ポケットから一言、フィル君の日記 philip gayle's pocket diary

I went to some great concerts in March and April. The first one was a performance by the Talea Ensemble at Columbia University of compositions by young student composers and was a great night of new music. Then I saw the Either/Or Ensemble perform the works of Chaya Czernowin, an Israeli composer who has lived in Japan for a long time and now teaches composition at Harvard. George Lewis joined her on stage for a Q & A session in between sets. I had never even heard of her name before this night, but i was blown away. The Either/Or was sublime in their performances and i am still smiling when thinking back to how we stumbled upon the gig. Chaya Czernowin is now one of my very favorite composers and since Mode Records had a table outside that night, i bought 2 of her albums on CD, both fantastic. But, recently i picked up her new album "Shifting Gravity" (Wergo). It's been on the heaviest rotation since and is my favorite album this year. I highly recommend it! (my iPod is my escape vehicle from the day job madness).
Another fantastic concert we went to was another performance by the Talea Ensemble of Olga Neuwirth's work at the Austrian Cultural Forum. I have been a fan of her music for a few years now and Kairos has released most of what's out there. This concert was very well played as well and the string quartet was spot on perfect. I have been very lucky to meet both composers and to know many of the musicians. I've been to many of Talea's performances and to be able to hear Lachenmann, Sciarrino, Feldman, Scelsi, and many other of my favorite composer's work, makes me appreciate being in NYC. Enough of that... below are pics of some of my favorite recordings by Czernowin and Neuwirth. Cheers:

• 
• 
• ツイート

久しぶりですけど、忙しくて、色々あって、新作のマスタリングを終えたら新しい事が始まったわけ、そんで、久しぶりに演奏します。明後日の夜７時過ぎあたりに、一人でマンドリンとギターを弾かせてもらいます。詳しい事は下記のリンクなどご覧下さい！また近いうちに書き込みますので：

http://www.furtherfield.org/netbehaviour/brooklyn-experimental-music-festival

After a decade of hosting shows and events, the Newsonic Loft is coming to a
close this spring. It all started back in 2001 with a series of rooftop bbqs
and experimental music shows, so to celebrate the end of the space, I've put
together a day-long celebration of experimental and improvised musics. It
all begins with a free rooftop bbq followed by 14 acts of some of Brooklyn's
finest experimental musicians, a lighting instal...lation by White Light
Prism, and a late night after party. It's going to be a special event, don't
miss out! Spread the word, bring your friends

Brooklyn Experimental Music Festival
Saturday May 7 Doors at 5pm
Newsonic, 76 Rutledge St., Brooklyn, New York
Free before 8pm, $10 after 8

5pm - Free Rooftop BBQ
7pm - Brooklyn Raga Association
7:45 - Brandon Evans solo
8:00 - Che Chen & Robbie Lee
8:30 - Philip Gayle
8:45 - Kevin Uehlinger's Alchemusic
9:15 - Instant Conductors
9:45 - Silver Ash
10:15 - Long Distance Posion
10:45 - Jackson Moore Trio
11:15 - Foxglove
11:45 - Mike Pride Bass Trio
12:15 - Brian Chase, Seth Misterka, and Matthew Welch
1:00 - Talibam!

というわけで、８時までは入場料無料で、その後は＄１０だけで、ビールとかBBQもあるんだって、、凄くいいとこで、夕焼けを屋上から眺めながら美味しいもの食べて、美味しいもの飲んでしっぽりと仲良ししましょう。ご機嫌よ。

• 
• 
• ツイート

I will be playing waterphone with some other musicians on Tuesday, January 18th at Parkside Lounge in the Lower East Side of NYC.

Date: September 11th, 2010
Place: Parkside Lounge
Address: 317 East Houston St. NY, NY 10002(between Aves. B & C)
Time: 10:30 PM~maybe 1 hour show...21 and up...sorry kiddos!
http://parksidelounge.net/

Click on the photo for more info.
More blog entries will be coming soon!

• 
• 
• ツイート

I want to say a few words about an old friend of mine who passed away in 2009. I hadn't known this until tonight. Brett Fennessy was one of the most "interesting" people i have ever met. He was passionate about living, and he lived life fast and was a good father and friend. His writing was brilliant (see below link for some of his poems) and his wisdom helped me make it through some tough times when living alone in Japan as a youngster. He helped me get moved out of my matchbox in Tamabochi to Kami-Shakujii in his friend's van. He had a cynical humor and his piece titled "Nelson" that i have shared with many of my friends over the years is one of the most original and clever pieces ever written. Brett was one of a kind. He was still a teenager in many ways, but mature and wise beyond his years in many ways as well. The next sip of beer i take, i'll raise my glass to you, Brett...
親友が２００９年に亡くなった事が、今日わかった。１９９０年～１９９３年、彼とよく野川公園で飲んだり、よく散歩しながら文学とか哲学の話したりしてた。時折、あつい議論になったり、音楽を聴きながら酩酊するまで飲んだりしてた頃もあった。Brett Fennessy は本当に天才だった、色んな意味で。彼は英語教育をよく理解していたし、本当にいい先生だった事はずっと分かってた。僕が野川公園の側から上石神井に引っ越した時、手伝ってくれた。彼とはずっと連絡が取れてなくて、２－３年毎にネットで探したりしてたけど、今回は娘さんをFBで探してみたら彼女のページが出たのさ。さっそくメールを送ってみたら僕の事を覚えていてくれたんだ。しかし、その返事の中に訃報があって、悲しくなってしまい、彼を想って詩を書いてみた。そういえば、彼にもらった詩やジョークなどの原稿をずっと大事にとってある。それを彼の娘さんに送るつもりさ。彼女が８歳だった時から知っているんだけど、フェイスブックの彼女の写真を見たら笑顔が出た。きれいな大人の女性になって、大学院も卒業している。そのメールの返事を読んで、「大人だな～」と思った。やっぱり人間は前向きにならなきゃいけない。ブレットさんはずっと前向きだった。高速度で行きていた彼は、それでもいいお父さんだったという証拠だと思う。娘さんにはまたいつか、お会いできたら、ブレットさんとの昔の写真もあげようかな～、僕が持っててもあれだねぇ～、身内の手元に有った方がよろしい。さよならブレット、またいつか、乾杯しようぜぃ。

英語なんだけど、これはブレット先生が書いた詩：

http://www.poormojo.org/cgi-bin/contenttally.pl?Brett%20Richard%20Fennessy

• 
• 
• ツイート

Lately, I've been reading Joyce Mansour and Paul Eluard in French, and have enjoyed listening to Wolfgang Rihm and revisiting Messiaen. For some reason this time of year feels right for listening to Messiaen. I've also been reading Minashita Kiryu （水無田気流）and the Sunday NYTimes, which my friend Tohru purchases every week. He then gives it to me a week later, and i spend more time reading that than anything else. I've been writing some poems as well.
I traveled up to Hudson, NY last week to play a gig. Also on the bill was my friend Anastasia Clarke, and new friends Snakebraid. It snowed about a foot and there was a cozy atmosphere inside The Spotty Dog. I wanna thank everyone up there for their hospitality. I really am thinking about moving there. Here are some photos from the gig:

• 
• 
• ツイート

I took the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) again, for the 4th time last month. I think i passed. I've passed it every time now, but am still not satisfied with my score. I will definitely take it again this year. It helps me keep up my skills. 70% is passing, but i barely get by. My goal right now is to get at least 90% next year. I have a feeling that i didn't do that well.
On New Year's Eve, i was alone, again. I just don't like going out on that night. I went around the corner to Il Bambino, grabbed a table, ordered some good wine and a cheese plate and meat plate, and wrote some poems. The below photo is what it looked like. I had fun chatting it up with Patrick and Ryan. This was a good night!
１２月にまた日本語能力試験（日本語検定）を受けたのだ。今回で４回目になるんだけど、まだ満足の出来ない成績になるんじゃないかなと思う。結果は２月中に分かるけど、今までは毎回受かっているけれど、やっぱりギリギリでパスなので、少なくても９０点取りたいんだ。７０％で合格になっているけど、、、勉強しなきゃ！
大晦日は、独りだったけれど、あんまりこの日は出かけるのは苦手で、今回は家の近所の Il Bambino という行きつけのお店へ行ったのだ。ワインを三杯も飲んで、チーズと肉の盛り合わせで夕食を済ます。詩も書いてたので、写真はその大晦日の様子と日本語検定試験場の机、そして、おまけに猛吹雪の次の日の写真を追加：

• 
• 
• ツイート

We had quite a blizzard on December 26th. The biggest snowfall the city has ever seen was in February of 2006. There are photos of that in a blog entry from that time. The worst blizzard/snowstorm ever was this one. The barometric pressure was equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane. The snowdrifts were 3-4 feet in some places. My neighborhood got hit hard like a lot of places. The wind was stronger than in any snowstorm i have ever witnessed. I've been in hurricanes before back home, but this was a first for me. Here is a link to a video from my neighborhood.

http://www.observer.com/2010/culture/roger-ebert-says-blizzard-inspired-short-film-deserves-oscar?utm_medium=partial-text&utm_campaign=home

Also below are some photos i took on what probably was the most beautiful day ever in NYC.
この間は１２月２６日の猛吹雪は凄かった。NYCはこんな雪の嵐は今までに無かったはず。その夜は近所のお店へ出かけていて、その後は３日間も車が走れない状態で、外を歩き回っていた。吹雪の次の日から３日間、NYCでは今までに見た事の無い蒼天で楽しく遊んでたのさ。

• 
• 
• ツイート

I had a fun night at Parkside Lounge last Tuesday. I played in a trio with Mioi Takeda (violin) and Dan Barrett (cello). I played waterphone. Thanks to Dan Cooper for putting it together and to everyone who came out. Lately i've been writing a lot and translating at home. I go to a café in my neighborhood called Il Bambino 3 times a week and study, read, write poems and postcards, and chat it up with the employees. They have really good coffee and their mozzarella panini is the best. Lately i've been reading French poetry like Joyce Mansour, Paul Eluard, and Guillaume Apollinaire. Mansour is amazing, my latest favorite writer. I've also been getting the Sunday NYTimes from my friend Tohru after he finishes it. I like to take 2-3 sections with me when i go to Il Bambino on my days off. On Monday i will go see the premiere of Carl Bettendorf's solo cello piece and also String Quartet along with a performance of Wolfgang Rihm's String Quartet #4. This is the season to go to some concerts and catch up with friends. I hope everyone has a good holiday time! Cheers! Below are some photos from the gig at Parkside Lounge last Tuesday...

• 
• 
• ツイート

i will be playing waterphone in a trio with Mioi Takeda (violin) and Dan Barrett (cello) on Tuesday, November 30th at Parkside Lounge in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Parkside Lounge is at 317 Houston St. (Between Aves B & C). The show is free but $8 is suggested as a donation as all proceeds will be donated to UNICEF. Info at:
http://www.partksidelounge.net
Below is a flyer for the show. I recommend you check out these fine musicians who i am very lucky to be collaborating with. Cheers!

• 
• 
• ツイート

i had an enjoyable evening at ABC No Rio on the 14th. Anastasia Clarke drove down to the city just for this gig from Hudson, NY. We were joined by Blaise Siwula and Kid Lucky. Kid Lucky does beatboxing and Blaise plays the clarinet (among many other reed instruments). It was good to see friends Douglas, Karen, and Dave too. i will be playing again with Anastasia at The Spotty Dog in Hudson on January 7th. Below are some photos from the gig... hope everyone has happy Tofurducken or Hamcken or whatever makes your tummies gurgle with grooviness. Cheers!

• 
• 
• ツイート