Secret Society

Euro express

Back in Brooklyn. More photos and (post-)tourblogging to come.

Briefly, though: I've had a few inquires from our new European fans looking for our CD -- yes, New Amsterdam ships worldwide, and shipping costs are reasonable. Also, no matter where you are in the world, you get instant access to downloadable MP3s when you purchase the CD from NewAm.

However, if you prefer to purchase from a European distributor, Infernal Machines is also available from InstantJazz.

I'd rather be a tortoise from Galapagos

(Photo: Lindsay Beyerstein)

SECRET SOCIETY
INFERNAL MACHINES RECORD LAUNCH
UNDISCOVERED ISLANDS
GALAPAGOS ARTS SPACE
BROOKLYN NY
08 MAY 2009

SETLIST (click to listen; right-click/ctrl-click to download)
1) MP3: Phobos (partial)
Solos: Jon Wikan, cajon; Mark Small, tenor sax

2) MP3: Zeno
Solo: Ryan Keberle, trombone

3) MP3: Transit
Solo: Ingrid Jensen, trumpet

4) MP3: Redeye
Solo: Sebastian Noelle, guitar

5) MP3: Jacobin Club
Solo: Sam Sadigursky, tenor sax & Mike Fahie, trombone

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

7) MP3: Obsidian Flow
Solo: Erica vonKleist, alto sax

DOWNLOAD ALL (ZIP ARCHIVE)

I am truly stunned -- in a warm and fuzzy but nonetheless bug-eyed way -- by all of the attention Infernal Machines has attracted. As regular readers of this blog know, I am a deep believer in striving for art that is intelligent and well-crafted and deeply personal, but also presented in a way that actually resonates with other contemporary humans. I am gratified beyond words that this music has struck a chord with so many of you. I am especially grateful to those who have followed and supported the band since our first raggedy-ass gig at CBGB almost four years ago. (And people say there's no such thing as progress... )

The live audio from our CD launch gig at Galapagos (linked above) actually turned out amazingly well. I don't pretend to understand the voodoo involved in getting these "field recordings" -- made with a digital recorder, a pair of binaural capsule mics, and a prayer -- to sound good, but for whatever reason, I seem to have accidentally hit upon a sweet spot with mic placement and levels, so this live representation is better than most. This is somewhat mystifying since the onstage sound at Galapagos was tough on us -- but from all reports, it sounded good in the room. For this I give mad props to Paul Cox, lead recording co-conspirator on Infernal Machines. He was also aboard assisting with live sound at Galapagos, thank the FSM. I only regret that I forgot to start the recorder until the middle of "Phobos" -- so I am afraid the recording of that tune begins in medias res.

At any rate, if you like your bigband raw instead of cooked -- or if you merely want a different perspective on the music from Infernal Machines -- we offer you the live tracks from this show gratis, as is our custom. Don't get me wrong, donations are always appreciated -- as are CD and T-Shirt sales, naturally -- but these live tracks are yours to share, burn, abuse, etc.

There are two more nights of Undiscovered Islands left at Galapagos and I hope you will come out to support the brilliant young artists involved in this festival -- this Friday, May 22, Signal performs Sarah Kirkland Snider's Penelope, and May 29 marks the premiere of Missy Mazzoli's Songs From The Uproar and a preview of William Brittelle's Television Landscape.

CO-CONSPIRATORS

WINDS
Erica vonKelist
Rob Wilkerson
Sam Sadigursky
Mark Small
Josh Sinton

TRUMPETS
Seneca Black
Tom Goehring
Matt Holman
Nadje Noordhuis
Ingrid Jensen

TROMBONES
Mike Fahie
Ryan Keberle
James Hirschfeld
Jennifer Wharton

RHYTHM
Sebastian Noelle, guitar
Gordon Webster, piano & electric piano
Ike Sturm, contrabass & electric bass
Jon Wikan, drum set & cajon

What people are saying about Infernal Machines

"[A] fresh jolt of discovery [...] a potent debut [...] the weight of its achievement feels properly definitive."
— Nate Chinen, New York Times

"For a wholly original take on big band's past, present and future, look to Darcy James Argue."
— Seth Colter Walls, Newsweek

"It's maximalist music of impressive complexity and immense entertainment value, in your face and then in your head."
— Richard Gehr, Village Voice

"[A] seven-track marvel of imagination."
— David Adler, Time Out New York

 "Infernal Machines stands defiant, updating the big band tradition for the new millennium while presenting exciting possibilities for the future."
— Troy Collins, All About Jazz

"[A] wonderful combination of sounds, styles, moods and messages"
— Richard Kamins, Hartford Courant

"[T]his is a seriously great record, one of the finest examples of new jazz I’ve heard in the past decade, one of the finest big band records ever made, one of the finest jazz records I’ve truly ever heard."
— George Grella, The Big City

"Among the young turks, Darcy James Argue has the most heat."
— Trevor Hunter, NewMusicBox

"An exciting stylist with an abundance of ideas, Argue deserves his place alongside Schneider, Hollenbeck and other contemporary big band arrangers who are looking beyond traditional notions of what a large jazz orchestra should, and can, sound like."
— James Hale, Jazz Chronicles

Incriminating Evidence 2009.05.08

Erica vonKleist
(Photo: Lindsay Beyerstein)

More photos from our CD launch hit at Galapagos are available here, courtesy of official Society photographer/consort Lindsay Beyerstein.

Deepest thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate the impending release of Infernal Machines. We are, as always, honored and grateful for your support.

Infernal Machines CD launch TONIGHT @ Galapagos

Infernal Machines is almost upon us, and we are celebrating tonight at Galapagos Arts Space — 16 Front St. in DUMBO, Brooklyn:

View Larger Map

This also the opening night of New Amsterdam's Undiscovered Islands. NewAm is hosting a pre-party at reBar (just around the corner) beginning 7 PM.

Lots of people have been asking about where they can buy the album. It is not out yet! But the release date is just a few days away —Tuesday, May 12. On that date, CDs and digital downloads will be available here. I am sorry there is no way to preorder -- believe me, that is something I wanted very much. But kindly be patient for just a few more days and on Tuesday you'll be able to get your fix.

Or if you can't wait for May 12, come to the Galapagos hit tonight! Advance copies of Infernal Machines will be available at the show.

More press:

• New York Times pick (Nate Chinen)
• The Making of Darcy James Argue's Infernal Machines -- Eric Benson, All About Jazz. Today they are also hosting a free download of "Zeno."
• Interview in mental_floss magazine.
• Trevor Hunter gives "Phobos" a spin for NewMusicBox's Sounds Heard.
• Composer Kelly Fenton gives us a very kind shout-out at her blog, Bottomless Cup.

But my time here is brief

Completely consumed with preparations for our CD launch hit at Galapagos this Friday, but I thought you should know:

• Infernal Machines is now streaming in its entirety.
• On May 12 (and thereafter), you will be able to purchase the album (CD+immediate download, or download only) directly from New Amsterdam Records.
• Tonight at 6:30 PM Eastern I will be a guest on WBGO's The Checkout. Yes, there are streaming/download/podcast options as well.
• Infernal Machines is a Soundcheck CD Pick of the Week.
• More reviews: Troy Collins in All About Jazz and Richard Kamins in the Hartford Courant blog.
• We have been nominated in the 13th Annual Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards, in the categories Up and Coming Artist of the Year, Large Ensemble of the Year, and Blog of the Year. People, this is insane. Have you seen the other nominees? Ulp. "It's a honor just to be nominated" is so pitiably inadequate it's not even funny.

Buy Infernal Machines
CD/Digital Download available now from New Amsterdam Records

Beat heartbeat, he's made it to the...

... Newsweek.

Um, yeah, so that happened. It's going to be in this week's dead tree edition, too, the one with Star Trek on the cover (cover date May 4). BTW, if you are planning on skipping our CD launch to see the new movie on opening night, you are forgiven.

Also, if you would like an advance listen to Infernal Machines, three tracks from the album are now streaming at the New Amsterdam Records website.

I realize that Newsweek is not a publication that is known for putting the spotlight on indie jazz musicians -- or really, jazz musicians of any stripe. But the writer, Seth Colter Walls, has eclectic tastes and an editor who is, for now at least, willing to let him slip pieces on little-known early Luis Buñuel films and Bernd Alois Zimmerman into a national newsmagazine -- right alongside coverage of Metallica and Prince. The magazine and newspaper industry today finds itself in the same dire straits as the music industry, and when publications are cutting back, arts coverage is usually the first thing to go... so it's nice to see someone out there is still willing to take chances.

Early returns

James Hale has posted what is, as far as I know, the first review of Infernal Machines (out May 12).

His writeup reminds me that at some point I really need to post something in-depth about George Russell's incredible legacy. For now, I'll just say that if you haven't heard the Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band's version of "All About Rosie" (and trust me, I know the original has that jaw-dropping Bill Evans solo, but seriously, this is the version you need) I envy you, because you are about to have your mind blown.

Remember, George wrote this in 1957. 1957! Just listen, all right?

Oh my god look what the cat dragged in

"Street" date is May 12, but you can pick up an advance copy at our CD release hit at Galapagos on May 8.

Interested reviewers/bloggers, kindly contact Scott Menhinick at Improvised Communications. 

Scott is a mensch, one of the rare publicists who is both ruthlessly methodical and also (still) in it for the love. He and I shared a celebratory swig of Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage ('96, IIRC '97) last night after I made the trek out to IC HQ to make the drop.

Of our elaborate plans, the end

85 days after our first recording session, and after a crazymaking number of all-nighters -- including last night's 7 PM to 9 AM mastering marathon -- Infernal Machines is now finished. 

Huge shout-out to our literally tireless mixing engineer Paul Cox, and also to Randy Merrill at Masterdisk, who in my humble opinion fucking nailed it.

"Street" date is May 12 -- meaning for all practical purposes, that's when you'll be able to place your order at www.newamsterdamrecords.com. But when you order the physical CD you will also get instant access to the MP3 downloads, so there is no problem satisfying your fetish for instant gratification and your fetish for beautiful objects. You will also be able to pick up an advance copy at our CD release show at Galapagos on May 8.

I say this a lot, but it's important: everyone should know that this album would not sound remotely as good as it does without the support of the people who contributed to our recording fund. You guys gave us the freedom to do things right, which is a luxury few independent artists can afford. I hope you will be as pleased with the results as I am.

Cover me through the fire

Designed by Travis Williams.