CHICAGO, IL. (Top40 Charts/ AXIOM Megamedia) - The
Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Skookumchuck
Strings Quintet will perform the original genre-bending works of
Chicago composer/guitarist, Jason Seed on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 6:30 pm at the Buntrock Hall Symphony Center located at 220 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.
Seed's music has been performed by various ensembles in jazz, rock and classical settings across the United States as well as in Holland, Germany and Poland. He has performed as a guitarist with Present Music (performing the music of Astor Piazolla, Elena Kats-Chernin, Michael Torke, Julia Wolfe and others), The Jessica Lurie Ensemble, Trey Gunn (of King Crimson), Bill Frisell and numerous groups of his own. Seed studied music at Indiana University with David Baker and privately with composers Douglas Lofstrom, William Russo and Ileana Perez-Velasquez.
"Jason Seed composes with the looseness of the jazzer, an experimental curiosity and constant openness to new sounds, respect for the 20th century masters, and the lyricism of, yes, Dvorak," says Daniel Armstrong, bass musician for the CSO. Armstrong continues, "Rhythmically, his compositions can incorporate the rigor of Frank Zappa, the driving swing of Bulgarian mixed-meter dances, or the languor of the blues."
The CSO All-Access Chamber series will feature Five Tangos in Three Movements and String Quintet No.1 composed by Seed in addition to Antonin Dvorak's String Quintet, Op.77.
About his compositions Seed says, "Five Tangos in 3 Movements is pretty literal in terms of the title. It's a series of interrelated tangos that were inspired by my love of Tango and the music of Astor Piazolla." He continues, "String Quintet No. 1 is a piece written specifically for this performance. I've always been a bit flabbergasted that there aren't more pieces for string quartet and bass. It's a combination that I am very drawn to if just from working in a jazz context for so many years."
This concert marks the debut performance of Seed's works by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. "Having an opportunity to work with the CSO and such fantastic musicians is both a thrill and an honor," reflects Seed.
