Posted on

Thomas Nordland Recordings

Before the pandemic put a halt to the series one of our last guests was distinguished guitarist, Thomas Nordlund. On February 26th 2020, Nordlund played a stirring solo set of of haunting tones and compelling melodic structures. Following his set, Keston and McKinney joined him to perform three trio pieces.

Track 1: Thomas Nordlund solo (guitar/ electronics)
Tracks 2, 3, 4: Thomas Nordlund (guitar/ electronics), Cody McKinney (bass, vocals, electronics), John C.S. Keston (Rhodes, piano, synthesizer, electronics)

Posted on

Thomas Nordlund

On February 26th 2020, Sound/Simulacra proudly presents, Thomas Nordlund. Nordlund is a guitarist, composer, and producer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is a lyrical guitarist whose command of the instrument allows him to shape vivid musical terrain with only a handful of notes. His compositions stretch from being insular to accessible and unfold like narrative observations of the world around him.

Nordlund released his second album as a bandleader and producer, “Miles Left Behind,” in 2018 on Shifting Paradigm Records. Previously, he collaborated with singer Maryam Yusefzadeh on arrangements of traditional Persian folk songs and new compositions, independently released as “Migration” in 2018. His debut record “Divide Avenue,” an instrumental eight-song set featuring the electric baritone guitar, was released independently in 2015. For the past fifteen years he has performed as a sideman with many artists including Sarah Morris, Chris Bates, John Raymond, Mary Bragg, Maryam Yusefzadeh, Dead Man Winter, Kid Dakota, Moon and Pollution, and Tim Sparks.

Set I – Thomas Nordlund solo (guitar/ electronics)
Set II – Thomas Nordlund (guitar/ electronics) + Cody McKinney (bass, vocals, electronics) + John C.S. Keston (Rhodes, piano, synthesizer, electronics)

Posted on

Erik Fratzke

On September 25, 2019 Sound / Simulacra is pleased to present bassist, guitarist, and composer Erik Fratzke at Jazz Central Studios, Minneapolis, MN. Music starts at 8:30pm.

Erik Fratzke is a composer/performer/educator based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Best known for his work as the bassist of Happy Apple, he also plays bass in Craig Taborn’s Junk Magic, and Cory Healey’s Beautiful Sunshine Band. As a guitarist, Erik is a member of The Dave King Trucking Company, Scott Miller’s Fifth Column Ensemble, The Gang Font, as well as the leader of the instrumental rock group Zebulon Pike. His compositions have been performed and recorded by the new music group Zeitgeist. Erik has performed/recorded with Tim Berne, Michel Portal, Rhys Chatham, Airto, Benoit Delbec, and Yoshida Tatsuya (Ruins).

Set I- Erik Fratzke (solo)
Set II- Erik Fratzke (bass, guitar) + Cody McKinney (bass, voice, electronics) + John Keston (piano, rhodes, synthesizers, electronics)

Posted on

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.

Posted on

Dean Magraw

Wednesday, March 27, 2019 Sound / Simulacra presents Dean Magraw at Jazz Central Studios. Composer, arranger, producer, guitarist Dean Magraw has fine-tuned his “Heavy Meadow” approach to music from years of performing and recording with some of the finest musicians in the United States, Europe, and Japan. His first recording, Broken Silence, came out in 1994 and won the NAIRD award for Best Acoustic Instrumental Album of the Year. Dean has since produced myriad passionate albums, including his latest release, Fire on the Nile (Red House Records), a duo collaboration with renowned percussionist, Eric Kamau Gravatt.

Set I – Dean Magraw (solo guitar)
Set II – Dean Magraw + Cody McKinney (bass, voice, electronics), John Keston (piano, Rhodes, synth, electronics)

Posted on

Adam Svec

Longtime collaborator of John and Cody’s, songwriter Adam Svec, attempts to leverage melodies and simple song structures to tell stories. As an improviser, Svec brings the listener familiar scaffolding filled out by sonic architecture that is oddly unique, typically driven by his northern vision of the country.

Adam Svec was the guest of Sound / Simulacra on January 24, 2018. Adam started the night off with a solo performance playing four improvised pieces on guitar, Roland JX-3P, and voice. John C.S. Keston (piano, Rhodes, Moog Sub 37), and Cody McKinney (bass, electronics) joined Adam performing four more pieces.

Set 1: Adam Svec Solo (guitar, voice, electronics)

Set 2: Adam Svec plus John C.S. Keston (keyboard, synth, electronics) and Cody McKinney (bass, voice, electronics)

Posted on

Don House and Al Church

On December 26, 2018 @ 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm Sound / Simulacra presented guest artists Don House and Al Church.

Set I
Don House — guitar, electronics
Al Church — guitars, keyboards, electronics

Set II
Don House — guitar, electronics
Al Church — guitars, keyboards, electronics
Cody McKinney — bass, voice, electronics

Posted on

Jeremy Yylvisaker Recordings

The Sound / Simulacra series is hosted by myself and Cody McKinney at Jazz Central Studios in Northeast Minneapolis on the fourth Wednesday of every month. If you haven’t made it any of these shows you’re not entirely out of luck. They are all being recorded and I’ll be sharing excerpts here on AudioCookbook. The first event in the series was a duet with Cody McKinney and Jeremy Ylvisaker on January 25, 2017. Their gorgeous improvisations were faithfully captured by sound recordist, Dave Kunath. Enjoy!

Jeremy Ylvisaker is a multi-instrumentalist from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is a member of the indie rock bands Alpha Consumer (with Michael Lewis and JT Bates) and The Cloak Ox along with Andrew Broder of Fog, Mark Erickson and Dosh. He plays guitar in Andrew Bird’s touring band alongside Martin Dosh on drums and Michael Lewis on bass.

Cody McKinney works with sound by actively theorizing, organizing, practicing and challenging its properties. He studied bass and improvisation under many luminaries including: Johannes Weidenmueller, Bruce Gertz, Jim Black as well as composition under Kirk Nurock, Rory Stewart, Steve Lehman and Diane Moser. Cody’s group, Bloodline, along with John Keston and Pete Hennig, have recently recorded an album due out mid 2017.