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Carnage the Executioner

On July 24, 2019 Sound / Simulacra is pleased to present Terrell Woods AKA Carnage the Executioner at Jazz Central Studios.

Whether he’s rapping, composing, performing, teaching kids to beatbox or working his former job as a youth counselor, it’s clear the man most commonly known as Carnage The Executioner was born to do two things: instruct and entertain. Musicians, dancers, DJ’s, poets and television hosts who have worked with Carnage recognize his dedication to his craft and would confirm that he doesn’t disappoint. Ask emcees about Carnage’s skill level and you’ll find out that the phrase, “he’s your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper,” actually fits … Always moving forward, Carnage continues to expand his art and build the Hecatomb crew – a slew of like-minded artists who share his passion to create honest, raw Hip-Hop music. A student and fan in his humble beginnings, Carnage stays true to the culture that both helped to change and save his life.

carnagetheexecutioner.com

Set 1. Carnage the Executioner (voice, beatboxing, electronics)
Set 2. Carnage with John C.S. Keston (piano, Rhodes, synths) and Cody McKinney (bass, voice, electronics)

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Liz Draper Recordings

Sound / Simulacra featured acoustic bassist Liz Draper at Jazz Central Studios on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. Draper started the evening by playing three exquisite solo upright bass pieces utilizing looping, field recordings, and extended technique. Keston and McKinney joined Draper on the second set for two more pieces as a trio.

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Dean Magraw Recordings

On March 27, 2019 Sound / Simulacra presented Dean Magraw. The evening started with Dean performing three gorgeous solo improvisations on electric guitar. Afterward Dean was joined by keyboardist John C.S. Keston and bassist Cody McKinney for three more pieces as an ensemble. Please enjoy these recordings from a truly inspirational night of experimental music.

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Aby Wolf Recordings

Wednesday, February 27th, 2019, Sound / Simulacra featured vocalist Aby Wolf. These recordings from the event are delicate, ambient, and spacious. During Aby’s solo set her ethereal vocal work and signal processing yield evocative melodies and harmonic layers. In the second set her voice weaves around Keston’s keys and McKinney’s bass leading the listener through a mystical pilgrimage.

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Jay Epstein

On June 26, 2019 Sound / Simulacra‘s very special guest is drummer, Jay Epstein. Please join us at Jazz Central Studios, 407 Central Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN. Music begins at 8:30pm.

I’ve put in several decades performing, recording, & touring in this jazz game. After college, I studied polyrhythmic concepts in Manhattan with Barry Altschul, the drummer in Chick Corea’s Circle. Lived in Hollywood, Oklahoma City, Montana, Miami, Minneapolis, and played in house bands for 5 years on several cruise ship lines. Been on 7 European tours with pianists Bill Carrothers & Giacomo Aula. Shared a few choruses with Rocky Robbings, Barney Kessel, Roseanna Vitro,  Manfredo Fest, Sheila Jordan, Terry Gibbs, Greg Abate, Claudio Roditi, Gary Foster, Eric Alexander, Richie Cole, JoAnne Brackeen, Ernie Watts, Wayne Johnson, Karrin Allyson, Kenny Werner, Howard Levy, Bruce Henry, Toots Thielemans, Avashai Cohen, Bob Dorough, and Sarah Vaughan. My CDs, ‘Long Ago’ & ‘Easy Company’, featuring bassist Anthony Cox and pianist Bill Carrothers, have garnered luminous reviews in the international press. Current bands include Red Planet, Klezmerica, Framework, Firebell, Tall Tales, Andrew Walesch, & Sam Miltich. I’ve endorsed Bosphorus Cymbals since 1997.

– Jay Epstein

Set I – Three Duets

i. Jay Epstein (drums) + Cody McKinney (bass, vocals, electronics)
ii. John Keston (piano, synth, rhodes, electronics) + Cody McKinney (bass, vocals, electronics)
iii. John Keston (piano, synth, rhodes, electronics) + Jay Epstein (drums)

Set II – Trio

Jay Epstein (drums) + Cody McKinney ( bass, vocals, electronics) + John Keston (piano, synth, rhodes, electronics)

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Michael Masaru Flora Recordings

On Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 Sound / Simulacra featured Michael Masaru Flora. During his solo set Flora channel surfed through a dazzling series of unusual electronic textures. Afterward Flora was joined by John C.S. Keston (piano, Rhodes, synthesis) and Cody McKinney (bass, voice, electronics) for two more pieces.

Track 1: Michael Masaru Flora Solo Performance
Track 2: Michael Masaru Flora, John C.S Keston, Cody McKinney Part 1
Track 3: Michael Masaru Flora, John C.S. Keston, Cody McKinney Part 2

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Darwin Grosse

Sound / Simulacra continues with featured artist Darwin Grosse, May 22, 8:30pm at Jazz Central Studios, Minneapolis. Darwin Grosse works at the intersection of creativity, electronics and code. By applying an engineer’s toolkit to live performance, he builds complex sonic landscapes out of whole cloth. In addition to his active live media performance work, Darwin is part of the Cycling ‘74 software development team, writes for several media arts outlets and in an occasional university instructor. Oh, and he probably drinks more coffee than you. In this performance, Darwin will be working with a modular synthesizer and several computing platforms (Akai MPC Live, Monome Norns) to produce both ambient/melodic washes and noise walls.

Set 1 – Darwin Grosse (electronics)
Set 2 – Darwin Grosse (electronics), John C.S. Keston (piano, Rhodes, synthesizers), Cody McKinney (bass, electronics, voice)

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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)

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Martin Dosh Recordings

Last October, 2018 Sound / Simulacra featured Martin Dosh. Both Keston and Cody have collaborated with Dosh over the years. These recordings reveal an intimate event that yielded two pieces from Dosh’s solo set and two pieces from the second set with the trio of Martin Dosh (drums Rhodes, synth, sampler), John Keston (piano, synthesizer, electronics), and Cody McKinney (bass, voice, electronics).