February 4, 8:00 Steven Jobe, Yael Bat Shimon

Steven Jobe

"Composer, instrument builder, avant-garde cabaret master and all-purpose madman..."

—Rick Massimo, The Providence Journal, June 8th, 2006

Steven Jobe began composing in 1987 when he was commissioned by the Community College of Rhode Island to compose the lyrics and music for an original musical, Walking on Air. A few years later he wrote the lyrics and music to an opera, Joan of Arc (then called Jeanne d’Arc), which premiered in Providence, Rhode Island in 1993. With the help of his friends and colleagues, a concert version of the work was performed at Bell St. Chapel with a twenty piece cha mber ensemble – including glass bells, hurdy gurdy, accordion and harmonic instruments in support of a cast of a dozen or more...

find out more about Steven Jobe at: http://www.stevenjobe.com/
Yael Bat-shimon
Yael Bat-Shimon, described by T he Boston Globe as an "adventurous contemporary violinist" whose improvisational work draws on her classical training as well as non-western musical traditions", has performed for audie nces from Paris, France to Cambridge, MA. Her music was featured in the fall 2008 edition of the arts and culture e-zine "Zingology", which called her improvisations, "Fiery interpretations of European and American folk traditions squarely anchored on her classical training. A Harvard graduate, she has also studied violin performance at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore and the New England Conservatory.
Find out more about Yael at:
http:// www.yaelbat-shimon.com/index.html



Cellist Rob Bethel has been working with Steve Jobe and Yael Bat-Shimon for years and enjoys a busy a career as a freelance cellis t. A regular feature at the Vortex series, Rob will be interacting with both artists and bringing his "listening as a creative act" approach to Friday nights intimate show. For more about Rob and his company, Yesterday Service, click:
http: //www.yesterdayservice.com/

Thank you Somerville Arts Council

The Vortex Series for New and Improvised Music has been awarded a 2011 grant from the Somerville Arts council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.


The first Vortex Show of the new year at the Democracy Center went very well and we had a great turn out. Much thanks to all the artist involved, especially our features, Rob Manthy, Ashley Addington, Rachel Arnold and Gary Fieldman.

First Democracy Center Show

January 7, 2011, 8:00
The Democracy Center
The duo of flutist Ashley Addington and cellist Rachel Arnold will be presenting Kaija Saariaho Mirrors, Elliott Carter Enchanted Preludes and
Michael Colquhoun Three for Two as One. For more information on Ashley and Rachel please visit: http://www.ashleyaddington.com/about/


We will also be presenting a special premiere by composer/ pianist Robert Manthy who is currently based in the Netherlands. In 2003 he received a Fulbright Scholarship from the US government to study composition with Louis Andriessen and Richard Ayres at the Royal
Conservatory of the Netherlands in the Hague, where he graduated in 2007. He has been active as a pianist, composer and conductor in
various new music concerts, theatrical performances, and other music in the Netherlands, the US, France, Italy,Puerto Rico, Kenya, and Tanzania amongst others. He will be collaborating that night with Esther Viola oboe, Eric Hoffbauer guitar, Rob Bethel cello, Michael Dobiel saxophone and electronics, Pam Marshall french horn, Todd Brunel clarinets, and Gary Fieldman drums. For more information on Robert Manthy click: http://robmanthey.net/

The Vortex will also be presenting a performance of 'Dog Ears' by Gary Fieldman. It is a solo percussion work that draws on Gary's masterful use of poly-rhythm on found objects. To check out a video of Gary performing his piece live, click the link:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3383044915501537674#

Jeff PLatz Group

Friday December 3, 2010
8:00 Outpost 186.
The Jeff Platz Group
Featuring:
Junko Simons cello
Kit Demos bass
David Miller drums

”Platz‘s mystic axe tones gradually madden into vapor -like
labyrinths letting the subtleties unfold in sparse bubbling currents”.
SIGNAL TO NOISE MAGAZINE

" An intelligent approach to both composition
and improvisation”
JAZZREVIEW.COM

This will be our last regularly scheduled show at the amazing outpost 186 and our last Vortex Show of 2010. Our next show will be at the Democracy Center in Harvard Square Cambridge on Friday January 7.

Moving in January

We are moving to a new location in January. The Vortex has been at the Outpost 186 for over three years and recently we decided to move over to the Democracy Center, 45 Mount Auburn St in Harvard Square Cambridge, MA. One of the big reasons for this move is the addition of new planning personnel and we have decided to team up with an organization called Art Without Borders.We are planning many new events in 2011 and feel very strongly that live new and improvised music will be best if brought to a few different communities. The concept of the Vortex can be molded to suit many purposes, but our primary objective is to present music that is new, interesting, improvised or notated and we are always seeking new collaborators. I am very happy to say that Julee Avallone and Michael Dobiel are taking time from their busy schedule with the Boston Free Jazz Association to work with us as well as composer Pamela Marshall, artist Sirarpi Henghinian Walzer, flutist Pat Jao and engineer/ trombonist Randy Winchester. We also will be seeking advice from our long time collaborators, cellist Rob Bethel, flutist Matt Samolis, drummer John McClellan, oboist Esther Viola and Rob Chalfen, the executive producer of the Outpost 186, still located in Inman Square, Cambridge, MA. This year we are also planning on teaming up with Zumix in East Boston and the Cafe at the Somerville Armory. At both of these new locations we will be providing performance opportunities for students and strongly believe that now more than ever young people need exposure to new ways of creating music. Our last show (for now) at the Outpost 186 in Inman Square will feature the Jeff Platz Group, Friday December 3 at 8:00.

Sonic Sandbox and guitarist Ben Miller

Friday, November 5, 8:00

Cultivating his technique since 1982, Ben Miller/degeneration presents a sonic tapestry that defies standard guitar playing. By using several pickups outputted separately through two chain of effects, Miller produces a texturous, multiphonic soundscape. With the addition of a wide variety of preparations, radio and analog tape, it is difficult to discern where any one sound originates or where it is headed.
Sonic Sandbox, an improvisational trio consisting of composer and electronic musician Forrest Larsen, percussionist and Didgeridoo player David Brown and clarinetist Todd Brunel will be performing in support of their latest release, "Turbulence."

Meltdown Incentive

8:00 Friday October 1, Outpost 186, Cambridge, MA.
The Meltdown Incentive is the brainchild of composer Delvyn Case, who will be featured on piano with Sara Bielanski vocalizations, Ed Broms on fixed electric bass, various percussion instruments, Rob Bethel on cello and Todd Brunel on clarinets. The improvisational troupe will experiment with poetry, recipes, personal ads and abstract sounds painting.
Here is a youtube video that features Sara and ensemble with
a very deadpan version of the classic frat anthem, "The Beer Prayer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TLDz8ql_Qw

There will also be a performance by composer, saxophonist Michael Dobiel, who will be collaborating with Erich Hochstrasser, a sound design/synthesis artist. Learn more about Michael Dobiel and his exciting work here:
http://www.myspace.com/michaeldobiel