Darcy James Argue's Secret Society

Photos from (Le) Poisson Rouge

Sebastian Noelle, originally uploaded by Lindsay Beyerstein.

More incriminating evidence here.

Our deepest thanks to those who came out to hear us last night at (Le) Poisson Rouge. LPR has a genuine commitment to doing things right, which I'm sure I don't need to tell you, makes them practically unique amongst NYC venues.

I'm actually going back again tonight for Jenny Lin's CD launch. Lots more cool stuff coming up... A Hawk and a Hacksaw, Metropolis Ensemble, Matmos, Matt Shulman, Kathy Suppové... this is a great space to hear great music. Show them some love, people.

It will take me a little bit of time to post the audio from last night. Thanks to LPR, we were able to make a 48-channel digital recording of the entire hit (check out some of the sweet mics), and early next week we are going into the studio with Paul Cox to do the mixing and mastering. I'll post the results here when we are done -- this will be a big step up from the usual gig audio! This was a great gig for us and I am really looking forward to being able to bring you this music.

We need to make new symbols, make new signs

SECRET SOCIETY
NEW LANGUAGES FESTIVAL
THE LIVING THEATRE
NEW YORK, NY
13 JUNE 2008

SETLIST (click to listen; right-click/ctrl-click to download)

1) MP3: Induction Effect
Solo: Ron Horton, trumpet

2) MP3: Phobos
Solos: John Ellis, tenor sax; Jon Wikan, cajon

3) MP3: Ferromagnetic
Solo: Tim Hagans, trumpet

4) MP3: Zeno
Solo: Ryan Keberle, trombone

5) MP3: Redeye
Solo: Sebastian Noelle, guitar

6) MP3: Habeas Corpus
Solo: James Hirschfeld, trombone

7) MP3: Transit
Solo: Ingrid Jensen, trumpet

DOWNLOAD ALL (ZIP ARCHIVE)

Our deepest thanks to the large and enthusiastic late-night crowd who turned out for this hit -- we hope it was worth the wait. It was a complete thrill to have Tim Hagans and Ron Horton play with the NYC band for the first time, and we hope to have them both back soon. (In fact, one of them will be joining us for our next gig, July 9 at Le Poisson Rouge... watch this space for details.)

Our sincerest thanks as well to the organizers of the New Languages Festival: Ty Cumbie, Jackson Moore, and Aaron Ali Shaikh, for keeping the flame alive. Running an upstart, independent festival like New Languages is a thankless job at the best of times, but it is vitally important. These days, it's easy to feel like you are alone in your own isolated musical universe. Being part of New Languages made me feel like a part of a greater community of musicians and listeners -- for a moment at least, it felt like we were a roomful of people with a shared sensibility and shared goals.

CO-CONSPIRATORS

REEDS
Erica vonKleist
Ben Kono
John Ellis
Sam Sadigursky
Josh Sinton

TRUMPETS
Tim Hagans
Ingrid Jensen
Ron Horton
Seneca Black
Tom Goehring

TROMBONES
Ryan Keberle
Mike Fahie
James Hirschfeld
Darrell Hendricks

RHYTHM
Sebastian Noelle, guitar
Mike Holober, piano
Matt Clohesy, bass
Jon Wikan, drums

He took a face from the ancient gallery

SECRET SOCIETY
THE JAZZ GALLERY
NEW YORK, NY
18-19 APRIL 2008

18 APRIL - SET 1
(click to listen, right-click/control-click to download)

1) MP3: Flux in a Box
Solos: Ben Kono - alto sax; Mike Holober - piano

2) MP3: Phobos
Solos: Jon Wikan - cajon; John Ellis - tenor sax

3) MP3: Ferromagnetic
Solo: Jonathan Finlayson - trumpet

4) MP3: Habeas Corpus
Solo: James Hirschfeld - trombone

5) MP3: Transit
Solo: Ingrid Jensen - fluegelhorn

Download 18 April Set 1 (.zip archive)

18 APRIL - SET 2

1) MP3: Desolation Sound
Solo: Mike McGinnis - soprano sax

2) MP3: Zeno
Solo: Alan Ferber - trombone

3) MP3: Redeye
Solo: Sebastian Noelle - guitar

4) MP3: Lizard Brain
Solo: Josh Sinton - baritone sax

5) MP3: The Perils of Empire

Download 18 April Set 2 (.zip archive)

19 APRIL - SET 1

1) MP3: Ritual
Solo: Mike Fahie - trombone

2) MP3: Chrysalis
Solo: Erica vonKleist - alto flute/soprano sax

3) MP3: Transit
Solo: Ingrid Jensen - fluegelhorn

4) MP3: Drift
Solo: John Ellis - tenor sax

5) MP3: Habeas Corpus
Solo: James Hirschfeld - trombone

Download 19 April Set 1 (.zip archive)

19 APRIL - SET 2

1) MP3: Induction Effect
Solo: Sam Hoyt - fluegelhorn

2) MP3: Phobos
Solos: Jon Wikan - cajon; John Ellis - tenor sax

3) MP3: Ferromagnetic
Solo: Jonathan Finlayson - trumpet

4) MP3: Zeno
Solo: Alan Ferber - trombone

5) MP3: Desolation Sound
Solo: Mike McGinnis - soprano sax

6) MP3: The Perils of Empire

Download April 19 Set 2 (.zip archive)

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Incriminating Evidence (courtesy of Lindsay Beyerstein)

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As always, my most sincere and heartfelt thanks to all who came out to hear us last weekend. We inducted several new co-conspirators into the Society, including Mike McGinnis and John Ellis, whose solo work you can hear above -- Mike plays on "Desolation Sound" and John plays on "Phobos" and "Drift." And don't sleep on Sam Hoyt on "Induction Effect." I also unveiled a sparkly new tune, "Zeno," the premiere performances of which you can now check out at your leisure. Finally, be sure to take in Lindsay's photographs -- she's a busy girl, so it's been a while since she's been available to shoot the band, but you can check out her latest work here.

You can also read a very generous writeup courtesy of poet and blogger Karen Hildebrand.

Unfortunately, my trusty digital recorder seems increasingly untrustworthy -- first, it mangled the recording of the final show of our January tour, at Toronto's Tranzac (I forgot to mention this earlier, but if anyone in the audience at Tranzac recorded the show, please contact me... ) and now, the infernal device has also garbled the final set of our two-night stand at the Gallery. However, the Jazz Gallery itself records all events there, so I'm hoping to obtain a copy of their recording and have it uploaded before long. (UPDATE: April 19 Set 2 has now been uploaded.)

Finally, while I don't anticipate that Secret Society will be declaring Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the immediate future (sweet lord I hope not, at least), we are in fact still attempting to pay off many of the expenses related to our January tour up to Montreal and Toronto. Musically, it was a massive success, with hugely enthusiastic audiences and rave reviews all around. It opened some important doors for us and and I have every reason to hope it will lead to bigger and better things for the band. That said, what with gas prices being what they are (and the US dollar being what it is), it was also an extremely expensive endeavor, and we are still soliciting individual donations to help us pay for trip-related costs. 

Of course, my undying love and gratitude goes out to those who have already made a donation. You are all awesome and I truly cannot thank you enough.

And thanks to you (this will be more "inside baseball" than "rock and roll," for which I apologize in advance) we are very, very close (like, within $120) to meeting our initial fundraising goal for this campaign. If that happens, then we will become eligible to apply for  institutional donations to help us fund our next big project -- the nature of which I am not yet at liberty to reveal but let's just say it rhymes with "sudeo according."

If you can, please help us pass that important milestone. We are in a brave new post-record-company world here, folks, and we are trying our best to make a go of it. But we can't do it without your help.

Once again, all of your donations made via Fractured Atlas are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Alternatively, if you'd like something more tangible than my undying love and gratitude in exchange for your hard-earned cash, our stylish Secret Society t-shirts (silkscreened by Hemlock Ink) can be had for roughly 867% less than a shirt from the new Varvatos boutique.

And, of course, you can always help us by downloading the above live MP3s and sharing them with your friends. Thanks for supporting creative independent 21st century music, and thanks most of all for listening.

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MANDATORY DISCLAIMER: Darcy James Argue's Secret Society North's Winter '08 Tour is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of Darcy James Argue's Secret Society North may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Well, I ain't been home to see my baby in ninety nine and one half days

SECRET SOCIETY NORTH
LA SALA ROSSA
MONTREAL
8 JANUARY 2008

SETLIST (click to listen/right-click or ctrl-click to download)

1) MP3: Flux in a Box
Solos: Erik Hove, alto sax; Gordon Webster, keyboard

2) MP3: Induction Effect
Solo: Lina Allemano, trumpet

3) MP3: Ritual
Solos: Kelsley Grant, trombone; Sebastian Noelle, guitar

4) MP3: Phobos
Solos: Jon Wikan, cajon; Joel Miller, tenor sax

5) MP3: Drift
Solo: Chet Doxas, tenor sax

6) MP3: Desolation Sound
Solo: Christine Jensen, alto sax

7) MP3: Ferromagnetic
Solo: Kevin Turcotte, trumpet

8) MP3: Habeas Corpus
Solo: Mike Fahie, trombone

9) MP3: Transit
Solo: Ingrid Jensen, trumpet

DOWNLOAD ALL (ZIP ARCHIVE)

This was not just the first-ever gig for the Society's Canadian splinter cell, it was my first gig in Montreal since August 2000. Thanks to all who came out to hear us -- you made this hit feel like a real homecoming. With any luck, it will not take another seven years for us to be back.

And of course, a huge thank-you to all of our supporters -- this tour would not have happened without your individual contributions.

Here are some reviews -- Juan Rodriguez in the Montreal Gazette:

The morning after, I was still stunned at what I'd heard - clearly some of the most ambitious and compelling sounds I've ever encountered in the past 40 years.

Read the whole thing.

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Adam Kinner at the Gazette's Words and Music blog:

Point is: it’s great to see a jazz composer who is actively manipulating the jazz tradition and the incorporating other music to produce a truly fresh and unique sound. 

Read the whole thing.

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And David Ryshpan at Settled in Shipping:

[E]ven though I'd been listening to recordings of the New York band, hearing that music live had a different power and immediacy that I wasn't expecting.

Read the whole thing.

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SECRET SOCIETY NORTH CO-CONSPIRATORS

REEDS

Erik Hove

Christine Jensen

Joel Miller

Chet Doxas

Carl Maraghi

TRUMPETS

Ingrid Jensen

Lina Allemano

Kevin Turcotte

Jimmy Rhodes

Jocelyn Couture

TROMBONES

Mike Fahie

Kelsley Grant

Barb Hamilton

Bob Ellis

RHYTHM

Sebastian Noelle, guitar

Gordon Webster, keyboard

Matt Clohesy, bass

Jon Wikan, drums

COMPOSER, CONDUCTOR & RINGLEADER

Darcy James Argue

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Our winter 2008 tour is now complete, but it's not too late to help support this effort by making a tax-deductible donation.

Oh it's midnight on the Bowery and your feet are soakin' wet

SETLIST (click to listen/right-click or ctrl-click to download)

1) MP3: Ritual
Solos: James Hirschfeld, trombone; Sebastian Noelle, guitar

2) MP3: Induction Effect
Solo: André Canniere, fluegelhorn

3) MP3: Flux in a Box
Solos: Ben Kono, alto sax; Mike Holober, electric piano

4) MP3: Ferromagnetic
Solo: Nadje Noorhuis, trumpet

5) MP3: Phobos
Solos: Jon Wikan, cajon; Jason Rigby, tenor sax

6) MP3: Redeye
Solo: Sebastian Noelle, guitar

7) MP3: Habeas Corpus
Solo: Ryan Keberle, trombone

8) MP3: Transit
Solo: Ingrid Jensen, flugelhorn

9) MP3: The Perils of Empire

Download all (ZIP archive)

The Society bids a fond fare-thee-well to trumpeter André Canniere, who in 2008 is relocating to Dear Old Blighty to be with his lovely bride. André has been in the Society since almost the very beginning, and has been featured on most of our various versions of "Induction Effect" -- none more compelling than his solo turn last night. Have a listen. 

Good luck in the UK, André -- we will miss you.

It was a regular blogger powwow last night on the Bowery, with Ethan, Sid, Peter, Elana, Amy, and Kelly all in attendance. Thanks to all who turned out on a cold December night, and thanks most especially to Kelly for her invaluable assistance with the T-shirt sales.

Speaking of which, you have until midnight tomorrow (Tuesday) night to place your Secret Society T-shirt orders. After that, I am headed back home for the holidays, and then in early 2008 we will embark on our first-ever tour. T-shirt orders placed after Dec. 18 won't ship until my return in mid-Jan., so if you want yours before then, you'll need to act swiftly.

My most sincere and heartfelt thanks to those of you who have helped support us as we prepare to take the show on the ice-encrusted roads of Quebec and Ontario in early January (what was I thinking???). If you have not already made a tax-deductible donation (via Fractured Atlas), and/or purchased a handsome Secret Society T-shirt, please consider doing so now. Your contributions and T-shirt purchases help me  ensure that the band gets there and back without any unnecessary  casualties. Remember, we must be mindful of the Australians amongst us -- they are not used to these weather conditions.

Rest assured, the scenes behind the scenes of this winter tour will be fully documented on the blog -- if not as-it-happens, then at least upon my (presumed) safe return to Brooklyn.

Thank you all for reading, thank you for listening, and thank you for supporting creative independent music. On behalf of the Society and all its co-conspirators, all the very best for the holidays and the year to come. Stay tuned, and stay warm.

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A gentle reminder that our fall fundraiser is in full swing. You can help make our January tour a success by making a tax-deductible donation.

I blew my gig pokin' 'round the gallery

SETLIST - SET 1 (click to listen/right-click to download)

1) MP3: Phobos
Solos: Jon Wikan - cajon; Mark Small - tenor sax

2) MP3: Ferromagnetic
Solo: Kenny Warren - trumpet

3) MP3: Chrysalis
Solo: Erica vonKleist - alto flute/soprano sax

4) MP3: Transit
Solo: Ingrid Jensen - fluegelhorn

5) MP3: Habeas Corpus (for Maher Arar)
Solo: James Hirschfeld - trombone

Download Set 1 (ZIP Archive)

SETLIST - SET 2

1) MP3: Indcution Effect
Solo: André Canniere - fluegelhorn

2) MP3: Flux in a Box
Solos: Rob Wilkerson - alto sax; Jesse Stacken - piano

3) MP3: Desolation Sound (this performance dedicated to the memory of Barry Beyerstein)
Solo: Sam Sadigursky - soprano sax

4) MP3: Redeye
Solo: Sebastian Noelle - guitar

5) MP3: Lizard Brain
Solo: Josh Sinton - bari sax

Download Set 2 (ZIP Archive)

Damn, it's good to be back.

We unveiled two new tunes at the Jazz Gallery on Thursday night -- "Ferromagnetic" (which draws [unironic] inspiration from the aforementioned awesome trailer), and "Redeye," a gentle ode to the effects of sleep deprivation. (Hey, write what you know, right?) This tune was rescued from the ashes of a much earlier attempt at developing this material -- one that did not end at all well.

My deepest thanks to all who came out to hear us play -- this was perhaps the most satisfying hit yet, on every level. Naturally, I was delighted to see that there were some fellow bloggers in the house. (PS Thanks for the writeups, Yooni, Chris, and Kelly! )

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Thanks to the good people at Fractured Atlas, you may now make a secure, online, and tax-deductible donation to Secret Society:

Here is the official appeal for our current fundraising campaign -- I will have more information for you soon:

Secret Society North is the Canadian cousin to the acclaimed New York big band Secret Society. Vancouver-born, New York-based composer-bandleader Darcy James Argue wanted to give Canadian audiences the opportunity to hear his cutting-edge large ensemble music live. He realized that putting together an edition of Secret Society that augments the core of the NYC band with Canadian musicians would not only allow him to present his music north of the 49th, it would also give him the opportunity to reconnect with musicians he had collaborated with during his years on the Montreal jazz scene in the 1990’s. He calls this band "Secret Society North."

Secret Society North have been invited to perform at the 2008 IAJE (International Association for Jazz Education) conference in Toronto. This is by far the largest jazz event in the world, regularly attracting over 7,000 attendees. It is also a terrific opportunity to perform fresh and forward-looking music for jazz students and educators, who too often let their focus on jazz's past obscure their view of what is happening right now.

We humbly ask for your support to help us defray the travel expenses and other costs associated with bringing our innovative and genre-defying music to audiences in Toronto and Montreal that have never heard anything quite like it before.

MANDATORY DISCLAIMER GOES HERE: Darcy James Argue's Secret Society North Winter '08 Tour is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of Darcy James Argue's Secret Society North Winter '08 Tour may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

It was on the Bowery when it was time to go

SETLIST (click to listen/download)

1) Ritual
Solos: Ryan Keberle, trombone; Mike Baggetta, guitar

2) Phobos
Solos: Jon Wikan, cajon; Mark Small, tenor sax

3) Induction Effect
Solo: Jonathan Finlayson, trumpet

4) Drift
Solo: Jason Rigby, tenor sax

5) Transit
Solo: Ingrid Jensen, fluegelhorn

6) Habeas Corpus
Solo: Christian Pincock, trombone

Download All (ZIP archive)

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What a kick to have the evening open up with a set by Kyle Saulnier's Awakening Orchestra. This band hasn't been around all that long, but they are already impressively tight, executing Kyle's demanding and varied music with sensitivity, grace, and pinpoint precision. Kyle's music is very different than mine -- he is much more likely to reach for the jarring juxtapositions, abrupt transitions, extreme contrasts, but the results are very hip, personable and refreshing. It's nice to have occasional reminders that there are other people out there shooting for the same stars. It makes you feel less delusional... although, like a gathering of self-reinforcing conspiracy nuts, there's no guarantee that we aren't actually all of us barking loons.

That being the case, I don't think I'll let myself be institutionalized quite yet. Especially if there can be more nights like Saturday's big band double-bill. It's always a thrill to see how players I've grown used to hearing in completely different contexts sound when sucked into the Society vortex for the first time. Check Mike Baggetta's slashing sound constructs on "Ritual" (also augmented by some authentic lungcore low end, courtesy of Alex Hamelin on bari), and Jonathan Finlayson's intimate and fragile solo opening on "Induction Effect." Christian Pincock has played with us on a couple of previous occasions, but has never before had the chance to stretch out with a solo turn -- check his plaintive contribution to "Habeas Corpus." Jason Rigby was on our third-ever hit back in November 2005 -- you can, if you are so inclined, compare his solo on "Drift" back then to the one he blew Saturday night. This is not to neglect the reliably great Mark Small, Ingrid Jensen, and Ryan Keberle -- on "Phobos," "Transit," and "Ritual," respectively.

While this blog may be finally back from hiatus, the band is going to take a little break, whilst I try to come up with some new music, and also hopefully devising some new strategems for getting the music out there. (Perhaps the spirit of the late Rev. Falwell will offer up some tips from beyond the grave on developing one's evangelism chops.) At any rate, thanks again to Kyle and his crew for sharing the night with us, and thanks especially to all who came out to hear us. You guys are the best. See you again this fall.

POSTSCRIPT: As mentioned at the gig, this will be Society trumpet player Dave Rezek's last appearance with the group. Dave is one of the finest trumpet players I have ever worked with. He first began playing my music back in Boston, when we were both at NEC, and since we both moved to New York, he has made every single Secret Society hit save one -- and he only subbed out of that one because that was the week his wife was due. But Dave, Lori, and their 18-month old baby Seth will be leaving Gotham this summer for good, to return to their hometown of Des Moines, Iowa. I wish the three of them all the very best.

The minstrel in the gallery

Thursday, 5 April 2007 - The Jazz Gallery

SETLIST - SET 2 (click to listen/download)

1) MP3: Transit (excerpt)
Solo: Ingrid Jensen, fluegelhorn

2) MP3: Desolation Sound
Solo: Sam Sadigursky, soprano sax

3) MP3: Induction Effect
Solo: André Canniere, trumpet

4) MP3: Chrysalis
Solo: Erica vonKleist, alto flute/soprano sax

5) MP3: Habeas Corpus
Solo: James Hirschfeld, trombone

6) MP3: The Perils of Empire

Download all (ZIP archive)

Many, many thanks to those who came out for our Jazz Gallery debut. Your support is quite literally what allows us to keep going. My appreciation for your contribution to this nefarious enterprise knows no bounds.

I'm afraid that the first set of the evening is preserved only in the memories of those who heard it, as unbeknownst to me, the freshly-charged batteries on my recorder died almost the instant I turned it on. The good news is that the second set captured almost in its entirety -- the recording begins in medias res on "Transit," but after that everything is represented in full. (For the curious and/or the obsessive completists, the Set 1 setlist is reproduced below the fold.)

Our next gig will be a very exciting big band double-bill at the Bowery Poetry Club on May 19. Kyle Saulnier's Awakening Orchestra will kick things off at 7:00 PM sharp, and the Society will follow at 8:00 PM. It's also my birthday (observed), so please join us as I do my best to age loudly and gracelessly.

Everybody's going Uptown (it's where I wanna be)

Wednesday, 7 March 2007 - Makor

SETLIST (click to listen/download)

1) Transit
Solo: Ingrid Jensen, fluegelhorn

2) Desolation Sound
Solo: Sam Sadigurksy, soprano sax

3) Chrysalis
Solo: Erica vonKleist, alto flute/soprano sax

4) Induction Effect
Solo: André Canniere, trumpet

5) Phobos
Solos: Jon Wikan, cajon; Dan Willis, tenor sax

6) Flux in a Box
Solos: Ben Kono, alto sax; Mike Holober, piano

7) Habeas Corpus
Solo: Alan Ferber, trombone

Download All (ZIP archive)

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Thanks to all who came up to hear us venture outside of our usual haunts. Makor is a very hip venue, an oasis of eclecticism lurking in the monocultural shadow of Lincoln Center. (Though presumably the uneasy fit with Uptown concergoing tastes is a big part of why they're moving to TriBeCa.) But it's a great space, with great sound -- as you can hear on the above MP3s. Mike Holober was happy to play an actual acoustic piano for once -- check his solo on "Flux," as well as Ingrid's return to the fold on "Transit," Alan's take on the somewhat revised "Habeas Corpus," and the blistering playing by special guests Ben Kono (also on "Flux") and Dan Willis ("Phobos").

If you missed us at Makor, we will be at the Jazz Gallery on April 5, and then back at the Bowery Poetry Club on May 19 (in a double bill with Kyle Saulnier's band).

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Sorry, no incriminating evidence this time -- the band photographer was busy with other assignments.

And the Bowery is screaming while Delancey rests

Sunday, 14 January 2007 - Bowery Poetry Club

with the Industrial Jazz Group

SETLIST (click to listen/download)

1) Lizard Brain
Solo: Josh Sinton, baritone sax

2) Induction Effect
Solo: André Canniere, trumpet

3) Drift
Solo: Mark Small, tenor sax

4) Transit
Solo: Shane Endsley, trumpet

5) Chrysalis
Solo: Erica vonKleist, alto flute and soprano sax

6) Phobos
Solos: Jon Wikan, cajon; Mark Small, tenor sax

7) Habeas Corpus
Solo: James Hirschfeld, trombone

8) The Perils of Empire

 

Download all (ZIP archive)

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Incriminating evidence (by Brazilian music photographer Dani Gurgel).

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Goddamn but that was fun. And believe me, I never thought I'd say that about a gig where I found out just a few hours before the hit that one of the players was stuck in Florida airport hell (redundant, I know) and couldn't make it back to New York in time to play. Luckily, last-minute sub Marc Phaneuf -- who had never seen any of the music before -- is evidently some sort of sight-reading mutant, and so all was good.

The Industrial Jazz Group were, as predicted, more fun in a club setting at night than they were in a hotel ballroom during a Very Important Jazz Conference at noon a few days prior. And since they were still pretty goddamn fun at IAJE, that's quite the accomplishment. It no doubt helped that Andrew Durkin & co. were playing the final night of an east coast tour, in front of a hugely supportive crowd. Seriously, I have never seen the BPC that packed. Shameless gig-flogging at IAJE (from all involved) evidently really does work. Who knew?

Anyway, the IJG brought boundless reserves of energy to Andrew's infectious and witty charts, which are full of clever inside jokes but thankfully mostly snark-free -- they kid because they love. Their tunes are all great, but I'm especially partial to "Bongo Non Troppo." If you haven't heard their stuff yet, get thee to MySpace posthaste.

IJG trumpet player and blogger extraordinaire Kris Tiner has the inside scoop:

I'm interested to read what Durkin will blog about the whole thing, but I'll go ahead and venture to say that this was probably the strongest and most fun IJG gig I've ever played on. Playing this music night after night with more or less the same people is really something else. Tonight it just seemed to coalesce and flow together and fly by effortlessly.

It was truly amazing to have such a killing group hit just before we did -- their set was an inspiration for the Society to try to give it up as much as the Industrials did.

I will let you all decide whether or not we succeeded in that regard, but I'm very pleased with how things went. It was great to have Erica, Jon, and Darrell back with us, and the newly inducted co-conspirators -- Shane, Alex, Thomson, and of course Marc -- all played their asses off. Not a bad start to 2007, all things considered.

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REEDS
Erica vonKleist
Rob Wilkerson
Marc Phaneuf
Mark Small
Josh Sinton

TRUMPETS
Shane Endsley
André Canniere
James De La Garza
Tom Goehring
Dave Rezek

TROMBONES
Alan Ferber
Alex Heitlinger
James Hirschfeld
Darrell Hendricks

RHYTHM
Sebastian Noelle, guitar
Mike Holober, keyboards
Thomson Kneeland, bass
Jon Wikan, drums

COMPOSER, CONDUCTOR, RINGLEADER
Darcy James Argue

But in the Bowery hangs the memories of dreams that still come true

Gig Postmortem
Thursday, 30 November 2006 - Bowery Poetry Club

SETLIST (click to listen/download)

1) Ritual
Solos: Ryan Keberle, trombone; Sebastian Noelle, guitar

2) Phobos
Solo: Mark Small, tenor sax

3) Flux in a Box
Solos: Rob Wilkerson, alto sax; Mike Holober, piano

4) Induction Effect
Solo: André Canniere, fluegelhorn

5) Drift
Solo: Mark Small, tenor sax

6) Transit
Solo: Jacob Wick, trumpet

7) Habeas Corpus
Solo: James Hirschfeld, trombone

8) Desolation Sound
Solo: Sam Sadigursky, soprano sax

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NYT Review (Ben Ratliff)

While I'm extremely flattered by the praise Ratliff has for my writing, I can't agree with his characterization of Rob's solo on "Flux in a Box." But hey, the great thing about the interweb is that you can listen and make up your own mind.

I am, as always, deeply grateful to all of my co-conspirators for their dedication, hard work, and consummate musicianship. But kindly indulge me in a supersized shout-out to Kendrick Scott. This music lives or dies by the drummer. He's the guy you depend on to keep everything from flying off the rails, to unite 18 different time feels, to give shape to the music, to keep it aloft.

This is not the kind of thing you can just read cold. Regular Secret Society drummer, Jon Wikan (who's currently out with Maria Schneider's band) knows by now what the music needs, having anchored most of our gigs so far. As does Richie Barshay, who played with us in August -- Richie got to know my music by playing it every week for a year back when we were both students at NEC. But Kendrick had zero previous exposure to my writing. Nonetheless, over just a couple of rehearsals, he was able to internalize the shape and the spirit of it, figure out where the music crests and where it breaks, all while bringing his own distinctive personality to bear. I knew from that first slam into the beat on "Ritual" that this was going to be a fun gig.

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Incriminating Evidence

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CO-CONSPIRATORS

REEDS
Aaron Irwin
Rob Wilkerson
Sam Sadigursky
Mark Small
Josh Sinton

TRUMPETS
Jacob Wick
André Canniere
James De La Garza
Tom Goehring
Dave Rezek

TROMBONES
Mark Patterson
Ryan Keberle
James Hirschfeld
Mike Christianson

RHYTHM
Sebastian Noelle, guitar
Mike Holober, keyboards
Matt Clohesy, bass
Kendrick Scott, drums

COMPOSER, CONDUCTOR, RINGLEADER
Darcy James Argue

Through factory chains and the ghost of the union

Saturday, August 26 - Flux Factory (3 Quarks Daily bash).

SETLIST (click to listen/download)

1) Flux in a Box
Solos: Rob Wilkerson, alto sax; Mike Holober, piano

2) Phobos
Solo: Mark Small, tenor sax

3) Chrysalis
Solo: Aaron Irwin, alto flute/soprano sax

4) Induction Effect
Solo: Matt Shulman, trumpet

5) Ritual
Solos: Mike Fahie, trombone; Sebastian Noelle, guitar

6) Desolation Sound
Solo: Sam Sadigursky, soprano sax

7) Transit
Solo: Jacob Varmus, trumpet

- - - - -

Sunday, August 27 - Union Hall

 SETLIST (click to listen/download)

1) Transit
Solo: Jacob Varmus, trumpet

2) Phobos
Solo: Mark Small, tenor sax

3) Lizard Brain
Solo: Josh Sinton, bari sax

4) Desolation Sound
Solo: Sam Sadigursky, soprano sax

5) Flux in a Box
Solos: Rob Wilkerson, alto sax; Mike Holober, piano

6) Chrysalis
Solo: Aaron Irwin, alto flute/soprano sax

7) Induction Effect
Solo: Matt Shulman, trumpet

8) Ritual
Solos: Mike Fahie, trombone; Sebastian Noelle, guitar

9) The Perils of Empire

- - - - -

One of the biggest challenges of running a big band is trying to keep a stable group of players together -- especially when so many of those players have busy touring schedules of their own. But on the other hand, one of the biggest rewards of running a big band is the chance to have your music realized by a staggering variety of incredibly talented musicians who each bring their own personality to bear on the music. (Actually, Ike emailed me after the gigs to say: "It's so great to have an excuse for the community to congregate and make music together," which pretty much made my fuckin' year.)

These recordings from last weekend all sound very different from our previous hits -- it's the first time we've played without our regular, stalwart rhythm section of Matt Clohesy and Jon Wikan. And while, as a bandleader, you can't help but miss the security of players that have more or less internalized your charts, it's also thrilling to hear what great musicians like Ike Sturm and Richie Barshay will bring to the music -- especially since Richie and I go way back (he played on some of the earliest performances of "Flux in a Box," "Chrysalis," and "Lizard Brain" back in 2001-2002).  It's also incredibly satisfying to be able to showcase musicians who have toiled away at Secret Society reading sessions and rehearsals but never performed with the band -- check out these amazing solo turns by Matt Shulman on "Induction Effect", Mark Small on "Phobos", Aaron Irwin on "Chrysalis", and Jacob Varmus on "Transit". And while you're at it, listen to the fresh ideas Society veterans bring to familiar material: Josh Sinton on "Lizard Brain", Sam Sadigursky on "Desolation Sound", and Rob Wilkerson and Mike Holober on "Flux in a Box".

On Saturday, at Flux Factory, we were playing mainly for the 3 Quarks community, most of whom had never heard us before and had no idea what to expect, which made the enthusiastic response all the more gratifying. (And I have to admit, I'd been looking forward to playing "Flux in a Box" at the home of FluxBox for a long time... )  On Sunday, at Union Hall, I finally got to bring the band to  Brooklyn (my home for the past three years), and we got to play for friends old and new -- including Jean, Julie, Corey, Seth, Brenda, Sarah, Chris and Molly. And I'm happy to report that Union Hall is the real deal -- an amazing-sounding room with a staff that treats musicians like human beings (instead of the customary noisy chattel).

Heartfelt thanks to all who came out to hear us this weekend. We are, as ever, at your service.

And, as always, there is Incriminating Evidence available for your perusal...

- - - - -

CO-CONSPIRATORS

Reeds
Aaron Irwin
Rob Wilkerson
Sam Sadigurksy
Mark Small
Josh Sinton

Trumpets
Matt Shulman
Jacob Varmus
James de la Garza
Tom Goehring
Dave Rezek

Trombones
Alan Ferber
Mike Fahie
Kajiwara Tokunori
Darrell Hendricks

Rhythm
Sebastian Noelle, guitar
Mike Holober, keys
Ike Sturm, bass
Richie Barshay, drums

SETLIST (click to listen/download)

1) Flux in a Box
Solos: Rob Wilkerson, alto sax; Mike Holober, piano

2) Phobos
Solo: Mark Small, tenor sax

3) Chrysalis
Solo: Aaron Irwin, alto flute/soprano sax

4) Induction Effect
Solo: Matt Shulman, trumpet

5) Ritual
Solos: Mike Fahie, trombone; Sebastian Noelle, guitar

6) Desolation Sound
Solo: Sam Sadigursky, soprano sax

7) Transit
Solo: Jacob Varmus, trumpet

- - - - -

Sunday, August 27 - Union Hall

 SETLIST (click to listen/download)

1) Transit
Solo: Jacob Varmus, trumpet

2) Phobos
Solo: Mark Small, tenor sax

3) Lizard Brain
Solo: Josh Sinton, bari sax

4) Desolation Sound
Solo: Sam Sadigursky, soprano sax

5) Flux in a Box
Solos: Rob Wilkerson, alto sax; Mike Holober, piano

6) Chrysalis
Solo: Aaron Irwin, alto flute/soprano sax

7) Induction Effect
Solo: Matt Shulman, trumpet

8) Ritual
Solos: Mike Fahie, trombone; Sebastian Noelle, guitar

9) The Perils of Empire

- - - - -

One of the biggest challenges of running a big band is trying to keep a stable group of players together -- especially when so many of those players have busy touring schedules of their own. But on the other hand, one of the biggest rewards of running a big band is the chance to have your music realized by a staggering variety of incredibly talented musicians who each bring their own personality to bear on the music. (Actually, Ike emailed me after the gigs to say: "It's so great to have an excuse for the community to congregate and make music together," which pretty much made my fuckin' year.)

These recordings from last weekend all sound very different from our previous hits -- it's the first time we've played without our regular, stalwart rhythm section of Matt Clohesy and Jon Wikan. And while, as a bandleader, you can't help but miss the security of players that have more or less internalized your charts, it's also thrilling to hear what great musicians like Ike Sturm and Richie Barshay will bring to the music -- especially since Richie and I go way back (he played on some of the earliest performances of "Flux in a Box," "Chrysalis," and "Lizard Brain" back in 2001-2002).  It's also incredibly satisfying to be able to showcase musicians who have toiled away at Secret Society reading sessions and rehearsals but never performed with the band -- check out these amazing solo turns by Matt Shulman on "Induction Effect", Mark Small on "Phobos", Aaron Irwin on "Chrysalis", and Jacob Varmus on "Transit". And while you're at it, listen to the fresh ideas Society veterans bring to familiar material: Josh Sinton on "Lizard Brain", Sam Sadigursky on "Desolation Sound", and Rob Wilkerson and Mike Holober on "Flux in a Box".

On Saturday, at Flux Factory, we were playing mainly for the 3 Quarks community, most of whom had never heard us before and had no idea what to expect, which made the enthusiastic response all the more gratifying. (And I have to admit, I'd been looking forward to playing "Flux in a Box" at the home of FluxBox for a long time... )  On Sunday, at Union Hall, I finally got to bring the band to  Brooklyn (my home for the past three years), and we got to play for friends old and new -- including Jean, Julie, Corey, Seth, Brenda, Sarah, Chris and Molly. And I'm happy to report that Union Hall is the real deal -- an amazing-sounding room with a staff that treats musicians like human beings (instead of the customary noisy chattel).

Heartfelt thanks to all who came out to hear us this weekend. We are, as ever, at your service.

And, as always, there is Incriminating Evidence available for your perusal...

- - - - -

CO-CONSPIRATORS

Reeds
Aaron Irwin
Rob Wilkerson
Sam Sadigurksy
Mark Small
Josh Sinton

Trumpets
Matt Shulman
Jacob Varmus
James de la Garza
Tom Goehring
Dave Rezek

Trombones
Alan Ferber
Mike Fahie
Kajiwara Tokunori
Darrell Hendricks

Rhythm
Sebastian Noelle, guitar
Mike Holober, keys
Ike Sturm, bass
Richie Barshay, drums

Puppet, pauper, pirate, poet, pawn, king

Gig Postmortem

Friday, 7 July 2006 - Bowery Poetry Club

SETLIST (click to listen/download)
1) Induction Effect
Solo: André Canniere, fluegelhorn