey work that is “Lonely Ride Coney Island” into EDM territory, but that’s what he effectively had. Listening to the track it’s almost like listening to the birth of EDM out of the miasma of ambient electronica. It’s an interesting study in what pushes electronic music into electronic dance music.
A Sequence of Waves is out now.
13 OCT 17
A SEQUENCE OF WAVES – album previews Oct. 6 to Oct. 12
Progressive Music Planet
http://bit.ly/2y8QDY8
Maxxxwell Carlisle
http://bit.ly/2yeyQxY
Discogs.com
http://bit.ly/2xv7dlv
Music Street Journal
http://bit.ly/2gubLOt
Ellenwood EP
http://bit.ly/2yllPCp
Rock Expert
http://bit.ly/2yeGMiQ
Metal Express Radio
http://bit.ly/2xvvNT5
06 OCT 17
A SEQUENCE OF WAVES – album previews Sept. 28 to Oct. 5
Vancouver BC, CA - http://bit.ly/2xjhM68
Kansas City, MO - http://bit.ly/2xcMzpW
Zulia, Venezuela - http://bit.ly/2yGAoOs
London, UK - http://bit.ly/2kkn5Ru
Toronto, CA - http://bit.ly/2y02Cqs
Budapest, Hungary - http://bit.ly/2y25i6c
28 SEP 17
A SEQUENCE OF WAVES – album previews Sept. 1 to Sept. 27
The Huffington Post - http://bit.ly/2fDYbaM
Alternative Nation - http://bit.ly/2xyIWtg
The Celebrity Cafe - http://bit.ly/2xqJEIK
Music News UK - http://bit.ly/2xrQ7Dq
For Folks Sake - http://bit.ly/2xlQpdk
CF Reviews - http://bit.ly/2hklo5z
GIGsoup - http://bit.ly/2jOw7FV
Indie Music Review - http://bit.ly/2ypFXkn
Album of the Year - http://bit.ly/2fQAMCX
Sensible Reason - http://bit.ly/2wlgpUN
Audible Addixion - http://bit.ly/2fNJySh
EKM.CO - http://bit.ly/2fyaVCT
Tattoo - http://bit.ly/2yCFL1Z
19 SEP 17
"SEVEN YEARS AT SEA"
Single Coming Soon to Apple Music - iTunes
Official release date October 24
Available on Apple Music - iTunes HERE
From the album A SEQUENCE OF WAVES by Patrick Grant
The vocal track for “Sevens Years at Sea” (Sept Ans Sur Mer) is from “A Treasury of Library of Congress Field Recordings” (Rounder Records 1500) and is now in the Public Domain. It was recorded by John and Alan Lomax in Louisiana in 1934, and is sung by Elita, Mary, and Ella - the Hoffpauir Sisters.
“Perhaps no other sailor's chantey can compare with 'Seven Years at Sea' for fame and historical interest. It is one of the most extensively traveled songs of European folk repertoires.
Best known on the shores of Brittany and Poitou where it seems to have originated, It has spread across France and followed the seacoast into neighboring countries, north and south.
It occurs in Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, Catalan, Portuguese, Spanish and Swiss (sic) versions. Thackeray adapted it for a humorous rhyme called 'Little Bille'.”
- from Our Singing Country by John and Alan Lomax
Seven Years at Sea (Sept ans sur mer) English translation
On stormy seas we six years sailed,
And never once green land we hailed.
The bitter seventh year came on,
We found our stores at last were gone.
We ate the mice, we ate the rats,
And through the hold we ran like cats.
And then at lots we took a try
To see which one of us would die.
"Look, little John, if chance does will,
It's you we'll take, it's you we'll kill.
"Too bad, Little John," they cried
"Oh, courage, comrades," he replied.
"For I see land on every side
And three white pigeons towards us fly."
"And I see lovely sisters three
Come walking down all by the sea
"And if I set my foot on land
I'll ask the fairest for her hand."
16 SEP 17
A Huge Thanks to Discipline Global Mobile...
A huge thanks to Discipline Global Mobile for mentioning Tilted Axes and the new album A Sequence of Waves within this stellar roster of artists and for including a link to a review by Celebrity Cafe. #gratitude #adjustment #kingcrimson #robertfripp #adrianbelew#phobosanomaly #sarahlipstate #filthyfriends #billrieflin #gizmodrome #progmagazine
2 SEP 17
Album Preview in the Huffington Post
read it here: https://tinyurl.com/ydz4fhln
By Randy Radic
Patrick Grant recently dropped A Sequence of Waves (twelve stories and a dream), his latest album. Originally from Detroit, now living in New York City, he studied at the Juilliard School and worked with Billy Joel and Quincy Jones on an international project for the Millennium. The musicians on the album include Patrick Grant on guitar, bass, viola, piano, keyboards and percussion; John Ferrari on drums, mallet instruments and percussion; Nick Didkovsky on guitar; Dan Cooper on 7-string electric bass; Lynn Bechtold on violin; and Dan Barrett on cello.
Stylistically, Grant’s sound has transitioned from post-punk and classically minimal to Balinese-inspired gamelan and microtonality, followed by movement to an electronic environment revolving around layers of acoustic and amplified instruments.
The album contains thirteen tracks. The opening track is “Lucid Intervals,” a subdued classical number with a twinkling synth riding in the backdrop. Layered string instruments evoke muted textured patterns of great beauty. “Driving Patterns” presents a syncopated electronic sensibility, along with jazz elements, giving it a slightly industrial feel. “Prelude I” offers a classically-tinged melody infused with amplified guitars exuding orthodox riffs. The tune emits a metallic undertone.
“Alcohol” flows with a 1920’s classical melody, like something from The Sting. “Tobacco” delivers a quaint, almost bucolic rhythm, along with a minimal classical, antiquated melody that exudes a discordant effluvium, as it rides the piano. “Firearms” provides a rambunctious melody, chock-full of crime television vibes. The raucous piano gives the tune a mysterious, malevolent feel. “Seven Years At Sea” imparts an industrial feel, along with oceanic sound effects that array the tune in protective coloration. The tune was first recorded in 1932, so this is an overhauled cover.
“Breaking Butterflies Upon A Wheel,” proceeds along a crisp, frantic melody pulsing with tinny sound effects from the synth. The groove is solid with heavy rhythmic elements and buoyant harmonics. “Lonely Ride Coney Island” emanates a sleek, isolated environment rife with spectral sounds reminiscent of an underwater landscape. “Primary Blues” rides a deep bluesy melody that’s resplendent with jazz elements and a hint of boogie woogie hidden underneath. “Prelude II” radiates a classical alt rock flavor imbued with an exotic essence. “To Find a Form That Accommodates The Mess” is a turbulent progressive rock melody loaded with truncated frenetic harmonics, giving the tune a transient avant-garde quality.
“One Note Samba” is a cover of the Brazilian classic by Antonio Carlos Jobim. Grant’s version is eccentrically sublime, emanating bright sonic colors that project declarative causality.
A Sequence of Waves initializes a cogent ambient atmosphere in combination with classical and contemporary components. It’s moderately experimental, but doesn’t cross the line into strange or weird. Thus it’s eminently listenable.
09 SEP 17
Lonely Ride Coney Island - video
from the album
A SEQUENCE OF WAVES
(twelve stories and a dream)
by Patrick Grant
and an award winning
Coney Island Film Festival
Best Feature Documentary
keyboards, guitars, & bass: Patrick Grant
drums & percussion: John Ferrari
mixing engineer: Garry Rindfuss
mastered by: Sheldon Steiger
video (c) Gary Beeber Graphics
music (c) 2017 Patrick Grant + Peppergreen Media (ASCAP)
01 SEP 17
Coming Soon On iTunes & Apple Music
Amazon
Google Music
Official release date October 24
Link to iTunes and Apple Music
24 AUG 17
UPCOMING RELEASES
on OCTOBER 24
from the creator of Tilted Axes
A S E Q U E N C E O F W A V E S
the new album by Patrick Grant
Official release date October 24
“It doesn’t matter whether this music is post-Minimalist, indie classical, or not classical at all… style and even genre are increasingly meaningless now, so abandon the categorizing impulse and just listen.” - The Wall Street Journal
Patrick Grant: guitar, bass, viola, piano, keyboards and percussion
John Ferrari: drums, mallet instruments and percussion
Nick Didkovsky: guest guitar solo
Dan Cooper: electric bass
Lynn Bechtold: violin
Dan Barrett: cello
Recorded at John Kilgore Sound NYC, the NYU Film School, Peppergreen Media NYC, and the Ferrari Factory NJ
Album mixing engineer and recording engineer for Kilgore sessions: Garry Rindfuss
Recording engineer for NYU Film School sessions: Jocelyn Gonzales
Mixed at Mercy Sound Studios NYC
Mastered by Sheldon Steiger
Produced by Patrick Grant
Prepared piano samples on “Lucid Intervals” were created separately by David Borden (Mother Mallard’s Portable Masterpiece Co.) and generously supplied for further manipulation here.
The vocal track for “Sevens Years at Sea” (Sept Ans Sur Mer) is from “A Treasury of Library of Congress Field Recordings” (Rounder Records 1500) and is now in the Public Domain. It was recorded by John and Alan Lomax in Louisiana in 1934, and is sung by Elita, Mary, and Ella - the Hoffpauir Sisters.
The field samples and tuned sounds on “One Note Samba” were recorded for this project in New York City and in São Paulo, Brazil.
All titles on this album are by Patrick Grant and published by Peppergreen Media (ASCAP) except for “One Note Samba” by Antônio Carlos Jobim and published by Universal Music. Licensing for this recording is provided through the Harry Fox Agency.
Guest soloist Nick Didkovsky is a guitarist, composer, and band leader.
Album photography: Bob Krasner
Album graphics and layout: Eric Iverson
Peppergreen Media logo: Steve Ball
Thanks and acknowledgements: ASCAP, Gary Beeber, Composers Concordance, The Coney Island Film Festival, D’Addario Strings & Planet Waves, Electro-Harmonix NYC, O Festival Música Estranha, The Film School at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Robert Fripp, The (formerly known as) Guitar Circle of North America, Independent Music Promotions, Korg USA/Vox Amps, James Moore, James Gill (Mercy Sound), Milica Paranosic, Gene Pritsker, Tom Redmond, Som do Brasil on WKCR, Preston Stahly, Kathleen Supove, Tribeca New Music, and Tiny Orchestral Moments (Seattle)
℗ and © Peppergreen Media, 2017. All Rights Reserved.
www.peppergreenmedia.com
17 APR 17
SHIFT - a slight change in position, direction, or tendency. info@tiltxift.com
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Duis cursus congue eros ac lacinia. Aliquam luctus purus sed nibh sagittis fermentum. Praesent a rhoncus metus, auctor aliquam ante. Aliquam finibus tempor turpis id convallis. Nulla vel mauris commodo, ornare urna ac, luctus ipsum. Sed sit amet condimentum lorem. Aliquam dapibus magna tristique eros tincidunt gravida. Nullam fermentum felis in sem hendrerit molestie. Integer sit amet odio lobortis libero faucibus pretium. Aenean fringilla massa magna, a viverra leo maximus vitae. Nam luctus est quis ex volutpat auctor.
20 MAR 17
Classical, Rock, & World: 3 Detroit Music Award Nominations
Thank you, Detroit! So grateful to receive three nominations in Phase II of the 2017 Detroit Music Awards. Not there yet, so spread the word. Very happy that work with Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars resonates throughout my hometown with tracks like #riveracourt, #beaubienblues, and #corridor84. The awards will take place at The Fillmore Detroit on May 5th.
For more information on the awards and the nomination process, go to: http://www.detroitmusicawards.com/
17 MAR 17
Announcing PEPPERGREEN PRODUCTION
original music & audio for film, broadcast, stage
WHAT: Peppergreen Production is a new group of award-winning composers, performers, producers,
arrangers, engineers, and broadcast specialists creating contemporary content in multiple mediums. These are the disciplines at our core.
WHY: By combining our skills, we are able to meet new challenges in the professional projects we begin and complete. In coming together, our circle of influence reaches equally into the visual and theatrical arts.
HOW: Traditional technique is augmented by modern methodology. This enables projects to be created just as easily in the studio, on site, or within cyberspace.
Is it a sound idea? Send an email to studio@peppergreenmedia.com
01 MAR 17
Upcoming Albums To Be Released Spring 2017
New and definitive recordings of
To Find a Form (That Accommodates The Mess)
Breaking Butterflies Upon a Wheel
Gotham City Groove Machine
Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms
Lonely Ride Coney Island
Happy Ride Coney Island
Dude, Where's My Band?
The Weights of Numbers
A Referendum of Riffs
Seven Years at Sea
One Note Samba
Creepy Carnival
Driving Patterns
Strange Loops
Lucid Intervals
Primary Blues
...and more
More iNFO TBA
09 FEB 17
Peppergreen's Jocelyn Gonzales begins as Studio 360's new Senior Producer
Congratulations to Peppergreen Media's Jocelyn Gonzales (Strings & Things Podcast, TILTED AXES, etc.) for beginning her new gig this week as Senior Producer for STUDIO 360, the Peabody Award-winning show and podcast about creativity, pop culture, the arts and ideas hosted by novelist and journalist (and “Spy” magazine co-founder) Kurt Andersen.
Yay, Joce! http://www.wnyc.org/shows/studio
01 FEB 17
CRANBERRY SOURCE
(Nothing Is Real)
Cranberry Source (Nothing Is Real), is a new set of variations that celebrates the Beatles' 1967 landmark 45 RPM single "Strawberry Fields Forever."
Working from copies of the original studio multitracks, this project imagines a set of interconnected musical miniatures as heard through the original's unique instrumentation, musical forces that combined successfully, and arguably for the first time, the fields of popular, classical, and world music.
That instrumentation, as orchestrated by Beatles' producer George Martin for the original recording, consists of: 4 trumpets, 2 electric guitars, swarmandel (an Indian zither), piano, mellotron (flutes), timpani, guiro, maracas, tambourine, 3 celli, electric bass guitar, drum kit, and of course, vocals.
Strawberry Fields Forever
Words and Music by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Copyright © 1967 Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright Renewed
This arrangement by Peppergreen Media
© 2017 Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
All Rights Administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC,
8 Music Square West, Nashville, TN 37203
International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved
Coming Soon
More iNFO TBA
20 JAN 17
Lean in - Push back - and TILT
#arts
#NYC
#NEA
#music
#tiltedaxes
#takingittothestreets
15 JAN 17
NEW PG Interview on Make Weird Music
http://www.makeweirdmusic.com/discover/patrick-grant/
"I'm totally thrilled that Anthony Garone asked me to be interviewed as part of his excellent Make Weird Music series. The video is on Facebook here, but I also recommend looking at his web site. There is a lot of extra content that he compiled, plus the interview also exists in transcribed form. So great to see all of that work in one place. Thank you Steve Ball for the connection. Three cheers for Make Weird Music!" ~ Patrick Grant - http://www.makeweirdmusic.com/discover/patrick-grant/
11 JAN 17
MTV - ARTISTS - TILTED AXES
Beta Test: http://www.mtv.com/artists/tilted-axes/
More iNFO TBA
01 JAN 17
HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ! !
23 DEC 16
Tilted Axes in The Huffington Post
On the Culture Front: Music from the Underground
by Chris Kompanek
"Tilted Axes is the moniker for the classically-trained art rocker Patrick Grant and a call to arms for the guitar orchestra he assembles for street performances. The instrumental tracks on his new album, “Music for Mobile Electric Guitars” are tightly-woven powerhouse compositions that alternate between shredding solos, rhythmic riffs, and more expansive soundscapes. Grant, who studied at Julliard and worked for classical minimalist pioneer John Cage, is a musician in complete control of his instrument and to listen to him rip loose on tracks like “Beaubien Blues” is a real treat. With almost a dozen guitars along with drums and bass, this wall of sound makes a powerful argument for maximalism. If Bach grew up playing the electric guitar and listening to Led Zeppelin and Mahavishnu Orchestra, he might have sounded like Patrick Grant. Come to think of it, I would love to hear Grant record his take on the Goldberg Variations."
Read it on The Huffington Post HERE
22 DEC 16
PG Receives ASCAP PLUS AWARD
"Happy to get news that I have received an ASCAP PLUS AWARD for the latest cycle of compositions, recordings, & performances. This mostly reflects my work with TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars and is given to "...writer members...whose works were performed in unsurveyed media as well as writer members whose catalogs have prestige value." Since much of this work takes place off the beaten path, it's great that its pioneering spirit gets recognized. This money will go straight into 2017's work. Thank you ASCAP! A great way to close out this year and to prepare for the next!" - Patrick Grant, NYC
21 DEC 16
Tilted Axes @ Five Years
Today, upon the solstice, the Tilted Axes project marks its 5th anniversary.
In a year of ups and downs and downs, there is plenty to be grateful for. Thank you everybody who helped us achieve our financial goals for 2017 projects. Thank you everybody for supporting the release of our album. New recordings are underway and will be out ASAP. Thank you to the radio stations, the press, and to our 25K+ fans online and around the world for spreading the word. Most of all, thank YOU for being a part of our community so that we can continue being a part of yours.
Wishing everybody all the best in 2017!
Patrick Grant & Tilted Axes
Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
07 DEC 16
STRiNGS & THiNGS Podcast Episode 11 w/ Sudeip Ghosh
This time on the STRiNGS & THiNGS Podcast, super-shredder Sudeip Ghosh is here to change the strings on his Dean Zelinsky guitar while our host, Patrick Grant, works on his trusty Les Paul. Sudeip grew up playing and singing Indian classical music, but a chance encounter with a hard rock mixtape ignited his dreams of power chord glory.
Sudeip will tell us how a one-string acoustic and a scarcity of guitar magazines tested his determination, and how he’s come into his own as a metal guitarist, a film composer, and a Bollywood musician. As always, we’ll put the new guitar strings through their paces when Patrick and Sudeip plug in to record some rollicking riffs.
Listen via the embedded player abouve or you can click on the link HERE
25 NOV 16
CMUSE: Classical Musicians Everywhere (UK & Canada)
Interview w/ Patrick Grant
Read the interview on the CMUSE web site here:
http://www.cmuse.org/i-see-tilted-axes-as-a-form-of-secular-ceremony/
Read more recent reviews and interviews here:
http://tiltedaxes.com/tiltedaxes.html
01 NOV 16
Tilted Axes @ The 2016 NYC Village Halloween Parade
More VHP photos posted at:
http://photos.halloween-nyc.com/Halloween-2016
30 OCT 16
13 Question for Patrick Grant from the Prepared Guitar Blog
https://themmixdown.com/2016/10/30/13-questions-for-patrick-grant-for-the-prepared-guitar-blog/
Patrick Grant is an American composer living and working in New York City. His works are a synthesis of classical, popular, and world musical styles that have found place in concert halls, film, theater, dance, and visual media over three continents. Over the last three decades, his music has moved from post-punk and classically bent post-minimal styles, through Balinese-inspired gamelan and microtonality, to ambient, electronic soundscapes involving many layers of acoustic and electronically amplified instruments. Throughout its evolution, his music has consistently contained a “…a driving and rather harsh energy redolent of rock, as well as a clean sense of melodicism…intricate cross-rhythms rarely let up…” Known as a producer and co-producer of live musical events, he has presented many concerts of his own and other composers, including a 2013 Guinness World Record-breaking performance of 175 electronic keyboards in NYC. He is the creator of International Strange Music Day (August 24) and the pioneer of the electric guitar procession Tilted Axes.
1. What were the first and the last records that you bought with your own money?
When I was 11 years old, I saw a commercial on television for Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange.” The music in that commercial grab my ears right away. I could not figure out what was making those sounds. It was winter so I shoveled snow to earn the money to buy the LP. When I brought it come I put it on my record player and dropped the needle from track to track to find the music I had heard. It was the March section in 6/8 of the choral movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony as performed on the Moog synthesizer by Wendy (then Walter) Carlos. It blew my mind because up until then, to me, classical music was only stuff that was used in a humorous way in cartoons. The sounds of the Moog entirely captivated me. In one moment I was transformed and dedicated my life to music and, in many ways, my personal pursuit to this day is to relive that feeling I had. Now, the last album I actually purchased, on CD, was “King Crimson Live in Toronto, November 20, 2015.” If you also count digital purchases, that would be Frank Ocean’s “Blonde.” Whether you like his music or not, there is a lot to be learned about recording techniques on that album.
2. What’s your musical practice routine ?
I begin every day with the Sitting Practice I have learned from being a part of Robert Fripp’s projects. It wouldn’t be right to call it meditation. The idea is, “How can one do anything if one doesn’t know how to do nothing?” So that’s it, I begin my day by doing nothing, as excellently as possible. The goal is to calm our Monkey Minds (reflex) and replace it with clear aims (intention). From there, I’ll go through a number of exercises on my acoustic Ovation tuned in Guitar Craft’s New Standard Tuning (C – G – D – A – E – G). I go through a number of finger exercises called Primaries. I find that this guitar’s tuning, in 5ths, really stretches out my left hand. Being acoustic, the right hand, playing with a pick, is given an equal amount of attention. There’s no hiding a sloppy right hand technique on an acoustic. If done well, the result is having exercised one’s ability to put attention where it’s needed, when it’s needed, not just in the hands, but throughout one’s being. All of this warms me up and gets me ready for whatever musical tasks I have for the day. If it’s a “keyboard day,” I’ll do all of the same preparation but will run through some of Bach’s Two-Part Inventions. I love the purity of the two monophonic lines working every finger equally.
3. In your opinion, what’s the relevance of technique in music?
If one wants to make a life out of music, the learning of technique never ends. Not just in playing one’s instrument but, in all of the related fields that makes music possible. Understanding musical instrument technology and its constant evolution is one area. Then there are the various techniques of arranging, recording, and producing. So yes, it’s incredibly relevant. I’d rather feel I’m creating on the edge of learning something new rather than repeating myself. Those uncertain waters are a good place for creativity. Where those waters are, metaphorically, depend on how far out our technique can take us before we drown. It’s always good to push ourselves a little further each time we creatively venture out.
4. Tell me one impossible project do you like to realize?
For years, I’ve wished to put together an electro-acoustic ensemble that would work well with projections, films and such. I would like the synchronization between the music and the images to be exact. The difference here would be that there would be flexibility in tempo. There would not be a static tempo connecting these sonic and visual elements but one that would be dynamically controlled by the musical ensemble. In other words, the image would follow the musicians, not the other way around which has been the traditional way. I have done some research into this and I believe I have finally found a way. This ability would have many possible (and impossible) uses on the stage and in alternative venues.
5. What are the challenges and benefits of today’s digital music scene?
It has its pluses and minuses. It depends on what the aims of the artist are and I can only speak for myself. It certainly helps an artist in getting their music out into the world quickly. Where it goes from there is the question. I myself don’t have high expectations on digital sales, I’m more interested in getting the music to the right audience. I have been functioning in a traditional role of composer first, and performer second. That means that most of my music has been commissioned, meaning that I get my money up front. The purpose of my digital distribution is to get it to the people who commission new music and performances. If there are any sales, that’s the gravy. I would also ad that having one’s publishing and copyrights in order is very important if there is any chance of one’s tracks being licensed for use in visual and other media. As a result, I look forward to regular royalty checks from my PRO. Despite the relative ease that one can get their tracks out into the world, I have found that most serious reviewers and serious radio stations still prefer to receive an actual CD. Perhaps that will change but for now, I’m still sending out hard copies to the larger institutions.
6. How do you feel listening to your own music?
Too be honest, a little awkward. The newer it is, the more awkward I feel. Every note reminds me of what I was thinking of or what I was doing when I created it. It’s funny. As time passes and I have some distance to it, I am able to listen more objectively and I’ll get critical of missed opportunities and things I’d like to change. When enough time passes, I can listen to it as if someone else created it and enjoy it for what it is. After too much time passes, to even think about making any changes seems a fruitless endeavor. Let it be what it is and, if there are any remaining criticisms, better to express them in a new piece of music.
7. What is one musical work that has provoked a change in your music?
That would have to be Steve Reich’s “Music for 18 Musicians.” I was 14 years old and received that LP as a birthday gift. Like all music I fall intensely in love with, I didn’t like it at first. I almost hated it. That was because it challenged the way I had been listening to music. I was young and liked music that changed very quickly. Think of how fast the harmonies change in Bach and Bebop. It made me slow down and that took some time to do. When I was finally able to listen deeply, I began to notice all kinds of things going on that my ears were initially deaf to. That ability carried over into all over kinds of music that began to interest me. I was then able to listen to music that I thought I knew well and heard things that I didn’t hear before. This is a skill that all musicians have to acquire but, to me, when I was 14, it was pretty profound. I obviously remember the effect it had on me to this day.
8. What is your relationship with other disciplines, such as painting, literature, dance, theater, etc.?
I have had a good relationship with all of the other arts early on. I can credit my mother, who studied art and drama, for that. As a teenager, I credit Kurt Vonnegut, Richard Brautigan, and Anthony Burgess for saving me from a life of illiteracy. They were so much more interesting than the classics we had to read in school, though I read those too. As a kid, I was leading two musical lives. On one side I was very classical: Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, and Stravinsky. I skipped over much of the Romantic Era. I found that music to be too nationalistic and full of over-orchestrated folk tunes. My other side was drawn to rock, the Beatles initially, even though they were years past. I started playing in Post-Punk and New Wave bands because I loved the immediacy of having an audience and the theatrical element it had that came from smart places like Modern Art and cult films. Later, I was interested in the music of John Cage. His book “Silence” was another ear-opener. I loved how all the arts came together in New York City and so I moved there and live there to this day. By being aware of the city’s history, I found many places to plug my music into besides concert venues: art galleries, theater, dance, film, and began producing my own concerts in alternative spaces. This was due to having a good understanding and relationship with other arts. Not too many musicians have this, or maybe they think they do. I became very involved with avant-garde theater for a number of years as a composer and performer. I have created music for the legendary Living Theatre. They interested me because of the sheer number of great composers that worked with them over the decades. Plus, as a theater composer, you have the benefit of a space to work in. That’s hard to get in NYC. I also created music for the visionary Robert Wilson, most famous for creating “Einstein on the Beach” with Philip Glass. That experience was a prime example of all the arts coming together on stage. Gesamtkunstwerk. Opera. I often say that the theater is my favorite art form because it is the only one that can contain all of my interests under one umbrella. That’s avant-garde theater, I mean. Traditional theater was there for research and technique. I pushed the envelope every chance I had.
9. What are your secret influences? (Non-musical ones, like books, people, experiences, art…)
It’s not so much a secret, well maybe it is, but that would be the influence of science. I did not do well in school when it came to science. The concepts were, at the time, too abstract for me. The math, I mean. That’s strange since all other forms of abstract thought were never a problem. I always loved the short TV programs of Julius Sumner Miller. He was a student of Einstein. He produced short videos called “Dramatic Demonstrations in Physics.” The guy was hilarious. Anyway, he was able to get across some fairly deep concepts through simple physical demonstrations using things that one could find around one’s house. Search for his videos on YouTube. They’re priceless! So, like that, I needed something physical to understand the ideas. Soon after I finished school, I was given the book “On the Sensations of Tone” by Hermann Helmholtz. That was another paradigm shift. As I read it, I realized that I had the electronics to make the sounds he was describing in the math. When I could hear it, when I could see it, then I could understand it. It was physical, sensual, it was not abstract. From there, I started incorporating more and more science into a lot of my work, be it natural (physics and biology) or man made (architecture). These sciences offered many new models for composition. Since then, whether overtly or covertly, these things have informed the compositional elements of my work. I even created a number of concert theater pieces based on science like “Genome: The Autobiography of a Species” (2003) about DNA and “Big Bang” (2006) about the creation of the universe. I would also say that fractals are consciously present at some level in all of my work.
10. If you could, what would you say to your younger self about a musical career?
Besides “learn orchestration,” I’d say stick with positive people. Don’t let anybody tell you what you should be doing. Follow your gut because, yes, life is too short and there’s little time to do anything over. Don’t party too much. You’ll regret that wasted time as you get older. Plus, it takes a toll on your body. Don’t worry about being liked. No matter how good you are, you cannot please everybody. Be a part of a community. Remember, music is a social art. Sure, we need time alone, but don’t isolate. Nothing happens if you do. If what you’re doing creatively scares you a little bit, that’s good. It will keep you sharp. Never say you can do more than you can do. That will take a while to figure out but stick to that ethic once you understand. People will appreciate your honesty even if it initially disappoints them. One axiom from Guitar Craft sticks with me: Honor sufficiency; Honor necessity. It’s more difficult than it sounds. Practicing your ability to maintain and deepen your attention. It requires constant work. Begin now.
11. What is some valuable advice that someone has given to you in the past?
Learn orchestration. No matter what one’s instrument or style of music, learn orchestration. There are some very real reasons why the orchestra has evolved into what it is and, in the end, those reasons are the physics of sound. Yes, science again. This will be especially useful when one begins using electronics. Whether it’s stomp boxes, synthesizers, or digital recording, all of these have their analogs in acoustics. It makes everything so much easier to navigate once you learn the principles of how sound works and how our ears hear. Thankfully, there are not too many things to learn (in essence) but the combinations are infinite. This was said to me and I’ve said it to younger musicians. They’ve all come back to thank me for it just as I thanked my mentors.
12. Which instruments and tools do you use?
I’m a guitarist as well as a keyboardist so I have a bit of both. Guitar-wise, my sound is electrically defined by a Fender Jaguar, a Gibson Les Paul, and a Rickenbacker 330. Acoustically, I have an Ovation Balladeer and a Taylor T5. I have other guitars but those are the main ones. You know how in film they have lead actors and character actors? Well, as a guitarist, I’m not really a lead guitarist but, I’m much more than just a rhythm guitarist. I say that I’m a “character guitarist.” I’m the guy who plays the inner voices that you remember, if that’s a thing. I have plenty of top notch lead guitarists in my group to get that job done. As far as keyboards go, I’ve owned so many over the years that I haven’t been able to keep them all. Most every keyboard I’ve lost now exists as a software version. Currently I use a Korg SV-1 electric piano (with a tube!), a Novation MIDI controller, but the best of the best are the two Moog Sub 37s that I use as a pair. There’s nothing like that Moog sound. I mean, that’s what got me started in the first place. Electro-Harmonix and Vox Amps are project sponsors so I have a number of items from both of them for FX and amplification. For recording, I use Ableton Live. When many pieces have to be multi-tracked by different players at different times, I found that its editing capability can really bring everything together into an ensemble sound quite well. My partner Jocelyn is a Pro-Tools genius (she teaches it at the New York Film School and is a podcast producer for the New York Times) so, if I ever have to go there, it’s around. Still, it’s time to upgrade. I’ll need a new MacBook Pro and audio interface soon. For the latter, I’m thinking I’d like to get an Antelope Audio Zen Studio. It has so many inputs and it’s crazy good for taking on the road, so my friend can testify.
13. What projects are you working on now and what does the future hold?
The Tilted Axes album just came out so we’re using that for promotion and planning our next performances. I’d like the next step to be “Tilted Axes: Music for Planetariums” or something like that. “Astronomic” is another working title. That would be a continuation of musical work that has roots in science. Plus, planetariums and museums are idea venues for what we do. My theatrical sense sees many extra-musical applications that could be pursued. A whole new repertoire has been written and I’m ready to begin recording the demos for the group. I like these new pieces because they mark a return to a lot of the polymeters I’ve been known for. I mean, the original repertoire was written for processions so much out it simply had to be in 4/4/. The music will evolve into more complex structures. Also, I am host of the Strings and Things Podcast. We just started that this year and it’s become very popular. The idea is simple: I invite interesting guitarists over to our studio, and we change our strings while talking about all kinds of things. After we have stretched and tuned our new strings, we always end in a short duet. It’s simple, it’s informal, and it’s lots of fun for the listener. On top of all that, I am mixing two more albums. One album is of electro-acoustic chamber works, and another album is of music for theater, video, and electronics. I’m enjoying the finishing up of these recordings since they’ve been building up over the past few years. Every time I get some music out into the world, good things happen. I can never guess exactly what that will be, but it’s always good. I’ll follow whatever path the music presents to me.
19 OCT 16
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL:
‘Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars’ by Patrick Grant
and ‘Rushing Past Willow’ by Nick Zoulek Reviews
A 17-movement score for guitars and diverse saxophone compositions push back against stylistic labels.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-electric-guitars-by-patrick-grant-and-rushing-past-willow-by-nick-zoulek-reviews-1476827463
By
Allan Kozinn
On a drizzly December night in 2011, the composer and guitarist Patrick Grant and about 20 of his colleagues gathered on East Fourth Street at Second Avenue in New York; strapped on electric guitars and plugged them into the small, battery-powered Danelectro amplifiers clipped to their belts; and marched through the streets for nearly 90 minutes, playing “Tilted Axes,” a piece Mr. Grant composed for the occasion, the first Make Music Winter, an annual celebration of the Winter Solstice.
At the time, “Tilted Axes” was essentially just a cheerful chord progression and a rising, four-note figure, played over and over for a continuously replenishing audience of passersby. Since then, Mr. Grant has expanded the work into a 17-movement score for massed guitars, Chapman Stick, bass and drums, and he has just released a recording, “Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars” (Peppergreen Media).
Besides documenting the work, Mr. Grant’s album raises a question that has come up repeatedly since Glenn Branca began composing his heavily amplified electric-guitar symphonies in the 1970s: Is this classical music, or rock? Another new recording, Nick Zoulek’s “Rushing Past Willow” (Innova), inspires a similar question: Is it classical music, or jazz? Mr. Zoulek plays the saxophone, arguably jazz’s signature instrument, and the 12 pieces on his album began as improvisations, jazz’s lifeblood.
Both composers have solid classical-music bona fides: Mr. Grant has written conventionally scored chamber music and vocal works, including an opera, and Mr. Zoulek has composed for dance companies and commissioned works from contemporary composers of all stripes. But they are so adept at their chosen corners of popular music that it’s hard not to hear Mr. Grant’s ebullient, guitar-crunching music as unabashed rock, and Mr. Zoulek’s explorations as post-Coltrane, sound- and texture-bending jazz.
The border between avant-garde jazz and certain flavors of modernist chamber music is porous, of course, and Mr. Zoulek’s performance, on saxophones in every range, is stunningly virtuosic, whatever the genre.
It is also, in effect, a comprehensive treatise on updated wind techniques. Circular breathing yields rapidly undulating, swirling figures that seem unstoppable. Overblowing produces sometimes harsh but fascinating chordal figures, as well as evocations of electronic timbres and feedback. And vocalizations, percussive attacks and other idiosyncratic articulation techniques push Mr. Zoulek’s palette far from the mellow timbre Adolphe Sax dreamed of when he created the instrument.
None of that would matter much (except to saxophonists) if Mr. Zoulek were a less imaginative composer. Several of his pieces—“Reconsolidate: In Memories,” “These Roots Grown Deep” and the swirling “Symmetry: In Memories,” most vividly—use repetition as an engine. But each has a distinct character, and in every case, Mr. Zoulek’s repeating figures quickly sprout layers that create an illusion of counterpoint.
Some of his methods are time-honored. He uses Bachian arpeggiations that range so widely, and move so quickly, that you hear them as distinct bass and soprano lines, with accompanimental figuration holding the middle ground. More often, though, his layers are built more inventively, with rhythmic patterns tapped assertively on the instrument’s keys, and bursts of strange timbres—buzzing tones that sound like overheated electrical lines, for example, or brash, sliding multiphonics that suggest an electric guitar with a distortion pedal—becoming second and third voices in expanding dialogues.
Often, Mr. Zoulek’s layering is so dense that you assume he has multitracked them. But the album’s notes affirm that the performances were recorded live, with sonic shaping by the composer and installation artist Jason Charney.
Mr. Grant’s “Tilted Axes” stakes claims in several musical worlds. It begins like a 1960s rock track, with a drum fill and an explosion of bright, layered guitars lines. But if Mr. Grant had dropped the drums and scored his opening movement, “Shapes I,” for orchestral instruments, it would move like a tightly wound post-Minimalist curtain-raiser to a restless tour of modernist styles—post-tonal abstraction in “Circulation in G Maybe” and “Harmonic Revolutions,” a tribute to Steve Reich in the shimmering “Pedal Swells,” and even a touch of neo-Medievalism, in “Tuanna Claonta.”
But there are also times when Mr. Grant gives his inner rocker free reign. The riffy, stomping “Beaubien Blues” would not make the transition to an orchestral fabric as easily as other movements. You hear Pete Townshend-like power chording in several pieces. And two movements—the angular “Kneadle Variation” and the hard-driven closing section of “Corridor 84 + Krimson Coda”—are built on quotations from Robert Fripp’s music for the art-rock band King Crimson.
In a sense, both composers are reframing that old debate about the stylistic labels that listeners find helpful but that composers have long found irksome. It doesn’t matter whether this music is post-Minimalist, indie classical, or not classical at all, they seem to be saying. Style and even genre are increasingly meaningless now, so abandon the categorizing impulse and just listen.
Mr. Kozinn writes about music for the Journal.
14 OCT 16
Interview w/ PROG SPHERE Magazine
http://www.prog-sphere.com/interviews/tilted-axes-interview/
INTERVIEW w/ PROG SPHERE: "An in-depth conservation with TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars' creator Patrick Grant by Aleksandar Nikolic from Prog Sphere. They discuss the project's evolution, the NYC arts scene past & present, live performance vs. studio recording, gamelan, prog, sparkly guitars, and more."
Read it here: http://www.prog-sphere.com/interviews/tilted-axes-interview/
01 OCT 16
Recent Reviews - Updated
To read them, follow the links HERE
28 SEP 16
Tilted Review on YouTube by the Amazing AEABIAA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjQMHEIXfY4
23 SEP 16
TILTED AXES to be featured in the 2016 NYC Village Halloween Parade
Photo from the 2015 NYC VHP
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars has been invited to perform at the NYC Village Halloween Parade as a featured act. The VHP is the largest event of its kind in the nation with an annual estimated audience of 250,000. The event will be broadcast in the Tri-State Area.
They said, “You have a blue guitar,
You do not play things as they are.”
The man replied, “Things as they are
Are changed upon the blue guitar.”
And they said then, “But play, you must,
A tune beyond us, yet ourselves,
A tune upon the blue guitar
Of things exactly as they are.”
— Wallace Stevens
More iNFO TBA
20 SEP 16
FIREWORKS MAGAZINE UK - Interview with Patrick Grant
"It's a good thing when "new music" crosses over into other genres and vice versa. Glad to be interviewed by England's FIREWORKS MAGAZINE #76 and contribute a track to its accompanying CD. The magazine is available on newsstands throughout the UK and available at finer bookstores in the USA, Canada, & Europe." - Patrick Grant
by Nicky Baldrian
From New York we find progressive rock artists TILTED AXES, who are based around the multi talented composer Patrick Grant. They have a new seventeen track CD out now called ‘Music for Mobile Electric Guitars’ that is well worth exploring and runs in at just under seventy five minutes long.
The band are Electric Guitars - Patrick Grant, Matt Grossman, Daniel Reyes Llinas, John Halo, Randolph Hudson III, Reinaldo Perez, Nick Didkovsky, Gene Pritsker, Howard Glazer, Anthony Mullin, Larry Simon, Chapman Stick - Jeremy Nesse, Electric Bass - Dan Cooper, Patrick Grant, Drums & Percussion - John Ferrari, Cesare Papetti.
Main man Patrick Grant is from Detroit, Motown. Besides from hearing a lot of local radio, they also had the CBC and the BBC coming through Canada, which is right across the river. Everybody played in some kind of band, so crazy is just a concept. Everybody is somebody’s freak depending upon the backdrop they’re pushed against.
Patrick grew up with a foot in two worlds. On one he was getting prizes for writing classical chamber music since age fourteen, and on the other he was playing original music in post-punk bands developing (his) chops. “I moved to NYC to study composition at the Juilliard School and ended up staying there. I found many experimental theatre companies that needed original music and that was a great place where my rock and classical skills could co-exist. My day job then was working for music publishers. That brought me into the circle of people working with avant-garde composer John Cage. Man, that experience really opened up my ears,” he tells me.
Whether it’s rock, Bach, or Balinese gamelan, Patrick see’s every performance as a ceremony of sorts. “Music, to work, thrives on scenes to come out of. Many of us are too close to the centre of our work to see it for the ritual it is, in an anthropological sense. Whether intended or not, every performance contains elements of theatre. That’s what interested me in creating Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars. It began as a processional event for the Winter Solstice (hence the astronomical pun in its name) and really caught on. Since then I’ve brought it to three (continents). For me personally, it was also a revenge of sorts to the hardship we share in building an audience. As musicians we put together a show and hope that people will come to the venue. With Tilted Axes, since we wear and move about with our own portable amps, we can go anywhere. We just go and perform where there are already thousands of people. It’s an instant audience. Every track on the album represents a different event, a “tilt,” that we performed in that every one contains some new music created for it,” he explains.
Patrick is interested in anything that can tell a story using non-verbal means. This includes all kinds of visual and graphic art, design, and architecture for example. A well-designed household item can speak volumes. “This spills over into the realm of semiotics and this is a branch of philosophy I use a lot in our work. I’ve written a lot of music for modern dance and for experimental theatre. That last one interests me a lot because it’s the only art form I can think of that contains all of my interests under one umbrella: every aspect of the visual, of music, of movement, of text, live performance, projection, and political commentary,” he says.
Tilted Axes isn’t a band so much as it is a project. The personnel changes every time they create a tilt, whether in the USA, Europe, or South America. It draws heavily upon local musicians who learn the music and then add their own cultural flavour. “The group on the album is made up mostly of what we call the Tilt Core, musicians here in NYC who know the music well and can perform it as a small ensemble. We’ve had manifestations of the project that included 44 musicians. That’s a big sound. We use Mini Vox amps (they are a sponsor) so we have all the classic amp tones and FXs you’d expect from the electric guitar as an icon. To my knowledge, we are the only project like this out there,” Patrick explains to me. Performing mobile, and often outdoors, never yielded any satisfactory recorded representations of the work. Patrick wanted to make a studio recording of their repertoire created up until this point. “Even though the tracks are meant to stand on their own, the listener could think of the album as one big set of Theme and Variations. Every track is in a different style but, if you listen closely, you can hear how there are thematic elements that tie it all together. It’s been tricky finding a single genre to file it under, so I chose “Post Progressive” because it means everything and it means nothing,” he adds.
It took close to three months to record, spread over the course of a year. Live gigs and other projects would get in the way. Patrick produced it and he did the editing. “I love the recording process even though there are longs stretches of tedium. It was recorded into Ableton Live because it gives me great flexibility in the editing, much more than Pro-Tools. Plus, a number of the guitarists, the true shredders on the album, sometimes recorded at different times.
I needed that flexibility to put it all together as an ensemble sound. The guitarists come from all kinds of backgrounds including with Edgar Winter, Alice Cooper, Robert Fripp, as some examples. My engineer, Garry Rindfuss, came up through the ranks working with the legendary Phil Ramone at the Power Station in NYC. He’s great. Tracking and mixing were done at John Kilgore Sound, Mercy Sound, and in my studio, all in NYC. I couldn’t be happier with the crew thacame together for this album,” he smiles. Since Tilted Axes has performed in a number of cities in a number of countries, that certain of the same things happen at each one. “I always say that the best audience member at one of our tilts is one who did not know that we were going to appear. They have the best reactions! There’s always a large number who react with shock and then with smiles. There’s always a small number who looked angry and scurry off. Many often follow us from location to location as we move through the urban landscape. Many will start dancing or pick up something they can use as makeshift percussion to play along. They’re welcome to do so. The music is purposefully instrumental so that it’s universal wherever the project travels. That so, a lot of young kids will start rapping to the music with great results. These are all real moments of a group of musicians interacting with the public. True, honest, and priceless, we have transformed the city, just for a moment,” he grins.
Another interest of Patrick’s, a huge interest, is science. “I’ve created a number of rocking scores for shows that were about genetics and astrophysics working with actual scientists. Science lends itself to musical structures so naturally. They’re already there if you look. The next phase of Tilted Axes will include music for planetariums. It’s a natural for mobile electric guitars. Most are attached to museums, they’re all over the world, and they’re indoors! I won’t have to worry about the weather for those performances. Wondering whether a Tilted Axes performance was going to take place during a rainstorm, a blizzard, or a heat wave, has, no doubt, taken years off my life. The music for that is already being put together. I look forward to that new work with the group,” he concludes.
Check the band out at
www.tiltedaxes.net/tiltedaxes.html
www.facebook.com/tiltedaxes
19 SEP 16
STRiNGS & THiNGS Episode 10 Trailer
On the next Strings and Things podcast, bass player Jeremy Nesse is on tap to tell us about the albums and musicians who inspired him to pick up the Chapman Stick, and he’ll describe the pitfalls of playing such an unusual instrument. We’ll find out how his Dad handed down his deep love of music…and why Jeremy’s own son hasn’t quite caught the musical bug just yet.
This is the Strings and Things podcast, where guitarists come by to change their strings, shoot the breeze and play some music. Look us up on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play and YouTube or visit our website at stringsandthingsshow.com.
14 SEP 16
Short and Sweet NYC
New York ~ http://www.shortandsweetnyc.com/2016/09/tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-guitars/
Los Angeles ~ http://shortandsweetla.com/2016/09/14/tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-guitars/
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
By Ralph Greco
The loud, jangly guitar drive, upfront splashy drums, and more guitar layering of “Shapes 1” opens Tilted Axes’ new LP Music For Mobile Guitars. Since its inception, Tilted Axes has evolved as a project with multiple incarnations in New York, Detroit, and Düsseldorf, Germany, all from the composing/electric guitar playing talents and tutelage of composer/performer Patrick Grant. “Pedal Swells” is a layered cutting of effects arpeggiating into infinity. It has nice colors, but is not much of a tune. While “Rivera Court” fares much better, featuring a nice single guitar cutting through (did somebody say Steve Hackett?) and nicely picked signatures behind it that build to heavy strumming. “Asciae Obliquiae” moves at a rock and roll pace. I like the straight-ahead vibe of this one. “Beaubien Blues” is riff-tastic with a few guitars trading. One big, healthy wailing lead and the guitar harmonies of “Tuanna Claonta” reminds one of Martin Barre (guitarist with Jethro Tull and solo now, if you didn’t know) at his best. “The Sound of Burning Chairs” ends this collection with its low, simple base and flights of guitar roiling; it’s another heavy tune that works. Patrick Grant enlisted a bunch of players to help out here: electric guitarists Matt Grossman, Daniel Reyes Llinas, John Halo, Randolph Hudson III, Reinaldo Perez, Nick Didkovsky, Gene Pritsker, Howard Glazer, Anthony Mullin, and Larry Simon as well as Chapman Stick player Jeremy Nesse, electric bassists Dan Cooper and John Ferrari, and Cesare Papetti playing drums and percussion.
12 SEP 16
2016-17 Schedule
TBA ASAP
We're currently promoting the new album,
rehearsing new music, and preparing for live events!
Keep posted - check back soon!
11 SEP 16
Iconic Rock Quarterly THE BIG TAKEOVER's Album Review, In Print and Online
Tilted Axes - Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
by Cody Conard
If you’re not familiar with Patrick Grant and his Tilted Axes project, it’s basically a mobile rock concert—a marching band of sorts where the horns are swapped for electric guitars plugged into portable amps. Grant assembles a group of guitarists, and they then, as in a procession, perform original material together around streets, city squares, and even museums. You might be wondering how a project that is essentially intended for live performances could hold up in a studio setting, but their latest release Music for Mobile Electric Guitars proves the band is just as captivating recorded as it is live.
Occasionally, the instrumentals feel like they’re itching to be augmented with vocals on more traditional tracks such as “Shapes 1” or “Beaubien Blues,” but it’s on the far more experimental tracks, when the band reaches into atmospheric Durutti Column territory, that the concept works best. Songs like the jazzy “Kneadle Variation” extend into the far reaches of guitar music, celebrating the very instrument itself, and could have comfortably found a home on a record like Television’s Marquee Moon. The democracy and runtime of this album needn’t necessarily have been set to 11, but Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is nevertheless high on concept, ideas, and, overall, execution.
http://bigtakeover.com/recordings/tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-electric-guitars-self-released
06 SEP 16
11 is Louder Than 10 - Album Review
By Rich Ward
Although Music for Mobile Electric Guitars sounds like the title for an instructional DVD about a new Android app, its actually an invigorating collection of 17 progressive instrumental tracks put together by classically-trained composer and performer Patrick Grant as part of his Tilted Axes street theatre collective.
The New Yorker’s inspiring and innovative project sees a large number of individual guitarists and percussionists come together for collective street performances where they process through the chosen city armed with portable amplifiers playing the tunes Grant has composed.
Cool stuff, but what about the music itself? Pleasingly, Grant has put together a very varied album with a range of genres and styles explored, from rock to prog and classical to world music, and fans of Rush will certainly approve.
He has certainly made full use of the 14 guitarists and two percussionists who contributed to the album – to say there’s a lot going on in each track is an understatement.
Another plus is that, despite the complexity of the songs, with all tracks clocking in at less than seven minutes and most around the three to four-minute mark, the album is constantly evolving and shifting, so it never stagnates.
With so many genres and tracks to choose from I’m loathe to name favourites, but I particularly enjoyed the speeding riffs and screaming solos of ‘Beaubien Blues’ – a delightful contrast to the classically inspired atmospheric harmonics of ‘Circulation in G Maybe’.
I’m looking forward to catching Tilted Axes on procession in a city near me soon.
Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is out now.
05 SEP 16
Guitar Sphere - Album Review
By Steve Burton
Usually, the first artists that comes to mind when I hear “experimental” are Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, King Crimson and David Bowie. Experimental isn’t all that much of a rarity, though I can’t help but have an inkling that there are more bands that I need to be aware of and give them a good scrutiny. Luckily, New Yorkers Tilted Axe are the newest experimental prog group to be added into my iTunes library with their recently releases full-length Music for Mobile Electric Guitars.
The haunting guitar sounds of suspense drift as “Shapes 1″ vibrate before the main procedures head underway with “Tilted Axes Theme” and “Pedal Swells,” where the idiosyncratic diversity takes place with a collection of odd time signatures, jazz and prog-inspired riffs and licks, followed by some funky jams on the guitar and a few eerie notes that spread themselves throughout the tracks. “Rivera Court” comes as a blend of indie, alternative and psychedelic rock while being accompanied by some clean, but also sharp tones on guitar and builds up to a slightly more abrasive personality as the song continues to move forward.
“Techno Tilt” proceeds with a chaotically driven and noisy introduction that follows through with a very abrasive nature in the spotlight of a King Crimson-like routine. Speaking of King Crimson, two tracks on Music for Mobile Electric Guitars are variations on material by King Crimson’s mainman Robert Frip, and it’s something that definitely threads through the songs. Tilted Axes often switches between odd and regular time signatures which multiply into more with tumultuous rhythmic scales involved.
“Alamo Tilt” lingers with a discreet, yet chilling rock number that shifts into post-progressive rock in its approx. seven-minute length, while “Polymetric Patterns” comes with a dangerous personality on the bass that helps orchestrate more potency in being one of the “heaviest” pieces of the record.
The production and the execution of the instruments and the album’s mixing is all very rich together. Tilted Axes manage to avoid the unnoticeable frequencies of making each song sound identical. In fact, it’s one of the few points that makes this group special. This band embraces the concept of expanding their minds by allowing all of their influences take advantage of them in order to create something more than unique.
Riddle me this – why do the good bands have the least exposure? I can’t help but feel that this needs to be up in my 2016 list in the top ten. Either way, I have to give it to Tilted Axes for all of the blood, sweat and tears that went into making this great body of work.
04 SEP 16
National Public Radio's Fresh Air with Terry Gross
A big thank you to NPR and Fresh Air with Terry Gross for making TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars featured music in your recent programming.
This is good news. Happy to be a part!
30 AUG 16
Recording Project at Legendary London Bridge Studio in Seattle
This will become the office this coming Labor Day weekend, Seattle's London Bridge Studio, birthplace of recordings by Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, et al.
Patrick Grant will be a guest producer and a performer on a number of tracks during a 3-day lockout with GREAT players and good friends.
Project TBA
29 AUG 16
***** Five-Star Album Review from NEW NOISE Magazine
An album of instrumental progressive rock… usually that would make me shudder and skip right past it, but sometimes you need to take a chance and see if this might not be a monstrosity. The good news is that Tilted Axes’ Music For Mobile Guitars is actually quite good and has enough going for it that it holds your attention for all seventeen songs.
This was put together by Patrick Grant who was inspired by his background in gamelan music and vanguard theater work. Classically-trained Grant conceived of Tilted Axes in 2011 as part of Make Music Winter, an event which transforms New York’s cityscape with participatory musical parades in honor of the winter solstice. When a festival or other institution wishes to stage a Tilted Axes event, a call is put out to local guitarists to apply to participate. When an ensemble is selected from the applicants, they are given via MP3s and PDFs the music to be performed at the event so they can learn it in advance. A week before the event, Grant arrives with members of Tilt Core (an ensemble drawn from the larger group of NYC performers as a means to explore and experiment with new material), and rehearses the local musicians in the various techniques of musical performance, improvisation, and staging that make up the procession itself.
So now that all that background about the group is out of the way, what does it sound like? The album has a touch of Devo in the opening song “Shapes” that really grabbed me right away. It was catchy and fresh sounding and set things up for the rest of the album. “Polymetric Patterns” has the feel of “Baba O”Riley’s” instrumental parts and was a definite highlight. Although it is progressive rock, the best thing is that it does rock and that is important, something a lot of bands forget and just try to be “out there.” Case in point, “Beaubien Blues” is a great blues rock song that really gets in your ears and fills them with glorious sounds that you don’t want to ever stop. The band is top notch with so much feeling and emotion, as well as fun emanating from this album; it is infectious and got a smile on my face that didn’t go away. The band on this recording is composed of Patrick Grant, Matt Grossman, Daniel Reyes Llinas, John Halo, Randolph Hudson III, Reinaldo Perez, Nick Didkovsky, Gene Pritsker, Howard Glazer, Anthony Mullin, Larry Simon, all on electric guitar…….wow! On chapman stick is Jeremy Nesse, with Dan Cooper, and Patrick Grant on electric bass and on drums/percussion are John Ferrari and Cesare Papetti. As you can see, this is one fully loaded band and they use their talents with such expertise and precision that it makes you want to see this performed live.
This was an unexpected pleasure with songs that stand out and no histrionics from the players, just a great performance and songs that are actualy catchy and interesting, and worth hearing over and over again. If you think, like I did, that this kind of music couldn’t possibly be good, you are in for as much of as shock as I was……get it!
27 AUG 16
Album Review from England
Review: Tilted Axes – Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
By Progger
Whenever I hear someone throw around the term “instrumental prog,” my mind instantly conjures images of bearded men bludgeoning multi-stringed monstrosities with metronomic precision. Either that or I expect streams of lithe arpeggios and endless guitar histrionics (sometimes these elements are even combined into one song!). This saturation of like sounds in modern prog makes it easy to forget that there are artists out there who have chosen solely instrumental music as their muse and who do truly strange and innovative things within their subscribed genre. To that end Tilted Axes’ Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is one hell of a strange journey, and an invigorating breath of fresh air for experimental instrumental music.
First of all, I have to mention that Tilted Axes is a brainchild of composer and guitarist Patrick Grant, who gathered a team of other guitarists, percussionists, bassists and a Chapman Stick player to produce this varied record.
Nestled somewhere amongst the maelstrom of jazz fusion, classical/orchestral, alternative, and progressive rock lies the core of the sound of the album. No two tracks sound alike, and this refusal to bow to any particular genre convention makes for an intriguing and multifaceted listen. Rich orchestral strains surround the listener like a cosmic blanket, and the overall vibe is spacey and contemplative. The soundscapes at play, ambient at times and at others wholly supportive of the melody, grab the listener and refuse to let go. A tasteful and emotive guitar screams for attention above the din.
That is a victory of this record then, that it can at once be many things while also retaining a unique identity all its own. The songs demand the listener’s full attention, and a casual “one headphone on” experience this is not. There aren’t many egregious displays of technique on hand here (although make no mistake, this music is expertly played) only a masterfully constructed ode to dynamics and atmosphere. Every solo feels necessary and earned, every bend and run emotive, which is refreshing to see in a genre where that sense of restraint isn’t always apparent or heeded.
The record ultimately won’t be for everyone, as this group of 15 men takes their time developing these songs and atmospheres (although track lengths are kept surprisingly brief). The music rarely feels as though it meanders too long before finding its theme and stride, the soundscapes and melodies kept each other in check and supported each other well. For all of the genre and stylistic hopping going on, the overall package is very concise and the mix of disparate elements really works. This is good, because with so much hinging on experimentation this overall cohesion is key. Finally, I would highly recommend listening to the record in sequence, as I feel it is a more complete experience from beginning to end when digested in this way.
More iNFO HERE
24 AUG 16
Today is International sTRANGE mUSIC dAY
Listen to some music you've never heard before. Stretch your ears. Build an instrument. Play it. Play it in public. Make people smile. For a good reason. Celebrate the power of the new, the unusal, the strange. Everything is strange the first time. Move forward.
23 AUG 16
WNYC's NEW SOUNDS: #3890 ~ Echoes of Crafty Guitar
On this episode, we explore music patterned like that of Robert Fripp's League of Crafty Guitarists project, which emphasized rhythmically interlocking composition and which spawned acclaimed practitioners around the globe. Hear from Patrick Grant's rock-forward (and cleverly-titled) Tilted Axes group, and explore selections from the more restrained and classically oriented quartet Instruments of Happiness. Enjoy a deep instrumental cut from the on-again-off-again British rock group Kitchens of Distinction. And marvel at the multi-layered strings of Valérie Milot as she recontextualizes Steve Reich's "Electric Counterpoint" for the harp.
22 AUG 16
ALBUM REVIEW on Rocking Charts UK
http://www.rockingcharts.com/album-review-tilted-axes-music-for-mobile-electric-guitars/
Album Review: TILTED AXES – Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
August 22, 2016 #experimental, #fusion, #jazz, #King Crimson, #Music for Mobile Electric Guitars, #post-progressive rock, #progressive rock, #Robert Fripp, #Tilted Axes
The creation of an experimental album is not an easy task, as those who try to accomplish it are tasked with blending the three essential elements which define the sound of this genre (heaviness, dynamics and atmosphere) without relying one particular one too much. If it isn’t perfectly centered, the whole thing will go lopsided. In terms of experimental music, the slightest imbalance in your sound might throw off the whole album and break the listener’s immersion. Fortunately, the New York-based project, conducted by guitarist and composer Patrick Grant, Tilted Axes handled this balancing act with great sensitivity and skill in creating their gorgeous piece of experimental music, Music for Mobile Electric Guitars, which came out in July this year.
Clocking at almost 75 minutes, Music for Mobile Electric Guitars doesn’t feel long, given the genre’s usual album lengths. This album is filled to the brim with great moments within its perceived runtime. “Shapes 1”, the opening track, kicks off the record firing up on all cylinders.
It is in the third track, “Tilted Axes Theme” where ensemble starts giving away what a listener can expect from the group. Each song on the 17-track album contains remarkable sections which are moving from one to another without the feeling of fatigue.
Other highlights (if a multicoloured release like this one knows for the term highlight) include “Rivera Court” with its combination of a repetitive melody formatted in a psychedelic/indie vibe; swirling “Techno Tilt,” which has a classic Rock feel to it; nothing less electric “Asciae Obliquiae.” “Polymetric Patterns,” as its name suggests, tirelessly goes forth and back to further explorations within the jazz and rock circles.
“Kneadle Variation” and “Corridor 84 + Krimson Coda” include variations on material by King Crimson’s Robert Fripp. Overall, the album does bring the feeling of being connected with the experimentalism of King Crimson. According to the press release provided by the publicist, Patrick Grant has previously collaborated with Fripp on the Robert Fripp & The Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists project.
Mixing-wise, Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is really well-made as well. The guitars are crisp and clean, the drums have a lot of punch and sound roomy, the bass is actually audible. There obviously was great attention to detail involved, and the album is much better because of it. Get it from Bandcamp.
Follow Tilted Axes on Facebook.
21 AUG 16
STRiNGS & THiNGS Podcast w/ James Moore
photo credit: Isabelle Selby
STRiNGS & THiNGS Ep. 9: On this show, our host Patrick Grant sits down with James Moore, of the Dither Quartet, John Zorn, etc., and his National Steel String Guitar. They change their strings, talk about things, and even play a Chet Atkins ballad (!).
Listen to it on the link below or go to: http://www.stringsandthingsshow.com/
19 AUG 16
Tilted Axes Hits the Airwaves
Tilted Axes' new album gets its first airplay on WDET 101.9 FM's Modern Music with Jon Moshier on Friday, August 19th, 8-10pm EDT and immediately repeated at 10-12 midnight EDT.
Worldwide listeners can listen live or after-the-fact via podcast at the station's web site: http://wdet.org
Show page: http://wdet.org/shows/modern-music/
18 AUG 16
Let's Get Physical - in a CD Kind of Way
CDs have arrived and are going out into the world. A big thanks to Eric Iverson for the great graphics work. Looking good.
09 AUG 16
United Kingdom ~ Tilted Axes' Album Release News on PROG SPHERE
Read Prog Sphere's album release news HERE
EPK download
Album Release ~ Electronic Press Kit
available on
iTunes
BandCamp
Google Play
Amazon MP3s
listen on
Tidal
Spotify
SoundCloud
download
Album Release ~ Electronic Press Kit
04 AUG 16
AUGUST 24 is INTERNATIONAL sTRANGE mUSIC dAY
International Strange Music Day (August 24) was created by Patrick Grant, a New York City musician. The premise is simple: to get people to play and listen to types of music they have never experienced before. The ‘strange’ part can mean either unfamiliar or bizarre – the choice is entirely yours. Patrick believes broadening people’s musical spectrums can also change the way we look at other aspects of life – his mantra is ‘listening without prejudice’. This growing movement has concerts, a record label and strong support from summer schools, where it is appreciated as a great way to stimulate young minds. Have you ever wanted to combine a tight Wonder Woman costume, a frozen turkey drumstick and an inflatable wildebeest into a percussion concert? International Strange Music Day gives you the perfect excuse. What you do with these items once the music stops, of course, is your business…
More iNFO TBA ???
29 JUL 16
TILTED AXES - ALBUM RELEASE - 29 JULY
EPK download
Album Release ~ Electronic Press Kit
available on
iTunes
BandCamp
Google Play
Amazon MP3s
listen on
Tidal
Spotify
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
01. Shapes 1
02. Circulation in G Maybe
03. Tilted Axes Theme
04. Pedal Swells
05. Theme Variation
06. Rivera Court
07. Techno Tilt
08. Kneadle Variation
09. Asciae Obliquiae (Anthem)
10. Alamo Tilt
11. Polymetric Patterns
12. Beaubien Blues
13. Corridor 84 + Krimson Coda
14. Shapes 2
15. Tuanna Claonta
16. Harmonic Revolutions
17. The Sound of Burning Chairs
Electric Guitars:
Patrick Grant, Matt Grossman, Daniel Reyes Llinas, John Halo, Randolph Hudson III, Reinaldo Perez, Nick Didkovsky, Gene Pritsker, Howard Glazer, Anthony Mullin, Larry Simon
Chapman Stick:
Jeremy Nesse
Electric Bass:
Dan Cooper, Patrick Grant
Drums & Percussion:
John Ferrari, Cesare Papetti
Produced by Patrick Grant
Recorded at John Kilgore Sound NYC, Peppergreen Media NYC, and the Ferrari Factory NJ
Recording engineer for Kilgore sessions: Garry Rindfuss
Guitar and amp consultant for Kilgore sessions: Nick Didkovsky
Mixed at Mercy Sound Studios NYC
Mixing engineer: Garry Rindfuss
Mastered by Sheldon Steiger
Tilted Axes logo revamp by Eric Iverson
All titles by Patrick Grant except for Track 8 & Track 13 which include variations on material by Robert Fripp and used by permission of Discipline Global Mobile (DGM)
All titles published by Peppergreen Media (ASCAP)
Thanks & Acknowledgements: Aaron Friedman (Make Music New York), D'Addario Strings & Planet Waves, Danelectro, David Singleton (DGM), Electro-Harmonix NYC, Frank Sheldon, Korg USA/Vox Amps, James Gill (Mercy Sound), Jocelyn Gonzales (audio consultation), Michael Spudic & Cia Toscanini (ASCAP), Rivington Guitars NYC, Robert Fripp, Tony Geballe, Vasko Dukovski, and not to forget: Max & Melody
© Peppergreen Media, 2016. All Rights Reserved.
27 JUL 16
Album Mastering Completed
Even the building was tilted. Release info coming soon!
23 JUL 16
"The Emperor Responds to Mozart's Request for a Raise (Freedom's Ever Relative)"
music by Patrick Grant, text adapted from Anthony Burgess' Mozart and the Wolf Gang
performed by
Charles Coleman - baritone
Patrick Grant - klavier & Sprechstimme
John Clark - French horn
David Taylor - bass trombone
Lynn Bechtold - violin
Dan Barrett - cello
Dan Cooper - electric bass
this recording produced by Patrick Grant
mastered by Sheldon Steiger
for Composers Concordance Records' The Mozart Influence
**********************************
Emperor:
Johannes
Chrysostomus
Wolfgangus
Theophilus
Mozart
is hereby appointed
Kammermusicus
at an annual salary
of eight hundred gulden
Mozart:
Ha! Eight hundred?
Gluck received two thousand!
Emperor:
Gluck was Gluck, Mozart's Mozart
Gluck produced eternal art
Yours is a diff'rent circumstance
You merely have to help the court to dance
Provide a background to its chatter
What does music really matter?
Mozart:
Cannabich at Mannheim earns eighteen hundred
Dittersdorf gets two thousand seven hundred
And what are they?
Emperor:
Learn decorum, sir.
I may remove this honor right away
It is not fitting to discuss
what a mere Kammermusicus receives,
what a Kammermusicus receives,
it is not fitting to discuss
what a Kammermusicus receives
from the Emp'ror's Trust
Mozart:
With all due deference, sire,
I bow and even grovel
But is not Europe changing now?
May not musicians join the throng,
at last respected,
the honored fonts of honest song,
no more dejected
as mere discardable machines
wound up to tickle
the ears of emperors and queens
whose tastes are fickle?
I realize that what I say
seem rank sedition,
but let me hail it while I may,
the coming dayspring of his day:
the Free Musician!
Emperor:
Horror!
Horror!
Treasonous!
Thus a Kammermusicus
risen from the ranker ranks
gives his thanks
Freedom's ever relative
Emperor's are free to give
You have freedom to refuse
and may choose
Freedom to eat humble pie,
Freedom to decay and die,
Pen your bass or treble clef
for the deaf
Write your music,
hold your tongue
You are young
(but not too young)
The gold mouth
that is in your name
Learn to tame
Freedom's ever relative.
I have freedom to forgive.
Freely I extend it, so, so, so…
So I must go!
****************
music © Peppergreen Media (ASCAP)
text used by permission
11 JUL 16
Mixing Complete for the New Album
Studio mixing on the new album has completed. Soon it's off to be mastered. Until then, it's "tweak now or forever hold your piece."
09 JUL 16
STRiNGS and THiNGS Episode 8 ~ Daniel Reyes Llinas
STRiNGS AND THiNGS Episode 8 ~ Guitarist/composer Daniel Reyes Llinas drops by to talk music, food, and perform an arrangement of a piece from his upcoming album. He'll take us back to his first 10 dollar guitar and trace his evolution as a musician through some of his favorite genres: classical, pop, new wave, metal, jazz, and how King Crimson's "Starless and Bible Black" became a major game changer.
Listen here:
Check it out and all other STRiNGS AND THiNGS episodes at: http://www.stringsandthingsshow.com/
Produced by Jocelyn Gonzales
05 JUL 16
STREAMING II (for Nikola Tesla)
STREAMING II (for Nikola Tesla)
by Daniel Rothbart and Milica Lapcevic
with music by Patrick Grant
Sunday, July 10th | 1-6 pm EDT
Presented by
Francine Hunter McGivern | The Frank Institute @ CR10
STREAMING II (for Nikola Tesla) is a video work by Daniel Rothbart and Milica Lapcevic with music by Patrick Grant. Blending archival footage of Tesla’s hydro-electric power plant at Niagara with new winter imagery of the Niagara River Whirlpool and Falls, STREAMING II celebrates the 160th anniversary of Nikola Tesla's birth. Protean forms of water, from mist to torrent, intermingle with imagery of turbines and power lines, evoking themes of science, art, nature, and spirituality. USA and Serbia, 2016, 11:54.
Simultaneous screenings will take place at the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, New York (USA), Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (SERBIA), the Musée national de Kragujevac (SERBIA), Ozalj Hydroelectric Power Plant (CROATIA), Jaruga Hydroelectric Power Plant (CROATIA), and the Univerza v Mariboru Library (SLOVENIA). Thanks to Manuela Graf of Cluster of Cultural Routes.
https://www.facebook.com/events/219931011733770/
20 JUN 16
Strings and Things Episode 7: Angela Babin
On this episode of Strings and Things, Angela Babin drops by to work on a Melody Maker that hasn’t been out and about in years, while our host Patrick Grant restrings his studio-weary Les Paul. They’ll swap stories about the weirdest gigs they’ve played in New York City, and talk about how numbers and math inspire Angela’s current compositions. Then they’ll amp up for a special Strings and Things duet.
Listen here:
16 JUN 16
#TBT Double Throwback ~ Silent Treatment
New York Times ~ June 15, 1990
http://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/15/arts/new-works-and-slides.html
New York Magazine ~ May 29, 1989
http://bit.ly/28HHQ9w
12 JUN 16
Robert Fripp & the Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists performs and Finds Completion in the Midwest & Detroit
To Those Who Know And Who Are Known...
The Guitar Craft Workshop is in process of being dismantled.
Guitar Craft, The Guitar Circle, The League Of Crafty Guitarists and The Orchestra Of Crafty Guitarists will cease to exist on Sunday 25th. March, 2017.
In a traditional model, apprentices served in a workshop, grew in personal stature, capacity and understanding, left the place of their instruction, and moved out into the world to establish a studio or workshop of their own, or form a partnership with others.
Perhaps some of you feel called upon to continue to act in service to the creative current we recognize acting in and through Guitar Craft and its several forms. You have my support and encouragement.
If this is so, put your own name, and/or find the right name, for that work. It is legitimate to present your lineage; and the extent, degree and participation in Guitar Craft and Guitar Circle courses, projects and activities. It is illegitimate for anyone to claim authorization or mandate, moving forwards, to formally represent and/or direct forms of Guitar Craft and The Guitar Circle.
I have seen claims made, in the professional arena, to have been a student of Robert Fripp. No “student of Robert Fripp” would claim to be a student of Robert Fripp.
Robert Fripp
Sunday 12th. June, 2016;
St. Mary’s Retreat Center, Oxford, Michigan
07 MAY 16
NEWS: Summer Album Release
TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
01. Shapes I
02. Circulation in G Maybe
03. Tilted Axes Theme
04. Polymetric Patterns
05. Theme Variation
06. Rivera Court
07. Techno Tilt
08. Kneadle Variation
09. Asciae Obliquiae (Anthem)
10. Pedal Swells
11. Alamo Tilt
12. Beaubien Blues
13. Corridor 84 + Krimson Coda
14. Shapes II
15. Tuanna Claonta
16. Harmonic Revolutions
17. The Sound of Burning Chairs
Electric guitars: Patrick Grant, Matt Grossman, Daniel Reyes Llinas, John Halo, Randolph Hudson III, Reinaldo Perez, Gene Pritsker, Howard Glazer, Nick Didkovsky, Anthony Mullin
Chapman Stick: Jeremy Nesse
Electric bass: Dan Cooper, Patrick Grant
Drums & percussion: John Ferrari, Cesare Papetti
Recorded at John Kilgore Sound, Peppergreen Media, and various remote locations.
Mixed at Mercy Sound Studios NYC
Recording & Mixing Engineer: Garry Rindfuss
Guitar and amp consultant for Kilgore sessions: Nick Didkovsky
Acknowledgements and thanks: Jocelyn Gonzales, Aaron Friedman & Make Music New York, Rivington Guitars, Danelectro, St. Marks Church-in-the-Bowery, Brooklyn Battery Works, Marshall Amplification, Alex Baxter, Exploring the Metropolis, Steve Carter, The Con Edison Musician’s Residency, Emon Hassan & Guitarkadia, Thomas Deneuville & I Care If You Listen, Cia. Dos Atores, Gael Grant, P. J.’s Lager House, Michael Jackman & The Metro Times, Sue Mosey & Midtown Detroit Inc., The Detroit Institute of Arts, WDET, Cafagna Entertainment Network, The Detroit Artists Market, Inn on Ferry Street, Ann Delisi, Skeeto Valdez, The Majestic, Ron Knevels, The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Wayne State University, Eric & Mary Iverson, Motor City Brewing Works, Glenn Cornett & Spectrum NYC, Pignose Amps, Korg USA, Vox Amps USA, GAMA/Discover Guitar, The Music Building NYC, Lester St. Louis, D’Addario Strings, Strings by Aurora, Down & Dirty DV, Mayor Bill de Blasio & the City of New York, Bob Sadler & The Detroit Historical Society, Dean Western, GHS Strings, The Funk Lab at United Sound Systems Recording Studios, Dan Tatarian & Showtime Clothing Detroit, Steve Ball, Sandra Bain Cushman, Kathrin Tiedemann & The Forum Freies Theater Düsseldorf, Musik Kunz, Landes Hauptstadt Düsseldorf, John Hicks, Rodrigo Marçal, Robert Fripp & The Guitar Circle of North America, Tony Geballe & The New York Guitar Circle, The Alchemical Theatre Laboratory, Harry Smolowitz, Carta Azul, Frank Sheldon, Jude Closson, Le Marche du Nain Rouge, Paula Messner & The Bestest Concert Ever, Jeff Adams, The Detroit School of Rock and Roll, Ralph Valdez & The Dearborn Community Arts Council, Ismael Ahmed & The Arab American National Museum, The Concert of Colors, Walk Thru Walls, The Don Was Detroit All-Star Revue, Sally O’Mally & The Tiltmobile, The Village Halloween Parade, Natalia de Campos, Fractured Atlas, Electro-Harmonix NYC, Sean & Laura Biggs, Leslie Stevens, Chad Ossman, Richard Wise, Thiago Cury & The Festival Música Estranha São Paulo Brazil, Vox Amps Brazil, David Singleton, Max and Melody
All titles © 2011-2016 by Patrick Grant/Peppergreen Media (ASCAP) except for Track 08 © 2016 Fripp/Grant Track 13 © 2016 Grant/Fripp by permission of Discipline Global Mobile
TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
Official web page: http://www.tiltedaxes.net/tiltedaxes.html
Email - General Contact tiltedaxes@peppergreenmedia.com
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/tiltedaxes
EZ Press: http://tiltedaxes.net/Tilted-Axes-EZ-PR.html
Follow us on Twitter @tiltedaxes
www.tiltedaxes.net
www.peppergreenmedia.com
More iNFO TBA
22 APR 16
"New" Work for Chamber Orchestra
It has been a 30 year journey to get a "world premiere" by an actual chamber orchestra (only non-MIDI electronic demos have existed up until this point), so, the news is, my Baroque Variations (1986) gets its debut next month on May 21st courtesy of Composers Concordance and their annual Generations Concert.
Pictured here is the original sketchbook (upper right), the first printing I made of it when I worked at Edition Peters Group (C.F. Peters) 1987-1989 (upper left), and the current Sibelius drafts in short score for the upcoming performance in the lower half. In the original sketchbook, you can make out address 1520 York (Ave.). This is because most of this piece was written when I was driving a car service by night while being a student by day. I often jotted down my pick-up addresses into the score as they came to me over the car radio.
Though it could be thought of as a "student work," it's more like my purging and parody of all things polyphonically imparted up until that point. I still hold the Fugue and Finale to be solid stand-alones and serve well to indicate where I'd be and what I'd be working on three decades later.
It is fitting that it appears on CompCord's annual "Generations" Concert where awards are given to the youngest and the oldest composers involved. Thankfully, I remain in neither of these two categories though the work presented does indeed cover the span of at least a single generation. A full circle experience.
Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center
250 West 65th St., New York City
More iNFO TBA
http://www.composersconcordance.com/
07 APR 16
Robert Fripp & the Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists XIII to Perform in Detroit
Robert Fripp & The Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists XIII
June 10, 2016
Friday 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Saint Anne de Detroit Catholic Church
1000 Ste. Anne St., Detroit, Michigan
http://bit.ly/1RRIrgj
Tickets on sale now!
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2524561
ALSO - related performances in
St. Louis Park, MN - June 02
Madison, WI - June 03
Chicago, IL - June 04
17 MAR 16
TUANNA CLAONTA - St. Patrick's Day Mix
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
What's quasi-modal, moves in similar motion, and has a title that only the kissing of the Blarney Stone would make easier to pronounce? It's TUANNA CLAONTA ("Tilted Axes" in Irish Gaelic), a promotional track for the group's forthcoming album release due later this spring.
Performed by Patrick Grant, Matt Grossman, John Halo, Daniel Reyes Llinas - guitars, Dan Cooper - bass, and Cesare Papetti - drums.
(c) 2016 Patrick Grant /Peppergreen Media (ASCAP)
23 FEB 16
Now Available on iTunes ~ Strings and Things
Listen HERE
15 FEB 16
Studio Work: Tracking, Mixing, Mastering
For the next 8 weeks: studio work and project completions of all sorts, long time coming.
12 FEB 16
Podcast Premiere - "Strings and Things" - stringsandthingsshow.com
At some point every guitarist has to do it, so why not hang out with some friends and have fun while you're at it? This is Strings and Things, the show where musicians come by to change their strings, talk about all kinds of things and make some music. We hope you'll join us for the new Strings and Things podcast, a Peppergreen Production for Headstepper Media. Listen at http://stringsandthingsshow.com
Bi-weekly podcasts of musicians changing their strings while talking about things.
22 JAN 16
NEW RELEASE - A Musical Micro-Drama with Libretto by Anthony Burgess
NEW RELEASE: January 29 - "The Emperor Responds to Mozart's Request for a Raise," a musical micro-drama with libretto by Anthony Burgess (A Clockwork Orange, Mozart and the Wolf Gang) and music by Patrick Grant for vocalists and chamber ensemble, part of Composers Concordance's new release "The Mozart Influence." This celebratory album has music by Gene Pritsker, Dan Cooper, Milica Paranosic, David Taylor, John Clark, W. A. Mozart, and more.
Performed by The CompCord Ensemble: Charles Coleman - voice, Chanda Rule - voice, Milica Paranosic - voice & gusle, Patrick Grant - voice & harpsichord, Lynn Bechtold - violin, Dan Barrett - cello, John Clark - horn, David Taylor - bass trombone, Gene Pritsker - guitar, Dan Cooper - bass, Javier Diaz - percussion & voice, Gernot Bernroider - drums, Franz Hackl - trumpet, mixed & mastered by Sheldon Steiger
For complete info or to pre-order on iTunes, go to: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-mozart-influence/id1071080236
05 JAN 16
The Detroit Music Awards April 29, 2016
Honored to become a voting member of the Detroit Music Awards!
2016 25th Anniversary Detroit Music Awards to be held on Friday, April 29th at the Fillmore Detroit. The Detroit Music Awards Foundation is a Michigan non-profit corporation, whose mission is to recognize Detroit area musicians working on a national, regional and local level. Its purpose is also to support and nurture the musical community in the Detroit metropolitan area, and to create a network for musicians that cuts across genres and styles.
www.detroitmusicawards.net
04 JAN 16
ASCAP Plus Award for 2015
Happy to receive an ASCAP Plus Award today reflecting 2015's work. The award "...rewards writer members of all genres whose works were performed in unsurveyed media as well as writer members whose catalogs have prestige value." Either way, that sounds about right. So, the New Year's off to a good beginning. Thanks, ASCAP, you rock! http://www.ascap.com/ - Patrick Grant, NYC
29 DEC 15
We Made It!
A huge thank you to all the individuals and organizations that helped TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars achieve its 2015 fourth quarter fundraising goal. This generosity will not only be put toward the free concerts and events we are known to give to a wide ranging public, but will also be applied to:
1. Furthering our outreach both locally & globally
2. The development and the rehearsal of new material
3. The completion and release of Tilted recordings & video
4. Strings & Things - the winter launching of a podcast series featuring conversations with musicians talking about strings…and things
5. The Astronomy Project - a 10th anniversary continuation and expansion of a performance collaboration between musicians and astrophysicists begun in 2006 and currently destined for planetariums
Wishing everybody a very Happy New Year and a unprecedented 2016!
TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
Web page: http://www.tiltedaxes.net/tiltedaxes.html
Email contact tiltedaxes@peppergreenmedia.com
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/tiltedaxes
Press, photos, info: http://tiltedaxes.net/Tilted-Axes-EZ-PR.html
You can now also follow us on Twitter @tiltedaxes
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is a sponsored project of FRACTURED ATLAS, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Individuals may donate by credit card at the following link: DONATE
21 DEC 15
Happy Anniversary, TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars!
Four years ago today, Tilted Axes made its debut at Make Music New York's 1st annual Make Music Winter on Wednesday, December 21st, 2011 in New York City.
Now, 1,461 days past, the project has been produced in a number of cities on three continents. More to come in the New Year. Thank you to all the musicians, presenters, and sponsors who have make everything possible. Guitarists, bassists, and percussionists - you are the most awesome.
Here's to the future tilts that await!
https://www.facebook.com/tiltedaxes/
http://www.tiltedaxes.net/tiltedaxes.html
16 DEC 15
Expanding in 2016...
Tilted Axes'
ASTRONOMIC
More iNFO TBA HERE
02 DEC 15
Video by VOX Brasil #MusicaEstranha15
VOX - Tilted Axes no Festival Música Estranha em São Paulo
Published on Dec 2, 2015
Patrick Grant, criador e compositor do Tilted Axes, é um grupo de guitarras ambulantes que se apresentou no festival Música Estranha, um dia antes de se apresentar na Av. Paulista.
05 NOV 15
General Call for TILTED AXES: BRAZIL Guitarists is Now Open
[OFICINA — INSCRIÇÕES GRÁTIS ATÉ 14/11]
http://www.musicaestranha.me/#!oficinas---tilted-axes/v3zdf
Você toca guitarra e se vê em uma apresentação diferente e única, pelas ruas de São Paulo? Então acesse agora mesmo o link abaixo e veja como participar da oficina 'Tilted Axes: Música para Guitarras Ambulantes', proposta pelo compositor e músico americano Patrick Grant. Uma combinação inusitada de música contemporânea, música para teatro e performance de rua. Inicia-se em formato de workshop, culminando em apresentações.
Oficina nas manhãs de 24 até 27 de novembro, em São Paulo. Performances dias 28 e 29 de novembro, também em SP.
São somente 12 vagas. Inscrições gratuitas até 14 de novembro. É bom correr!
http://www.musicaestranha.me/#!oficinas---tilted-axes/v3zdf
02 NOV 15
Tilted Axes NYC - Halloween 2015
Front row: Reinaldo Perez, Natalia de Campos, Cesare Papetti, Patrick Grant, Gael S. Grant, Marlon Cherry, Gene Ardor. Back row: Michael Joseph, Dan Cooper, Jeremy Nesse, Leslie Stevens, Jocelyn Gonzales, Aileen Bunch, Rob Knevels, Steve Carter, John Lovaas, Angela Babin, John Halo, Kevin Pfeiffer, Sarah Metievier Schadt, Daniel Reyes Llinas, Chad Ossman, Matt Grossman.
28 OCT 15
Electro-Harmonix Joins as Tilted Axes Supporter
EXTREMELY happy to announce that Electro-Harmonix will be a supporter of TILTED AXES' future work (The Astronomy Project).
Thank you, EHX! You rock!
http://www.ehx.com/
21 OCT 15
Audience Numbers Expected to Reach 250K By Year's End
IT WOULD BE NO EXAGGERATION to say that, in 2015 alone, Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars will have performed for over 250,000 people. This includes Tilt Core performances, appearances at the Marche du Nain Rouge and the Concert of Colors Festival in Detroit, the NYC Village Halloween Parade, and the upcoming series of Tilts in São Paulo & Rio de Janeiro in late November/early December. Still weighing our options on how best to complete this landmark year and to begin the next.
19 OCT 15
TILTED AXES @ Village Halloween Parade Oct. 31st
"Monster Riffs & Creepy Chords"
"The children of the night! What music they make!" - Dracula (1931)
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars (http://peppergreenmedia.com/tiltedaxes.html) has been invited to be a part of NYC's world famous Village Halloween Parade (http://halloween-nyc.com/) and for 2015 is bringing back the classic no-holds-barred big-time Tilt.
For more iNFO, send an email to: tiltedaxes@peppergreenmedia.com
Performers
COMPOSER & DIRECTOR: Patrick Grant
GUITAR: Gene Ardor, Angela Babin, Aileen Bunch (Philadelphia), Matt Grossman, John Halo, Michael Joseph (Philadelphia), Rob Knevels (Detroit), Daniel Reyes Llinas, John Lovaas (Chicago), Chad Ossman, Reinaldo Perez, Kevin Pfeiffer
CHAPMAN STICK: Jeremy Nesse
BASS: Dan Cooper, Sarah Metevier Schadt (Chicago)
PERCUSSION: Cesare Papetti (groove leader), Marlon Cherry, Gael Grant (Detroit)
TILT MANAGER & FRAMING DEVICES: Steve Carter
STANDARD BEARERS: Jocelyn Gonzales, Harry Scott
SATELLITES: Natalia de Campos, Leslie Stevens
New York's Village Halloween Parade is an annual holiday parade and street pageant presented on the night of every Halloween in New York City's Greenwich Village. Stretching more than a mile, this cultural event draws two million in-person spectators, more than sixty thousand costumed participants, dancers, artists and circus performers, dozens of floats bearing live bands and other musical and performing acts, and a world-wide television audience of one hundred million. The Village Halloween Parade, initiated in 1974 by Greenwich Village puppeteer and mask maker Ralph Lee, is the world's largest Halloween parade and the only major nighttime parade in the United States.
The parade has been featured in many national magazines and travel guides, and has been a subject of study by leading cultural anthropologists. According to The New York Times, "the Halloween Parade is the best entertainment the people of this City ever give the people of this City."
15 OCT 15
PG INTERVIEW ON MANHATTAN TV NYC
AIRING TODAY Oct. 15th on Manhattan Cable TV NYC and streamed worldwide via the web at 11:00 AM EDT (1500 UTC/GMT): My interview on "Conversations with Harold Channer." Wow, he gave me the whole hour. Since that was way too long for me, it'll be without doubt, way too long for you, too. What-a-workout. I managed to keep the ball in play and still, it was great practice for things ahead. In Manhattan, that's 11:00 AM on Channel 34 on Time/Warner, Channel 82 on RCN, & Channel 33 on Verizon FiOS Cable Television. It will also be streamed simultaneously in HD at http://www.mnn.org - click on Channel 1 at the site.
27 SEP 15 ~ 09 OCT 15
TILTED AXES @ Village Halloween Parade Oct. 31st
"Monster Riffs & Creepy Chords"
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars (http://peppergreenmedia.com/tiltedaxes.html) has been invited to be a part of NYC's world famous Village Halloween Parade (http://halloween-nyc.com/) and for 2015 is bringing back the classic no-holds-barred big-time Tilt.
For more iNFO, send an email to: tiltedaxes@peppergreenmedia.com
Performers
COMPOSER & DIRECTOR: Patrick Grant
GUITAR: Gene Ardor, Angela Babin, Aileen Bunch (Philadelphia), Matt Grossman, John Halo, Michael Joseph (Philadelphia), Rob Knevels (Detroit), Daniel Reyes Llinas, John Lovaas (Chicago), Chad Ossman, Reinaldo Perez, Kevin Pfeiffer
CHAPMAN STICK: Jeremy Nesse
BASS: Dan Cooper, Sarah Metevier Schadt (Chicago)
PERCUSSION: Cesare Papetti (groove leader), Marlon Cherry, Gael Grant (Detroit)
TILT MANAGER & FRAMING DEVICES: Steve Carter
STANDARD BEARERS: Jocelyn Gonzales, Harry Scott
SATELLITES: Natalia de Campos, Leslie Stevens
New York's Village Halloween Parade is an annual holiday parade and street pageant presented on the night of every Halloween in New York City's Greenwich Village. Stretching more than a mile, this cultural event draws two million in-person spectators, more than sixty thousand costumed participants, dancers, artists and circus performers, dozens of floats bearing live bands and other musical and performing acts, and a world-wide television audience of one hundred million. The Village Halloween Parade, initiated in 1974 by Greenwich Village puppeteer and mask maker Ralph Lee, is the world's largest Halloween parade and the only major nighttime parade in the United States.
The parade has been featured in many national magazines and travel guides, and has been a subject of study by leading cultural anthropologists. According to The New York Times, "the Halloween Parade is the best entertainment the people of this City ever give the people of this City."
29 AUG 15
BASHER (Shape 1) from THREE SHAPES - Tilted Axes
Because, sometimes, only power chords in 4/4 will do.
26 AUG 15
AMSTERDAM FRINGE FESTIVAL - SEPT. 6-10
AMSTERDAM FRINGE FESTIVAL
September 6-7, 9-10
I AM AN OPERA
written & performed by Joseph Keckler
directed by Uwe Mengel
with musical arrangements by
Patrick Grant & Dan Bartfield
For venues, times, & tickets, go to:
http://amsterdamfringefestival.nl/en/programma/i-am-an-opera/
More iNFO HERE
25 AUG 15
And So It Was...
... INTERNATIONAL STRANGE MUSIC DAY 2015. Thanks to everybody who set aside some time yesterday to expand their aural horizons, to point out new music worth our attention, and to all those who took the initiative to create new things for us to listen to. From all over. I myself have been sent enough tracks and links to keep me busy catching up for a year. I'll do so happily with a curious ear. Onward and into the world!
#InternationalStrangeMusicDay #StrangeMusicDay #StrangeMusic
24 AUG 2015
International sTRANGE mUSIC Day, August 24, 2015
this year dedicated to children (young and old)
Greetings People of Earth,
It's been 17 years since I first flew the Strange Music banner during our inaugural concert at the Knitting Factory in New York City. Since then, 'Strange Music' has become many things: a record label, concert series, a social irritant, but most famously, a day to stretch one's ears by either listening to or playing music that is new to you. It's all relative.
Since this holiday observance came into existence during an otherwise holiday-less month, it's actually been picked up by a number of small organizations around the world: a blog here and there, a growing throng of adventurous radio stations, but mostly by a number of summer school programs searching for a creative way to occupy idle hands and ears. An internet search will turn up pages and pages of such schools.
I urge you to spend a moment with your young ones and blow their little minds with something exceptionally challenging to listen to, especially if you do not normally do so. If there are some instruments around, make up a song for the day. If not, make an instrument from stuff you have in the house.
A small gesture such as this would provide memories lasting a lifetime. The evidence of the benefits of engaging children in music has filled volumes. No reason to keep it simple: the stranger the better. Young ears have no prejudice.
You say that you don't have any kids around?
Then do it for yourself.
It will keep you young.
Really.
-Patrick Grant
http://www.strangemusic.com
01 AUG 15
Just Announced:
TILTED AXES: SÃO PAULO
TILTED AXES: SÃO PAULO - Now it's official and can be announced: The 3rd Música Estranha – International Exploratory Music Festival, to be held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 25th to 29th of November 2015, has invited Tilted Axes to create a series of events for their city. Exactly how it will manifest itself is still in development (there's much work to do) but, it's very exciting to think of how things will sound with Brazilian musicians added into the post-progressive mix. Very.
More iNFO TBA
31 JUL 15
TILTED AXES TO PERFORM IN NYC's VILLAGE HALLOWEEN PARADE OCT. 31st
"Monster Riffs & Creepy Chords"
New York's Village Halloween Parade is an annual holiday parade and street pageant presented on the night of every Halloween in New York City's Greenwich Village. Stretching more than a mile, this cultural event draws two million in-person spectators, more than sixty thousand costumed participants, dancers, artists and circus performers, dozens of floats bearing live bands and other musical and performing acts, and a world-wide television audience of one hundred million. The Village Halloween Parade, initiated in 1974 by Greenwich Village puppeteer and mask maker Ralph Lee, is the world's largest Halloween parade and the only major nighttime parade in the United States.
Among the parade's signature features are its pageant sized puppets — giant rod puppets "articulated" by teams of puppeteers — and its open participation to anyone in a costume who wishes to march. It has been called "New York's Carnival." Although the parade is currently not as informal and wild as it was in its earliest years, it is in effect still an alternative festival.
The parade has been featured in many national magazines and travel guides, and has been a subject of study by leading cultural anthropologists. According to The New York Times, "the Halloween Parade is the best entertainment the people of this City ever give the people of this City." "Absolutely anything goes," says USA Today. "Be prepared to drop your jaw."
More iNFO to come at: https://www.halloween-nyc.com/
19 JUL 15
TILTED AXES @ CONCERT OF COLORS IN THE PRESS
Here's a collection of some of the press and photo coverage that came out of it (videos & recordings asap):
FLICKR Photos - TILTED AXES @ Concert of Colors - photos are all downloadable - credit: Jocelyn Gonzales
Dress Rehearsal in the Funk Lab at United Sound: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kimba2/sets/72157653692200003
CofC - Tilt 1 - July 11: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kimba2/sets/72157653722014784
CofC - Tilt 2 - July 12: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kimba2/sets/72157656035775272
IXITI - The Experience Engine - Interview with PG of Tilted Axes
http://www.ixiti.com/20150707447/stories/detroit-music-takes-the-stage-at-the-concert-of-colors/
DETROIT FREE PRESS - Coverage of the Concert of Colors w/ Tilted photos:
http://www.freep.com/picture-gallery/entertainment/2015/07/13/concert-of-colors-series-finale-featuring-don-was/30101333/
OAKLAND PRESS - Revue of Don Was' All-Star Revue w/ Walk Thru Walls (members of Tilted Axes)
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/arts-and-entertainment/20150713/review-don-was-revue-electrifies-mojos-legacy-at-concert-of-colors
The adventure continues. With the completion of our this project, we are already planning the next events for the 2015-2016 in the USA and abroad.
Thanks again to everyone who made this recent work possible and a reality. Count on us moving forward and hoping to see you at our next Tilt.
We can be anywhere!
TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
Web page: http://www.tiltedaxes.com/tiltedaxes.html
Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/tiltedaxes
Follow us on Twitter @tiltedaxes
11 JUL 15
POLYMETRIC PATTERNS No. 10
POLYMETRIC PATTERNS is a piece whose intention is to be a form of kinetic audio sculpture. Nothing much changes on the surface but the layers can run deep. On our Saturday Tilt we "installed" ourselves in front of Orchestra Hall as one of the stops on our procession thru the Concert of Colors' venues. This is what happened. (video from Jocelyn Gonzales) P.S. - Check out the street dancer and penny whistle obbligato ca. 2:20.
01 JUL 15
TILTED AXES ROSTER ANNOUNCED FOR 2015 CONCERT OF COLORS
On July 11, Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars will be performing and processing in the vicinity of the Wolverine Outdoor Stage from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. At approximately 6:45 pm, Tilted Axes will take the stage to officially premiere one of the new pieces commissioned by the Concert of Colors 2015.
On July 12, Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars will be performing and processing in the vicinity of the Wolverine Stage from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. A special finale is being planned for somewhere in the neighborhood.
Performers
COMPOSER & DIRECTOR: Patrick Grant
GUITAR: Jeff Adams, Sean Biggs, Aileen Bunch (Philadelphia), Jude Closson, James Keith La Croix, Erik Grant, Eric Iverson, Bob Kaufman, Rob Knevels, John Lovaas (Chicago), James McGlinnen, Chris McGorey
BASS: Dean Western, Sarah Metevier Schadt (Chicago)
PERCUSSION: Skeeto Valdez (groove leader), Gael Grant, Jocelyn Gonzales (NYC)
TILT MANAGER & FRAMING DEVICES: Beth Landry
STANDARD BEARERS: Irina Goldman, TBA
SATELLITES: Emma McGlinnen, Diane McGorey
TILTMOBILE: Sally Omally Schroeder
Click Here for Performer Bios
@TiltedAxes #CofC2015
Complete iNFO HERE
17 JUN 15
TILTED AXES & FRACTURED ATLAS
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars @ The Concert of Colors has been approved for 501(c)3 not-for-profit fiscal sponsorship through Fractured Atlas (how fitting). All contributions will now be tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Today marks the beginning of a new level for the project within the USA.
Project Page:
https://www.fracturedatlas.org/site/fiscal/profile?id=12774
Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars is a sponsored project of FRACTURED ATLAS, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Individuals may donate by credit card at the following link: DONATE
16 JUN 15
PROGRAM GRANT AWARDED
GAMA, the Guitar Accessories & Manufacturing Association & Discover Guitar, has awarded a Program Grant to Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars for its participation in this year's Concert of Colors in Detroit. That's much appreciated recognition & financial support. Thank you!
15 JUN 15
THE GUITAR CIRCLE - B&I ORCHESTRA - Directed by Robert Fripp - Hope, NJ - June 13, 2015
09 MAY 15
TILTED AXES to Perform at Detroit's CONCERT OF COLORS July 11 & 12
Various locations in Midtown, Detroit
Saturday & Sunday Afternoon
The Concert of Colors is metro Detroit’s free annual diversity music festival. It is produced by the Arab American National Museum with partners Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Institute of Arts, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, ACCESS, Midtown Detroit Inc. and University of Michigan – Detroit Center. The goal of this five-day festival is uniting metro Detroit’s diverse communities and ethnic groups by presenting musical acts from around the world. Over its 23-year history, the festival has become a artistic highlight of metro Detroit’s summer festival season, and one of the few free-admission music festivals remaining locally.
World music, including the indigenous music of the Motor City, is the major focus of the Concert of Colors, but not the only focus. The festival also offers ethnic food and merchandise vendors and an annual Forum on Community, Culture and Race, which examines the role of arts and culture in overcoming racial and ethnic barriers.
The Concert of Colors was established by Ismael Ahmed – then head of the Dearborn, Michigan-based human services organization ACCESS – and New Detroit in 1993 as a one-day event at Chene Park on Detroit’s riverfront. The inaugural event drew a modest crowd to Chene Park, but by 1999, some 10,000 music lovers were coming out each year. The festival expanded to three days in 2001, when it was part of the official festivities for Detroit’s 300th birthday, drawing an audience of 100,000. In recent years, annual attendance at the Concert of Colors has been about 80,000.
More iNFO @ www.concertofcolors.com
TILTED AXES appearance at the Concert of Colors 2015 is made possible through the extra support of The Dearborn Community Arts Council, Korg USA & VOX Amps, Midtown Detroit Inc., United Sound Systems Recording Studios, Showtime Clothing Detroit, and the ASCAP Plus Awards.
05 MAY 15
WALK THRU WALLS Reforms to Perform at Detroit All-Star Review Concert 2015
TILTED AXES DETROIT members Eric Iverson, Patrick Grant, Jude Closson, & Dean Western reform the original WALK THRU WALLS new wave band as part of the DON WAS DETROIT ALL-STAR REVUE 2015 CONCERT on July 12th.
This year's revue honors 80s Detroit radio personality THE ELECTRIFYING MOJO whose on-air journey of musical and social development shaped a generation of music-lovers in Detroit and throughout southeastern Michigan and Canada and was of importance to the development of Detroit techno.
Presented by
The Concert of Colors
Max M. Fisher Music Center
3711 Woodward Ave.
Detroit, MI
8 PM
More iNFO TBA
WALK THRU WALLS was a new wave band on the Detroit scene from 1981-1984. The nucleus of the group was songwriters Patrick Grant (synthesizers & vocals) and Eric Iverson (guitar & vocals). Grant is a composer and performer living in NYC since 1985 and is the creator of Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars. His work history includes John Cage, the Philip Glass studio, Billy Joel & Quincy Jones, avant-garde theatre visionaries Robert Wilson, The Living Theatre, and he is currently an active member in The Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists lead by Robert Fripp. Iverson is an artist, musician, and programmer from Detroit. His other musical collaborations over the years include creating techno music with Ex Machina, making effects pedals with Red Panda, and he is also a founding member and regular performer with the Detroit branch of Tilted Axes. Dean Western (electric bass) has been playing in Detroit bands for over thirty years. He has had the pleasure of working with many creative and dedicated people during this time and is pleased to be a part of this event. Jude Closson (percussion) has played drums and guitar with rock/alternative bands in the Detroit area since the 80s. He started out on drums with new wave group Walk Thru Walls and moved on to many other punk/rock groups and into the present day with Celtic Rock group Bill Grogan’s Goat. WTW thanks everybody involved.
10 APR 15
Judith Malina, a visionary of the theater, has left us. A mentor, collaborator, and friend. RIP (1926-2015)
Judith Malina and Living Theatre composer Patrick Grant in 2007.
The Zero Method by Hanon Reznikov (1991) based on Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. Peformed by Judith Malina & Hanon Reznikov. Directed by Judith Malina. Original score & live soundscapes by Patrick Grant.
27 MAR 15
TILTING IN DETROIT ~ MARCH 21-22
15 MAR 15
Next Weekend: TILTED AXES DETROIT
Friday, March 20 - Equinox Procession
Downtown Royal Oak - various locations
Pop-up performances in the evening
If you're there, you won't miss us!
#tiltedaxes for our location
Saturday, March 21 - 4th Annual The Bestest Concert Ever
5:00-8:00 PM - Royal Oak Farmers Market
316 E 11 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI
w/Horse Cave Trio, Motor Honey, Candy Band, Evenin' Gentlemen
Activities Include: Rockin the Red Carpet photos, Crazy Hair Salon, Zany Face Painting and a haute couture dress-up station. You can also get your hand immortalized in wax with Creative Arts Studios or play all the instruments you can imagine at the Mccourts Musical Petting Zoo. New this year is Gem Mining with the Miners Den!! Also play games with the Royal Oak High School Drama Club and Band Boosters!! Hungry and thirsty? There will also be some super yummy food available for purchase including Detroit BBQ, Treat Dreams and The Market Cafe. Milking It Productions will also be on hand with their famous AXL Pale Ale and BRIK Red Ale for the over 21 set. $5 admission - kids welcome
FB event page: http://tinyurl.com/pfrlou8
Sunday, March 22 - Marche du Nain Rouge
1:00-3:00 PM - Midtown Detroit
Beginning at Traffic Jam & Snug (Canfield & 2nd Ave.)
Ending at the Detroit Masonic Temple, 500 Temple St.
Procession route map: http://tinyurl.com/k4ecvlg
Supposedly, for 300 years, on the Sunday after the Vernal Equinox, Detroiters have celebrated liberation from the Nain Rouge, the fiendish embodiment of all that holds us back. Revelers dressed in costume converge at or near Cass Park and hope for better things for Detroit’s future, celebrating whatever is good and working in the city: happiness, success and freedom from the antagonism of the Nain in the new year. Unfortunately, on occasion, the Nain Rouge is able to manifest, and reveals himself to the revelers, taunting them with tales of his evil machinations and plans meant to bring the city down. Just in case, revelers are advised to come in disguise, so the Nain can’t exact revenge.
More info at: http://marchedunainrouge.com/
Performers include: Patrick Grant (NYC), Paula Messner, Skeeto Valdez, Howard Glazer, Rick Matle, Jeff Adams, Erik Gustafson, Bob Kaufman, Chris McGorey, Dean Western, Eric Iverson, Gael Grant, James McGlinnen, John Halo (NYC), John Lovaas (Chicago), Jude Closson, Rob Knevels, Sarah Metevier (Chicago), Erik Grant, Sean Biggs, and others TBA
Tilted Axes: Detroit 2015 is powered by the help and support of VOX amps, KORG/USA, Discover Guitar, Peppergreen Media (ASCAP), Strange Music Inc., Candy Band, Showtime Detroit, The Metro Times, McCourt’s Music Royal Oak, & The Detroit School of Rock and Pop.
11 MAR 15
Demand TILTED AXES in Your City
Go to www.WeDemand.com/TiltedAxes
10 MAR 15
Tilted Axes & Bestest Concert Ever IV Previewed
Get Ready to Rock at 'Bestest' Concert
The Observer & Eccentric Newspapers
by Diana Wing, Guest Columnist
This year's fourth annual "Bestest Concert Ever" at the Royal Oak Farmers Market is sure to be the "bestest" by far. Royal Oaker Paula Messner, guitarist and songwriter for Candy Band, has a great eclectic lineup of live music, plus kids' activities, and food and beverages for this family-friendly event that runs, 5-8 p.m. Saturday, March 21.
"It's going to be so fun this year," she said.
Rockin' the Red Carpet photos, a Crazy Hair Salon, Zany Face Painting and a haute couture dress-up station will get the fun started. Kids can make a wax replica of their hand with Creative Arts Studio, try out a range of instruments at the McCourts Musical Petting Zoo, go gem mining with the Miners Den, and play games with the Royal Oak High School Drama Club and the Band Boosters.
Messner has planned an eclectic lineup of performances for the night. Of course, the Candy Band moms will be playing children's favorites, along with original songs. Their music is a blast for adults, too. The intensity will grow with Horse Cave Trio, known for their high energy roots rock, also characterized as high-octane roadhouse blues or outlaw country rock 'n roll. Motor Honey is a five-piece band fronted by Sara Covatta whom Messner describes as having a "beautiful voice." The group performs a mix of rock, soul and funky grooves – American Soul.
Messner also invited Evenin' Gentlemen who have a collective 100-plus years as active members of the International Barber Shop Harmony Society. They currently sing with the Detroit Oakland Gentlemen songsters and provide "wholesome and pleasing entertainment across a range of genres in the barbershop style."
Guitar procession
No doubt the headliner for this year's "Bestest Concert Ever" will be Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars. Founded in 2011 by composer/performer and Detroit native Patrick Grant, Tilted Axes is an electric guitar procession of upwards of 30 performers who wear portable amps strapped on their sides or backs. It has the energy of rock and it's part street theater as guitarists walk through the downtown New York City art scene and other communities.
"We have a bit of a guerrilla esthetic," said Grant in a highly entertaining promotional video. "We're able to go where the public is. That is the beauty of being mobile."
Messner invited Grant to perform at the "Bestest Concert Ever" because she had taken part in a Tilted Axes procession last summer in Detroit.
"We started outside the Detroit Historical Museum and we did a song. We marched up Woodward. We went outside of the library and the DIA and around the Wayne State campus," she described. "We went into a restaurant where people were having lunch and drinking a beer … and we just filled the place. We all stood there and played a song and everybody (at the restaurant) their jaw hit the floor, and then we left. They never knew what hit them!"
One bass player and a snare drum player usually perform with the group. Grant writes the original music for guitar. There are four-six parts, so not everyone plays the same thing.
"One guitar might be playing chords, one might be playing notes. They all go together," Messner said. "There are certain songs where I break out in a lead and it will be my solo, and I can do whatever I want and everybody backs me up. Then somebody else will come out and do a solo.
"Some of the songs are complex and everybody's got notes taped to their guitar and clipped on, so it's a little crazy. But it's a lot of fun and I was really glad to be a part of it last year."
Messner expects about 15 performers in the Tilted Axes Detroit crew will play at the "Bestest Concert Ever." She and fellow guitarists will rehearse the week before when Grant come into town. If the weather is permitting the mobile electric guitarists might wander around downtown Royal Oak the night before the concert, Messner said. Spring, and possibly an equinox procession, is just around the corner.
Admission to the "Bestest Concert Ever" is only $5 (children 3 and younger are free), with 100 percent of profits going to the Royal Oak Optimist Club which organizes and helps to support numerous youth activities. The Royal Oak Farmers Market is located at 316 E. 11 Mile. Call 248-246-3276. Visit http://www.tiltedaxes.com/tiltedaxes.html to watch a video of Titled Axes in action.
http://www.hometownlife.com/story/life/columnists/diana-wing/2015/03/09/get-ready-rock-bestest-concert/24450339/
01 MAR 15
Upcoming Tilted Axes: Detroit Shows Previewed in the Metro Times
Tilted Axes to return to Detroit — and Royal Oak?
By Michael Jackman
"Remember Tilted Axes? It's the brainchild of Detroit native and New York experimental composer Patrick Grant, a procession of electric guitars playing compositions in public places. Grant has brought the performance, which he's staged in Germany and New York, to Detroit's Cultural Center, and returned last year for the city's 313th birthday.
This year he's back, and his choices are even more interesting, in that he's chosen to participate in larger events that perhaps match the creative spirit of his endeavor.
The axes will be rocking in the Detroit area for three days this March, including March 22, at the Marche du la Nain Rouge (this iteration of Tilted Axes will become the decidedly Francophone "Haches Incliné"), adding to the insurrectionary spirit of the event. His schedule also includes the Bestest Concert Ever IV, on March 21, at the Royal Oak Farmers Market, and something called the Equinox Procession in downtown Royal Oak on March 20…"
Read the full article HERE
27 JAN 15
TILTED AXES ~ VIDEO 2015
07 JAN 15
TILTED AXES ~ 2015
TILTED AXES: Music for Mobile Electric Guitars
Combining the energy of rock, the creative discipline of theater, and the experimental spirit of the downtown NYC arts scene, Tilted Axes is both a processional event, and an ensemble of mobile electric guitarists created by composer/performer Patrick Grant.
Inspired by his background in gamelan music and vanguard theater work, classically-trained post-rocker Grant conceived of Tilted Axes in 2011 as part of Make Music Winter, an event which transforms New York’s cityscape with participatory musical parades in honor of the winter solstice. Tilted Axes was a way of untethering the electric guitar from both heavy stage amps and traditional band structures, as well as bringing live music directly to its audience.
The guitarists of Tilted Axes perform original compositions written specifically for the event by Grant as well as those from the Tilted repertoire, using portable amplifiers strapped to their sides as they walk through the city streets. The outdoor procession of musicians moves along predetermined routes in selected areas, in honor of an event, landmark, or organization unique to that community.
Since its inception, Tilted Axes has evolved as a project with multiple incarnations in New York, Detroit, and Düsseldorf, Germany. In 2015 the project will manifest itself in performances in the USA, Europe, and South America.
The musical pieces themselves, with their interlocking sections, make room for many kinds of genres and grooves. A democratic approach to interpretation allows the musicians - soloists, rhythm players, and percussionists - to shine in an ensemble of uncommon textural power. Flexible in number, Tilted Axes adapts itself to the environment or occasion, and feeds on the energy of a constantly shifting audience.
Tilted Axes cuts musical pathways through the urban landscape, turning neighborhoods into sonic narratives. As a form of street theater, the ensemble brings potent, ecstatic riffs, and an element of surprise, to an unsuspecting public. Tilted Axes is always in motion; striding in, rocking out, and moving on.
The process is simple: When a festival or other institution wishes to stage a Tilted Axes event, a call is put out to local guitarists to apply to participate. When an ensemble is selected from the applicants, they are given via MP3s and PDFs the music to be performed at the event so they can learn it in advance.
A week before the event, Grant arrives with members of Tilt Core (see below) and rehearses the local musicians in the various techniques of musical performance, improvisation, and staging that make up the procession itself.
A procession route within the host city is predetermined. The routes often include city squares, centers of transportation, and indoor structures like museums. The procession is accompanied by posters and placards which let the public know more about the event, sponsors, the hosting organization, and its purpose.
Above all: it rocks.
TILT CORE is an ensemble drawn from the larger group of NYC performers as a means to explore and experiment with new material.
Its smaller size, 5-9 members, enhances musical and practical possibilities. Outside of the larger processional projects, Tilt Core is a more agile and easily presentable ensemble as well a its members serving as the creative catalysts for future Tilted Axes work.
More iNFO at ~
https://www.facebook.com/tiltedaxes
Contact: tiltedaxes@peppergreenmedia.com
Tilted Axes and Tilt Core are powered by VOX amps through the help of KORG/USA and Discover Guitar
Patrick Denard
www.patrickthejazzguy.com
Jazz Inspiration
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