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Michelle Kinney Recordings

On November 28, 2018 Sound / Simulacra featured cellist, Michelle Kinney. Michelle performed three inspiring solo pieces in the first set. For the second set John C.S. Keston and Cody McKinney joined Michelle and performed two lengthy improvisations adding keyboards, synthesizer, bass, electronics, and voice to the ensemble. Please enjoy these recording of the performance.

Michelle’s work as a composer/performer has been recognized and supported by the The McKnight Foundation (Composer Fellowship, 2014), Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, 2014, The Bush Foundation (Bush Artists Fellowship 2004), The Jerome Foundation, MN State Arts Board, NEA/Rockefeller, Harvestworks/Studio Pass, and the American Composers Forum.

*Kinney’s improvisations in Solo Piece 1 are based on the merging of 2 melodies: In a Silent Way by Joe Zawinul and Vasanthi by Nirmala Rajasekar.

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Liz Draper

Sound / Simulacra is pleased to present Liz Draper at Jazz Central Studios on Wednesday, April 24, 2019.

Liz Draper performs and composes in an array of musical genres and ensembles, from jazz and classical to folk, chamber doom metal, improv-based new music, Americana and Balkan. Liz studied jazz and classical bass at the University of Minnesota where she studied with leading members of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra. Her improvising led her to The School For Improvised Music in Brooklyn, New York. She has performed with such groups as the Grammy Award-winning Okee Dokee Brothers, Soul Asylum, Charlie Parr, The Rose Ensemble, Ben Weaver, Orkestar Bez Ime, Davina and the Vagabonds, The Wild Goose Chase Cloggers and Chama Devora, a duo with keyboardist/composer Crystal Myslajek. Liz loves exploring sonic textures and soundscapes. She is the Music Director for Cantata Learning which specializes in song-based educational e-books, and has taught privately since 1998.

Set I – Liz Draper (solo bass)
Set II – Liz Draper + Cody McKinney (bass, voice, electronics), John Keston (piano, Rhodes, synth, electronics)