A concert to benefit ICI Contemporary music concert with artwork on view by Yun-Fei Ji Friday, March 5th 7 pm Tickets: $20 per person RSVP reception@jamescohan.com or 212-714-9500 as space is limited Members of New York’s electric chamber group Bang on a Can All-Stars perform a rare intimate un-plugged set at the James Cohan Gallery. Following up on their smashing fall 2009 performance at the Cohan Gallery in Shanghai, China, Bang on a Can All-Stars’ bassist Robert Black, and percussionist David Cossin make a shorter trek and bring their broad range of visceral innovative music to Chelsea. About Bang on a Can Formed in 1987 by composers Michael Gordon, David Lang and Julia Wolfe, Bang on a Can has been called “the country’s most important vehicle for contemporary music” (San Francisco Chronicle) but it is has been a long road getting there. Over the years, Bang on a Can has grown from a one-day festival to a multi-faceted organization. Their innovative and aggressive approach to programming and presentation has created a large and vibrant international audience made up of people of all ages who are rediscovering the value of contemporary music. You can get up-to-date info regarding all of their recent and upcoming events and CD Releases by visiting their web page: www.bangonacan.org, or for more information about Bang on a Can, please call 718-852-7755 or email info@bangonacan.org. PERFORMERS: Robert Black (bass) Robert Black’s interests range from traditional orchestral and chamber music to solo recitals, collaborations with actors, music with computers, movement-based improvisations with dancers, and live action-painting performances with artists. He has commissioned, collaborated, or performed with musicians from John Cage to D.J. Spooky, Elliott Carter to Meredith Monk, Cecil Taylor to young emerging composers. His recital activities frequently take him to five continents and has appeared at major festivals (Takefu International Music Festival, Japan; Festival de Eleazar Carvalho, Fortalzea, Brazil; Colombo-Catalan Festival, Medellin, Colombia; the Helsinki Festival; NYYD, Estonia; etc.), on radio and television broadcasts (Asia Live, Singapore, VPRO, Holland; NPR, United States; CBC, Canada; etc.) and as an artist-in-residence (American Center, Paris; the Banff Centre, Canada; Studio P.A.S.S., NYC). Currently, Robert performs with the Bang On A Can All Stars, New York City’s hard-hitting new music ensemble. Additional chamber music activities include performances with t he Ciompi and Miami String Quartets. He recently created and performed the music for Kathryn Walker and the Music Theater Group’s production of The Odyssey, and with the Full Force Dance Company, Time On Our Hands. Other collaborations include films by Rudy Burckhardt and live action-painting improvisations with the Brazilian painter Ige D’Aquino. He annually appears at Monadnock Music and the Moab Music Festival among others. He also performs with the Hartford Symphony and the Monadnock Festival Orchestra. Robert maintains a full teaching schedule at The Hartt School at the University of Hartford, the Festival Eleazar de Carvalho (Brazil), and is a member of the Manhattan School of Music’s Contemporary Music Faculty. A recipient of numerous grants, he received a 1998 Bessie Award for his collaborative work with The School of Hard Knocks in NYC. David Cossin (percussion) A native of New York City, David Cossin is a specialist in new and experimental music, working across a broad spectrum of musical and artistic forms incorporating new media with percussion. David Cossin has recorded and performed internationally with composers and ensembles including the Bang on a Can All-Stars, Iva Bittova, Don Byron, Bo Didley, Ornette Coleman, Tan Dun, Philip Glass, Yo-Yo Ma, Meredith Monk, Bo Didley, Cecil Taylor, Real Quiet , Steve Reich and Musicians, Terry Riley, Nobukazu Takemura, and the Talujon Percussion Quartet, . Numerous theater projects include collaborations with Blue Man Group, Mabou Mines, and the director, Peter Sellars. David was featured as the percussion soloist in Tan Dun’s Grammy and Oscar winning score to Ang Lee’s film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. David has performed as a soloist with orchestras through out the world including, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Radio France, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Sao Paulo State Symphony, Sydney Symphony, Royal Swedish Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony, Hong Kong Symphony, and the Singapore Symphony. Through composition, inventing new instruments, and music production David has ventured into other art forms including sonic installations that have been presented in the US, Germany, and Italy. David is the curator for the Sound Res Festival in southern Italy. For more information please visit http://www.davidcossin.com YUN-FEI JI: Mistaking Each Other for Ghosts On view through March 27, 2010 In his second gallery exhibition, Chinese expatriate artist Yun-Fei Ji will present new works on paper that employ historical art making practices to explore contemporary political and social issues. Also included will be Ji’s recent artist’s book in the form of a scroll entitled, Migrants from the Three Gorges Dam, published by the Library Council of The Museum of Modern Art, NY. Image credit: Bang on a Can All Stars
