Secret Society

I could play the wild mutation

2012 DownBeat Critics' Poll — Rising Star: Big Band

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: Ingrid Jensen

Photo: Scott MacLeod

And now, as we prepare to go into the studio tomorrow morning, we are pleased to bring you the exciting conclusion our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording. Your final co-conspirator is trumpeter Ingrid Jensen.

Selected by DownBeat as one of the “25 most important improvising musicians of the future,” Ingrid has garnered an impressive reputation as a trumpet-player, composer, bandleader and educator. She divides her time throughout the year, touring and recording with her own groups, performing with numerous other large and small ensembles as well as appearing as the featured guest artist at colleges and universities around the globe. Ingrid has built a strong reputation for herself and receives rave reviews in the music circle with her own projects, and as a regular voice in Grammy-winning ensembles including the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra and Terri Lynne Carrington's Mosaic Project. Her three CDs for the ENJA label won her numerous nominations from the Canadian Juno Awards, and a win in 1995 for her first of the three, Vernal Fields. Her current releases on the web-based ArtistShare label, At Sea (with the Ingrid Jensen Quartet), and Flurry and Spirals (both with Nordic Connect), continue to garner positive press and excited responses from both her peers and the media around the world.

Just over a year ago, Ingrid gave birth to her and Jon's baby daughter, Kårinna. Kårinna has effectively become the littlest Secret Society co-conspirator, accompanying the band on last year's Canadian incursion (when she was just nine weeks old) and also our recent Brazillian tour. But we in the Society do not tolerate idlers and layabouts -- if you are going to come on the road with us, you'd best pull your own weight.

Here is Kårinna looking up her flight number and confirmation code at an airport terminal:

And here she is soundchecking the drums for us:

The Society has been steadily grooming Kårinna to follow in both her mother and father's footsteps — we intende for her to grow up to be a trumpet-and-drums-simultaneously virtuoso, like Clauton Sales. Then we will be able to save significantly on airfare, by leaving both Mom and Dad at home.

Ingrid's appearance on Brooklyn Bablyon is supported by the generosity of Dave Lisk. But you have until 11:59 PM EDT tonight (July 18) to support the appearance of another Secret Society musician -- or to be part of our Kickstarter fundraiser at any level.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle• James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: Jennifer Wharton

Photo: Lindsay Beyerstein

We continue our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording with a look at bass trombonist and tubaist Jennifer Wharton.

Jen has performed and recorded with many top-flight jazz ensembles including the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, Alan Ferber's Extended Ensemble, the Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra, Jeff Fairbanks' Project Hansori, and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra. She can been heard in the current TONY-award winning Broadway production of Porgy and Bess and was also a member of the orchestras for Wonderland, 9 to 5 and Curtains, and has performed as a substitute in over a dozen other Broadway productions.

As previously mentioned, Jen is a triathelete, for which she maintains a rigorous and grueling training regimen, as she prepares to compete in her first Ironman this August. But you don't see her going around claiming she is the most physically fit trombonist (or even bass trombonist) in New York. This is because Jen is about deeds, not words. However, unlike Rob Wilkerson, Jen does not have even one nickname. While on the road in Brazil, she told everyone that she wanted her nickname to be "Trombone BabyMaker." This is because Jen does not understand how nicknames work.

Jennifer's appearance on Brooklyn Bablyon is supported by the generosity of Dave Lisik. But you have until 11:59 PM EDT tomorrow night (July 18) to support the appearance of another Secret Society musician -- or to be part of our Kickstarter fundraiser at any level.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle • James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: Rob Wilkerson

Photo: Justin Ray

We continue our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording with a look at saxophonist, flutist, and clarinetist Rob Wilkerson (@wilkersonmusic on Twitter). 

Rob balances his time between touring the world with a certain famous Canadian singer and heartthrob¹ with a busy performing schedule as a sideman in New York. He performs regularly with many of the city's finest large ensembles, including the Alan Ferber Big Band, and the BMI New York Jazz Orchestra. Rob’s most recent album, Nest, was described by the Ottawa Citizen's Peter Hum as “lovely in a very contemporary way, with a plaintive, homespun feel and a welcome focus on melody.”

Robert John Wilkerson is a man of many nicknames, but the most recent and most apposite was bestowed on him by John Ellis while we were enroute to Brazil: Bobby J. Another thing that happened in Brazil is that Rob and Seneca finally succumbed to popular demand and put togehter a spunky little vocal duo. Not since the heyday of Simon & Garfunkel, Sam & Dave, or Hall & Oates have two voices blended so euphoniously. Keep an eye out for their upcoming debut: Bobby J and Senny B Sing Tunes the Young People Will Enjoy.

As part of our fundraising efforts for our upcoming recording, Brooklyn Babylon, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a Secret Society musician. If you would like to sponsor Rob's appearance on our new album, or lend your support at any level, you have but two(!) days left to be part of our Kickstarter campaign.

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1. No, not that one. Not that one, either. This is the guy.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle• James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: Sebastian Noelle

Photo: Jin Zhao

We continue our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording with a look at guitarist Sebastian Noelle.

Seb has been active in New York City since 2002. As a leader, he has released two albums on Fresh Sound: Across The River, with Donny McCaslin, Ben Street, and Ari Hoenig; and Koan, with Loren Stillman, George Colligan, Thomson Kneeland, and Tony Moreno. He is also a member of the Aaron Irwin Quintet (featuring Rich Perry), Ben Stapp’s Zosimos, Jeff Fairbanks’ Project Hansori, the world music/minimalist ensemble Anicha, Joseph C. Phillips' Numinous, the New York Soundpainting Orchestra, ZAHA, and the rock band Rabbits Against Magic. Seb is interested in exploring new improvisational methods, including microtones, ragas, and Middle Eastern rhythms.

Seb is aware that his love for the relentlessly misanthropic cinema of Michael Haneke, Ulrich Seidl and Lars van Trier dispels approxmiately no American stereotypes about Europeans, but (also dispelling no sterotypes) he does not care what you think. When he was eight years old, Seb was bitten by a monkey. Despite this, he is a longtime vegetarian. 

As part of our fundraising efforts for our upcoming recording, Brooklyn Babylon, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a Secret Society musician. If you would like to sponsor Sebastian's appearance on our new album, or lend your support at any level, you have three days left to be part of our Kickstarter campaign.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle• James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: Seneca Black

Photo: Jon Wikan

We continue our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording with a look at lead trumpeter Seneca Black.

Seneca grew up in the unicorportated community of Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania. As a teenager, he met Wynton Marsalis at a workshop, and thanks in part to Wynton's encouragement, he ended up moving to New York and enrolling at the Manhattan School of Music. After a year at MSM, at age 18 he was invited to join the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, in which he played lead trumpet for seven years. Now a freelancer, he is regular with Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra, the Arturo O'Farrill Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, and Andrew D'Angelo's DNA Big Band, among others. He has also performed with artists as varied as Chico O'Farrill, Michel Camilo, Diana Krall, Bruce Springsteen, and Jay-Z.

Seneca remains unaware of Zach Lober's Secret Society+Jay Z mashup because he is a committed Luddite and does not own a compter. Or a television. He is also the only Society co-conspirator without a website. Radio, he likes. His personal hero is Steve Somers. In addition to his musical career, Seneca has appeared onstage in Off--Off Brodway productions by Ticket 2 Eternity Productions and Turtle Shell Productions. He trained as an actor at the legendary Lee Strasberg Institute. If you watch carefully, you can see him as an extra (Seneca tells me the preferred term is "background actor") in the season finale of 30 Rock.

As part of our fundraising efforts for our upcoming recording, Brooklyn Babylon, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a Secret Society musician. If you would like to sponsor Seneca's appearance on our new album, or lend your support at any level, you have four days left to be part of our Kickstarter campaign.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle• James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: Erica von Kleist

Photo: Joanne Levey

We continue our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording with a look at saxophonist and flutist Erica von Kleist.

Erica has made her mark as one of the most in-demand young musicians in New York, performing and recording with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Chris Potter, Sean Jones, and Nicholas Payton. She was named a Rising Star on flute in the DownBeat Critics' Poll, and has proven herself a prolific and gifted composer, drawing on influences such as Wayne Shorter, Duke Ellington, and Stevie Wonder. Erica has released two albums under her own name — Project E and No Exceptions — and published a jazz theory book for kids, A Cool Approach to Jazz Theory, whose convivial title masks Erica's true intent: to take a torch to the current jazz-educational complex and burn it to ashes.

If you had to guess "who is the most horsey amongst the Society's co-conspirators?" would you have guessed Erica? Really? But it turns out that Ms. Von Kleist was an accomplished teenage equestrienne. Once we have completed the Brooklyn Babylon recoring, she is Montanna-bound, where she will be spending the summer doing this:

When asked whether this Tom Robbins novel was a formative influence, Erica remains steadfastly, uncharacteristically coy.

As part of our fundraising efforts for our upcoming recording, Brooklyn Babylon, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a Secret Society musician. If you would like to sponsor Erica's appearance on our new album, or lend your support at any level, you have five days left to be part of our Kickstarter campaign.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle• James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: Matt Clohesy

We continue our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording with a look at bassist Matt Clohesy.

Matt left his hometown of Melbourne to come to New York in 2001. He's since gained much recognition as an acoustic and electric bassist worldwide, having toured and recorded with artists like Kurt Rosenwinkel, Seamus Blake, Eric Reed, and Geoffrey Keezer. In the pop world, he has performed with Grammy winner Colbie Caillat and the Chris Bergson Band. He continues to work with many of his peers including Lage Lund, Mike Moreno, Will Vinson, Gretchen Parlato, and his fellow co-conspirator John Ellis.

Matt lives with his girlfriend in an awesome basement appartment in Manhattan where they can blast AC/DC records until 3:30 AM and no one gives a fuck. Or at least, no one ever calls the cops on them, but I think that's because his neighbors think all Australians are somehow related to Chopper Read. He once came this close to getting into a fistfight at a karaoke bar, but I swear those dudes totally had it coming.

As part of our fundraising efforts for our upcoming recording, Brooklyn Babylon, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a Secret Society musician. If you would like to sponsor Matt's appearance on our new album, or lend your support at any level, you have six days left to be part of our Kickstarter campaign.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle• James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: Tom Goehring

 

Photo: Lindsay Beyerstein

We continue our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording with a look at trumpeter Tom Goehring.

Tom  has performed in the New York area for over 20 years, with progressive big bands like J.C. Sanford’s Sound Assembly, Sherisse Rogers' Project Uprising, the Andrew Rathbun Large Ensemble, and the Noriko Ueda Jazz Orchestra, among others, and in small groups with Gene Perla, Virginia Mayhew, and Rob Middleton, among others. He's a longtime member of the BMI Jazz Composers’ Workshop, which afforded him the opportunity to study with composers Jim McNeely, Manny Albam, Mike Holober, and Michael Abene. He holds a Bachelor of Political Science from Columbia University, and while still a teenager, Tom hosted a couple of music shows on WWUH in West Hartford, and is also a veteran of WKCR.

Tom recently moved to Nazareth, PA from nearby Bethlehem, PA, because long ago he made a vow to abide only in towns that have been name-checked in songs by The Band or Neil Young. Tom is the kind of person who, when offered the opportunity to drink free beer in an airport VIP lounge before a long overnight flight, reflexively responds "What kind of beer?" In fact, plans for his upcoming nuptials were almost derailed by a fight over the beer list. Tom has never been not much of a TV watcher, but in the interests of cultural literacy, he's recently engaged in a crash course in the televisual entertainments of the past two decades. So far, he's up to season six of South Park ("The Biggest Douche in the Universe," "Red Sleigh Down"). At this rate, in another ten years he'll be excitedly running up to everyone he knows all like "Dude, have you heard about this cop show called The Wire? It's  amazing!"

As part of our fundraising efforts for our upcoming recording, Brooklyn Babylon, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a Secret Society musician. If you would like to sponsor Tom's appearance on our new album, or lend your support at any level, you have seven days left to be part of our Kickstarter campaign.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle• James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: John Ellis

Photo: Peak

We continue our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording with a look at tenor saxophonist and clarinetist John Ellis (@johnellismusic on Twitter.)

Born and raised in the rural tobacco country of North Carolina, now living in New York, John has brought a body of rich Southern folkloric material into his writing, leavening it with a finely wrought jazz sensibility. This is apparent on his recordings Roots, Branches and Leaves, One Foot In The Swamp, By A Thread, and most recently, the sousaphone-driven Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow and Puppet Mischief. John has spent significant time in the musical cauldron of New Orleans. He has studied and performed with Ellis Marsalis, toured extensively in Singapore and other Far Eastern ports of call, and worked as a member of bands led by Mos Def, John Patitucci, Jason Marsalis, Todd Sickafoose, Charlie Hunter, Bilal, and more. He co-produced the music for the popular children’s book series, Baby Loves Jazz, and he has produced three long-form narrative collaborations with playwright Andy Bragen: Dreamscapes, The Ice Siren, and Mobro. His latest CD, It's You I Like, features the music of Mister Rogers and Elliott Smith.

John is an expert juggler, an art he perfected while working at Carowinds as a 16 year old. His past took a tragic turn when he caught his beloved juggling mentor embezzling money from the amusement park. Before he could turn him over to the authorities, young Johnny was discovered, beaten and left for dead. This incident spurred John to launch a one-man crusade against crime as Le Jongleur, the World's Greatest Juggler, but his career as a costumed vigilante came to an abrupt halt when he abruptly gave up and decided he would play saxophone instead.

As part of our fundraising efforts for our upcoming recording, Brooklyn Babylon, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a Secret Society musician — if you would like to sponsor John's appearance on our new album, or lend your support at any level, please visit our Kickstarter page.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle• James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: Mike Fahie

Photo: Rob Fahie

We continue our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording with a look at trombonist and euphonist Mike Fahie (@mfahie on Twitter).

Mike performs regularly with trumpet player John McNeil -- they co-lead a regular Wednesday night jam at the Tea Lounge in Brooklyn --  and also leads the Mike Fahie Jazz Orchestra, as well as his own quintet, which is represented on his debut album, Anima (Brooklyn Jazz Underground). Mike is the principal trombonist of the Gramercy Brass Orchestra of New York and a member of the Gramercy Brass Quintet. He is also a regular member of the Pedro Giraudo Jazz Orchestra, the Gregorio Uribe Big Band, and Rob Mosher’s Storytime. He has shared the stage with Maria Schneider, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Liebman, Donny McCaslin, George Garzone, Charles Tolliver, Ken Peplowski, and many others. He was the first ever Canadian Fulbright Scholar in jazz.

I've known Mike longer than any other Secret Society co-conspirator. We were classmates at McGill in the 90's before our paths diverged for a while, before our eventual tearful reunion one rain-soaked evening in Brooklyn. Mike is an alumnus of the Canadian Forces Band of the Ceremonial Guard -- somewhere out there, there are incriminating photos of him in a bearskin headdress. He finds himself perpetually torn between his Apollonian love of evolutionary biology and quantum physicals, versus his Dionysian goat-devil worship of Johan Santana.

As part of our fundraising efforts for our upcoming recording, Brooklyn Babylon, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a Secret Society musician — if you would like to sponsor Mike's appearance on our new album, or lend your support at any level, please visit our Kickstarter page.

UPDATE (17 July 2012): Mike has been sponsored — his appearance on Brooklyn Bablyon is supported by the generosity of Carol Fahie. But you have until 11:59 PM EDT tomorrow night (Monday, July 18) to support the appearance of another Secret Society musician -- or to be part of our Kickstarter fundraiser at any level.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Mike Fahie • Ryan Keberle • James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton

Where hearts were entertaining June

Secret Society live in Brazil:

June 10 - São Paulo - BMW Jazz Festival @ Via Funchal

June 13 - Rio de Janeiro - BMW Jazz Festival @ Oi Casa Grande Theatre

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: Jon Wikan

Photo: Lindsay Beyerstein

We continue our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording with a look at drummer and percussionist Jon Wikan.

Jon has accompanied a diverse cross-section of leaders, ranging from singers Ernestine Anderson, Denise Donatelli, and Freddy Cole to established insturmentalists such as Steve Wilson, Terrell Stafford, and Geoff Keezer. In 2010, Jon toured Turkey, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh with the Charlie Porter Quartet, a tour sponsored by Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rhythm Road program. (He blogged about the experience here.) Born in Petersburg, Alaska, Jon was transplanted to Seattle at age 5. He was turned on to the drums in high school and worked summers on an Alaskan commercial fishing boat  in order to buy his first drum set. Jon is the brewmaster behind Secret Society's official beer (an espresso porter, of course). In April 2011, Jon and Ingrid became the proud parents of baby Kårinna, who is becoming quite the road warrior — she accompanied us on last year's Canadian Incursion when she was just nine weeks old, and she'll be joining the band on our imminent trip to Brazil.

Last summer, Jon and Ingrid put in a bid on a forclosed home in Ossining, NY (home of Sing Sing Correctional Facility). They closed on it August 1. They knew it needed a bit of work. Jon is an experienced DIY-er and had figured it for a two-month reno job. It proved to be more like nine.

Here is a partial list of some of the things Jon has done to the place so far: replaced the entire foundation drain system, including driveway drains and gutter drains — this required a backhoe. Jackhammered out a 3-foot deep concrete patio, which was in the way of the drain system, then jackhammered out the entire basement. Replaced the lally coulmns (the concrete-filled steel posts that hold the building up).  Tore out the floors and subfloor of the entire main living floor. Gutted two bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, hallway, and part of the living room. Re-wired almost the entire house. Replaced an entire weight bearing outside wall of the house. Ripped out every last piece of plumbing from the outside of the house up. Re-roofed and added a skylight. Installed a state-of-the art hydronic floor heating system. Installed a new bathroom with old-fashioned subway tile and mosaic accent stripe.

I asked Jon what he actually left alone. He thought about that for a bit and told me: "The chimney. I started to go at it with a sledgehammer but gave up when it would not move."

As part of our fundraising efforts for our upcoming recording, Brooklyn Babylon, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a Secret Society musician — if you would like to sponsor Jon's appearance on our new album, or lend your support at any level, please visit our Kickstarter page.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle• James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: Nadje Noordhuis

Photo: Chris Whitehead

We continue our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording with a look at trumpeter Nadje Noordhuis -- @nadje on Twitter. (Like my friend @deanna says, having your first name as your Twitter handle is baller.)

Recognized for her cinematic compositions, Nadje's unique musical style has led to many innovative collaborations with musicians, artists and film-makers. She performed duo with New York based vibraphonist/percussionist James Shipp at the 2012 Festival of New Trumpet  Music (FONT) and was also a FONT commissioned artist in 2009. Last year, Nadje premiered her original repertoire arranged for big band at several sold-out concerts in Toronto, and this June, her quartet will be appearing at the Toronto Jazz Festival. Her long-awaited debut album, with violinist Sara Caswell, pianist Geoffrey Keezer, bassist Joe Martin, and drummer Obed Calvaire (plus special guests) will be released on Little Mystery Records in October.

Despite her ostentatiously Dutch name (pronounced "NA-dia NORD-house"), Nadje grew up in the rugged conurbation of Sydney, Australia. She had to rely on her wits to survive to adulthood, always staying one step ahead of the brutal and oppressive cane toads. Today, she puts those skills to use by running in the New York City Marathon, all the while plotting her eventual return Oz to rescue her three-year old niece from the clutches of the King of Toads.

As part of our fundraising efforts for our upcoming recording, Brooklyn Babylon, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a Secret Society musician — if you would like to sponsor Nadje's appearance on our new album, or lend your support at any level, please visit our Kickstarter page.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle• James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: Sam Sadigursky

Photo: Roger Mitchell

We continue our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording with a look at tenor saxophonist and clarinetist Sam Sadigursky.

Sam's (@samsadigurksy on Twitter) critically-lauded first recording, The Words Project, was hailed as "an impressive debut" by the New York Times and named it one of the Top Ten Albums of 2007 by Time Out New York. He has released two similarly-accliamed follow-ups: Words Project II in 2008, and Words Project III: Miniatures in 2010. Sam has performed with, among others, the Mingus Orchestra, Anat Fort, Brad Mehldau and Lucia Pulido. He appears on numerous recordings for labels such as Fresh Sound/New Talent, EMI, Playscape Recordings, Chonta Records, and World Culture Music.

Other saxophonists are cautioned to keep their distance from Sam lest he distract you with the latest pictures of his 4-month old daugter Janie, freeing him free to rifle through your reed case while you're not looking and pocket the best ones. Sam also likes that one about the octopus who walks into the bar with a set of bagpipes. You should totally tell him that one again.

As part of our fundraising efforts for our upcoming recording, Brooklyn Babylon, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a Secret Society musician — if you would like to sponsor Sam's appearance on our new album, or lend your support at any level, please visit our Kickstarter page.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle• James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: Gordon Webster

 

Photo: Pawel Kowalczyk

We continue our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording with a look at pianist and, ah, "melodica-ist" Gordon Webster (@gordonwebster on Twitter).

While Gordon maintains an active and varied freelance career as a forward-thinking NYC-based jazz pianist, he also leads a double life as a star bandleader on the current lindy hop scene.

"Wait, there's a current lindy hop scene?" Oh yes. It looks like this:

Gordon's 8-piece swing band is known and loved by swing dancers all over the world; he and his group have toured Europe, Australia, Asia, the continental US, and Canada. Gordon will also, on occasion, play lindy hop dances all alone  — solo piano. (When we went to London, he played a solo gig on the Society's night off.) Playing for a roomful of dancers without the support of a rhythm section is pretty much the musical equivalent of performing in a high-wire act without a net, but Gordon takes it all in stride.¹ When he's not on the road, he co-leads a trad-jazz jam session on Tuesday nights at Mona's in the East Village, as a member of the Mona's Hot Four.  

Gordon hails from Ottawa, Ontario, and once cycled across Canada with his brother, saxophonist Mike Webster, in 53 days, which is possibly the second most Canadian way to see the country.² As we mentioned previously, he's also a self-proclaimed coffee aficionado. His current rig (mine too) is this one, but he keeps a crumpled and dog-eared pamphlet for La Marzocco's La Strada under his pillow. Despite this, Gordon continues to insist that any coffee roasted darker than a pale cinammon tastes "burnt." My usual response is that if current trends continue, it won't be long before they'll start taking beans from berries that fell off the tree earlier in the day, dumping them in a bucket of water and leaving them for months to rot, then selling the resulting bilge as "naturally harvested, sun-roasted, cold-brewed artisanal iced coffee." We're at an impasse, is what I'm trying to say.

As part of our fundraising efforts for our upcoming recording, Brooklyn Babylon, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a Secret Society musician — if you would like to sponsor Gordon's appearance on our new album, or lend your support at any level, please visit our Kickstarter page.

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1. Oh sure, you groan now, but there is no way you would have been able to resist making that pun, either.

2. You know the first. Yes you do.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle• James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

Say what a joy, what a joyful sound

Thanks to you, our most loyal compatriots, we have reached our $10,000 Kickstarter goal! At 1:17 PM EDT today, a donation by Cathy Peck of Clovis, CA put us over the top.

I'm so very grateful to everyone who pledged their support to this recording. It's incredibly exciting to have the opportunity to record this music and share it with you! On behalf of all of the musicians involved in Secret Society, thank you so much for your generous support.

Just an update on our upcoming activities: tomorrow, Secret Society begin rehearsals for our Brazilian tour. We leave for Brazil on Friday and will be performing June 10 in São Paulo and June 13 in Rio de Janeiro. At those shows, we will perform almost all of the music we'll be recording.

We continue rehearsals when we return to New York, before embarking on our three-day recording session at Avatar Studios in Manhattan -- we are there Tuesday, June 19 through Thursday, June 21. These will be three very long, very intense days in the studio -- but that is just the beginning of the process! Afterwards, there will be 150 some-odd hours spent in the mixing studio, shaping and refining the sound so that every sonic element is in its right place. Then comes the finishing touch: we master the album, so that each track sounds blended, consistent with the others, and contributes to a sonically cohesive whole. Meanwhile, Danijel Zezelj will design the artwork and packaging, and complete work on the poster print and Brooklyn Babylon graphic novel. Finally, when everything is ready, we'll send the master CD off to be duplicated and start to gear up for release day.

Speaking of which! Our official release date for the Brooklyn Babylon recording is April 30, 2013. People who ordered digital copies will receive their download links at or before 12:00 AM EDT on April 30. CDs will go out in the mail a couple of weeks beforehand -- we'll make every effort to ensure that you have them in hand by release day.

Again, I truly can't thank you enough! The anticipation is getting intense and I can't wait to share this music with you. You have my deepest gratitude for making all this possible.

Yours most appreciatively,

- DJA

PS We'd be most grateful if you'd continue to spread the word about the Brooklyn Babylon Kickstarter campaign to your friends and associates. We've met our $10,000 goal, which is TREMENDOUS -- but: this is a massive project, and that amount will only cover a fraction of our total recording costs. We would love for the amazing momentum you have generated to continue, and any additional funds raised help us make a better product -- by renting vintage tube microphones, by having the luxury of more time to spend mixing and mastering, by creating more beautiful packaging and artwork, and so on.

Again, deepest thanks and best wishes!

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: Ryan Keberle

Photo: Amanda Gentile

We continue our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording with a look at trombonist Ryan Keberle (@rkeberle on Twitter).

Last year was one of Ryan's busiest years to date: he toured nationally and internationally with Sufjan Stevens, performed at some of the world’s great concert halls with Maria Schneider, played on the soundtrack to Woody Allen's latest, To Rome With Love, and appeared on NBC with the Saturday Night Live band. This year, Ryan has appeared at South by Southwest with Escort and at Jazz Standard with the Gil Evans Centennial Project, among many, many other musical endeavors. He has also been working on bridging some of these musically disparate worlds with his new groove-oriented band, Catharsis, which features Mike Rodriguez on trumpet, Jorge Roeder on bass, and Eric Doob on drums.

Ryan is currently developing a new diet book based on the four pillars of good eating: pork, salt, rendered fat, and beer. Additionally, all meals are to be consumed while watching archival footage of Packers games and silently cursing the Bears after every third bite.

As part of our fundraising efforts for our upcoming recording, Brooklyn Babylon, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a Secret Society musician — if you would like to sponsor Ryan's appearance on our new album, or lend your support at any level, please visit our Kickstarter page.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle• James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: Matt Holman

Photo: Michael Brook

We continue our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording with a look at trumpeter Matt Holman.

Matt has performed and recorded with artists like Fred Hersch, Kurt Elling, Kate McGarry, Bob Newhart, Los Amigos Invisible, and The Gregory Brothers. [Is it too early for people to be nostalgic for Auto-Tune The News?] Taking inspiration from such diverse influences as Wayne Shorter, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Sigur Ros, Holman has composed works for Marvin Stamm, Ed Soph, David Baker, Marie Speziale, and The National Conservatory of Costa Rica. He is a current member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop.

Do you think you can take Matt in Words with Friends? Well, do you, punk? I've never played against him, as he seems like he'd be the type to kick my ass by deploying all those BS two-letter words like "ki" and "xu." Matt and his fellow co-conspirator Gordon Webster are also prone to talking smack about coffee behind my back -- this is because I want coffee to tastle like coffee, while they want it to taste like jasmine and pineapple and the tears of a unicorn foal. He is not actually related to legendary arranger Bill Holman, but for the love of god don't tell Matt that -- it will break his heart.

As part of our fundraising efforts for our upcoming recording, Brooklyn Babylon, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a Secret Society musician — if you would like to sponsor Matt's appearance on our new album, or lend your support at any level, please visit our Kickstarter page.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle• James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: Josh Sinton

Photo: Peter Gannushkin

We continue our daily profiles of the musicians involved in the making of the Brooklyn Babylon recording with a look at baritone saxophonist and low woodwind specialist Josh Sinton.

Josh (@JoshSinton on Twitter) is probably best known as the leader of the Steve Lacy repertory band Ideal Bread. In addition to playing regularly with Andrew D’Angelo’s big band (just back from their first European tour!), he also performs frequently with the Nate Wooley Quintet, and is a member of the Douglass Street Music Collective. In July, he will release the second (and final) record from his group holus-Bolus, Pine Barren, as a download-only on Prom Night Records.

Josh lives in Brooklyn with his wife Laura and daughter Zosia for whom he loves to cook. His day job is clerking at a wine store in lower Manhattan, but Josh wants everyone to know that he is totally not a wine snob. Really. Who cares what (or even if) you drink? Not Josh, no siree. He just hopes you enjoy your beverage of choice, whatever it might be… even if it's Arbor Mist Cranberry Twist White Merlot. He's definitely not sitting there silently judging you.

As part of our fundraising efforts for our upcoming recording, Brooklyn Babylon, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a Secret Society musician — if you would like to sponsor Josh's appearance on our new album, or lend your support at any level, please visit our Kickstarter page.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle• James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS: James Hirschfeld

Photo: Jennifer Wharton

We proudly present our first featured co-conspirator: James Hirschfeld. James (@jameshirschfeld on Twitter) plays the alto and tenor trombones, tuba, electronic valve instrument (EVI), and builds and plays his own electronic instruments. He is also an active composer for his own groups and other ensembles. As the trombonist in the Respect Sextet, James has recorded six albums and performed across North America. He has also performed and recorded with Alarm Will Sound, Ensemble Signal, Travis Sullivan’s Bjorkestra, and Escort. Recently, James released his debut record, Two Medicine, featuring his own music performed alongside Ted Poor, Ike Sturm and Red Wierenga. James is also the Program Director for the JACK Quartet.

James is a committed crossfitter, and has on multiple occassions claimed the mantle of the most physically fit trombonist in New York -- a characterization which has been vigorously disputed by his Secret Society section-mate, Jennifer Wharton, who runs triathalons. James is an avid Red Sox fan, and no, he does not want your pity. Attention New York Times "Vows" column: he is engaged to marry JACK Quartet violist John Pickford Richards in July 2012.

As part of our fundraising efforts for our upcoming recording, Brooklyn Babylon, we are offering you the opportunity to sponsor a Secret Society musician — if you would like to sponsor James's appearance on our new album, or lend your support at any level, please visit our Kickstarter page.

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Ryan Keberle• James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton • Mike Fahie

Night of the Living Co-Conspirators

Photo: James Matthew Daniel

Yes, it's the thrilling and timely zombie-like return of KNOW YOUR CO-CONSPIRATORS!

As we did with our previous recording, we are offering Secret Society supporters the opportunity to help underwrite the participation of one of the eighteen amazing musicians who will be responsible for immortializing the music from Brooklyn Babylon in the recording studio.

You'll be helping us defray the (considerable) expenses involved in bringing this hugely ambitious music into the recording studio, and you'll be showing your support for your favorite amongst the Society's ranks of dells and whipjack.

In exchange for your (tax-deductible) contribution, you'll receive credit in the album liner notes as follows: "[SPONSORED MUSICIAN] appears courtesy of [YOUR NAME]." You'll also receive a signed exclusive photo of the sponsored musician, taken at the recording sessions, along with a personalized thank-you card. Additionally, you'll receive a custom cocktail recipe which I will design just for you, two tickets to a Secret Society show, the Brooklyn Babylon graphic novel, poster print, and signed CD copy of the album. See our Kickstarter page for additional details... 

So from now until our fundraiser wraps up on June 18, each day I will be introducing you to a new Secret Scoiety co-conspirator. Stay tuned, the first installment will be appearing shortly...

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MUSICIANS AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: Erica von Kleist • Rob Wilkerson • Sam Sadigursky • John Ellis • Josh Sinton • Seneca Black • Tom Goehring • Matt Holman • Nadje Noordhuis • Mike Fahie • Ryan Keberle • James Hirschfeld • Sebastian Noelle • Gordon Webster • Matt Clohesy • Jon Wikan

MUSICIANS ALREADY SPONSORED: Ingrid Jensen • Jennifer Wharton