Index Complete: Farewell To The Abstract Index On CIUT

Dear friends:

January 5, 2012 will mark the final edition of the Abstract Index on CIUT FM.

I am excited to announce that I have recently been hired to be the Artistic Director at Toronto's Music Gallery. This is a full time position. Upon reviewing my freelance and volunteer activities I have decided that I can no longer commit 6-10 hours a week to producing and hosting the Abstract Index.

It's not only the time commitment. After having celebrated 10 years of the Abstract Index and 25 years at CIUT this year, I feel it's time to move on and give someone else the opportunity to make magic over the airwaves. I've had a wonderful run but there are moments in everyone's life when you know it's time to move on.

I will continue to do occasional podcasts of the Abstract Index from home. These won't start immediately, nor will they be weekly. But I'll keep the name alive.

In the meantime, I'm throwing a party to celebrate this joyous transition. Please join me and friends at the Henhouse (1532 Dundas St. W.) on Friday January 6, the day after my final broadcast. You can find details on Facebook, but there's not much more to tell, really - just good times, good tunes and an above average amount of intoxicants. If you're in Toronto, I hope to see you there!

Thanks for all your support over the years - you are the reason CIUT keeps going.

Abstract Index Live Recordings 2007-11

At long last I've compiled some live recordings from Abstract Index related performances over the past few years. It features great performances by Jesse 'Dubmatix' King, GuShee, MiMo, Odradek, Kyle Brenders/Scott Thompson/Susanna Hood, Daniel Nebiat, Alaniaris and an unreleased jam from Huelepega Sound System. 

The only way to get one is to become a member of CIUT ($25 donation) during the imminent Fall Fundrasing drive, preferably before my show on Thursday the 20th. Pledge at the CIUT website now & make sure to tell 'em The Abstract Index sent you.

MiMo Live Set During Fundraising

Next week is the Abstract Index fall fundraising drive. I'm still putting together the final program (YOU can be a part - both on air and in the phone room) but the main event is MiMo.

To be honest, I don't know much about Samuel Morganstein and Matthew Miller. But I'm intrigued by their forthcoming vinyl release of 96 'locked groove' compositions. They're doing a launch party on October 24 featuring Insideamind and many members of AIMToronto improvising with the vinyl source material. It seemed like a good idea to put that concept on the air and combine it with fundraising. Why? BECAUSE WE CAN. That's how we roll at CIUT, where presenting art, improvised music and turntablism is always a priority.

Hopefully you agree and will support us during the show with a membership. The Abstract Index needs 20 pledges of $25 or more to keep going. There will be giveaways - not just CDs this time - and guests, but this is a really special event and a true expression of the power of community radio. Please tune in.

If you would like to pledge in advance, please do so.

NO INDEX

Kicking out the live jams twice in two weeks? Unheard of! But I've got a few live events coming up.

Of critical importance is NO INDEX. I'm joining forces with the No Beat Radio crew to wreck shit at Teranga on Wednesday October 20.

Here are the details:

Beats, noise, cultural collisions, improvisation, major lasers.

CIUT's late night mixologists concoct a night of digiturntable madness and DJ bricolage. A fundraising event in support of CIUT FM

Wednesday October 20 - 9PM

Teranga
$5 - all proceeds go to CIUT FM

Featuring: Minesh Mandoda & Marco Landini of No Beat Radio
Mondays 10PM-midnight
(http://www.ciut.fm/index.php/shows-2/no-beat-radio/)

David Dacks of The Abstract Index
Thursdays 10PM-midnight
(http://www.ciut.fm/index.php/shows-2/the-abstract-index-2/)

Live bruit from JFM http://www.myspace.com/jessefrankmatthews

I'll keep updating this post as more people pile on.

At The Guelph Jazz Festival

interviewing John McLean of Mr. Something Something last year.

Just a quick post to let you know I'll be co-anchoring CIUT's coverage of the Guelph Jazz Festival once again this year.

Tune in tomorrow (Sat. September 11) from noon until midnight tomorrow for music and interviews from under the big top on Upper Wyndham St. Interviews will include Chad Taylor (Chicago Underground), Rich Brown, Jeremy Strachan & Andrew McPherson. Music sets include Canaille, SoulJazz Orchestra, Fanfare Pourpour and Sagapool.

I'll sneak off in the middle to perform with Huelepega Sound System featuring ace guitarist Colin Fisher at 7:45PM which will be broadcast live to air!

Huelepega is also participating in Guelph's first ever Nuit Blanche. We'll be reconvening for a 2AM at the Synnema! Hope to see you there.

HUELEPEGA VS. ISLAND RHYTHMS

Well, it is the All Caps Festival...

Seriously looking forward to this gig. Within five short years, All Caps has become an epic all ages affair. This edition is the first ever festival, and it's on Toronto Island no less. For those of you who don't live in Toronto, the Island is a big park directly across from downtown - the kind of urban idyll in which a $6.50 ferry ticket (on a 70 year old ferry!) represents a cheap vacation from the hustle and bustle.

A diverse lineup, including the hotly tipped Buke and Gass will be filling out two days of music, art, film, BBQing and some of the finest beach-partyin' round these parts.

And we're bringing the cumbia. Hope to see you on Saturday, a little after 6PM - bring the kids!

Huelepega Comes To MAMA

This Saturday night, Huelepega Sound System is the featured guest of the monthly MAMA party at Teranga.

This MAMA likes to shake it to "Kuduro! Naija! Doooombia! Ghettotech! Dancehall! Ethiofunk! Reggaeton! Folkstep! Soca! Kwaito and SA House! Raptor House!" (love the last one; let's root for the home team)

But you can get a sneak peek by listening to the Abstract Index tomorrow night at 11. DJ Marcus Boon will be stopping by to talk about the night, and his musical interests. He'll also play an extended set. Tune in and turn on!

So Nice, We're Doing It Twice

Toronto just doesn't know what to do with us this week: three gigs in a week - we are triply blessed.

Mas Tigre! was a big hit last Saturday, and we're following it up with two free gigs in quick succession.

The first will be this Thursday at the Gladstone's Melody Bar. We're playing two sets, so we'll really stretch out. Sergio and I will be supplying incidental tuneage as well.

Next Saturday, we're at the Cloak and Dagger at the behest of the lovely and talented DJ Anousheh. Her Move On Up nights are simply one of the city's truly essential soulful experiences, abetted by a drink-track of fine beerage. This is going to be tiny and packed!

Hope to see you at one, the other, or both!

Mas Tigre! Mas Accion!

Mas Tigre! is Sergio Elmir's latest epic throwdown. This one promises to be a showcase for Toronto's freaky-Latino scene.

Of course, you can't throw a party like that without Huelepega Sound System. Joining forces with us will be the dynamic Lido Pimienta, and the all-international Caballo. The not so mysterious Bakanchido DJs (aka Sergio & El Intern from Dos Mundos) will be supplying the sonic connective tissue for the affair.

It's just five bucks, so don't sleep. Denise Benson says it's a Best Bet.

Micro-pega

Huelepega Sound System is a couple of men short for tomorrow's gig with Microbunny, but it'll be epic nonetheless.

Microbunny is Al Okada's downtempo project which has run off and on for 10 years. The first comparison most people make with Microbunny is to Portishead, and it's not inaccurate. I was an early member of the live ensemble, running loops and doing dub effects - not so different than Huelepega, really.

HSS join Mean Red Spiders and Microbunny for their release of the CD 49 Swans tomorrow night (Friday April 2) at the Rivoli. As mentioned, this will be a duo edition of HSS, which will sound more like our first disc, if that appeals. I'll also be running pre-mixes between sets.

Hope to see you out on what will no doubt be a lovely spring evening.

Great Vibes In The Great Hall

The last time I played a big music festival was 12 years ago at NXNE. It was so much fun I swore I would never do it again. So here's to the twelve-year itch!

Come check out Great Vibes In The Great Hall on Saturday March 13 as part of CMF (CMW? Depends who you talk to....). Here are the details:

Great Vibes in the Great Hall!
Presented in association with Nufunk.ca
as Part of Canadian Music Fest

featuring LARRA SKYE, VANESS ALEGASSI, FREEMAN DRE & THE KITCHEN PARTY, MELTING POT and HUELEPEGA SOUNDSYSTEM
DJs: eLman & David Dacks (CIUT 89.5 FM)

SATURDAY MARCH 13th
@ THE GREAT HALL
1087 Queen St. W. @ Dovercourt
Doors @ 9 pm
$10 cover, FREE with your CMW wristband or performer’s pass!

Great musical vibes are happening once again in one of Toronto’s most spectacular vintage venues, THE GREAT HALL! Roots, rock, reggae, R&B, folk, funk, gypsy jazz, dubstep, and cumbia … this special CMW showcase has something for just about everybody’s sonic tastebuds!

DD On A Dime

Tomorrow at the Beaver, see what I can cobble together with ten bucks worth of vinyl.

Thanks for making this happen, Dylan!

Huelepega Sound System in Guelph

The best Latin food in Guelph celebrates the anniversary of its relocation.

Our special guest for the evening will be none other than Generation Bass scribe/awesome producer, CABALLO.

Royal City, be prepared for DOOMBIA!

Huelepega Tonight!

Ack! I totally forgot to blog about tonight's INYRDISK showcase at the Boat. Kevin Hainey's noise label features us and three other simpatico sound sculptors - here's the details courtesy of Tad "Burn Down The Capital" Michalak:

INYRDISK SHOWCASE 2009

featuring:

GHOSTLIGHT (http://www.myspace.com/ghostlightband)
members of Mean Red Spiders. A free form improv. psych-rock experience. From spaced out soundscapes to intense psychedelic noise, free jazz whispers and crushing heaviness, Ghostlight weaves musical elements & genres together to create something otherworldly.

HUELEPEGA SOUND SYSTEM (http://www.myspace.com/huelepegasoundsystem)
David Dacks' "doombia" ensemble mixes cumbia with slowed down doomy dub drones. Drawing influences from the latin world as well as modern noise music, Huelepega pushes latin rhythms into a dissonant, boundless territory.

AYAL SENIOR's GLASS TOMB (http://www.myspace.com/glasstombs)
Ayal Senior's free-jazz space psych unit featuring a who's who list of Toronto's most accomplished out music masqueraders takes the back road approach creating soundscapes that creep up on your from a minimal pitter patter into a storm cloud of swirling noise & distortion. A serious raw driving force.

CAVE DUDES
Primal noise rock featuring members of Disguises, Women In Tragedy and Inyrdisk founder Kevin Hainey. First show in way too long. Expect crushing jams that don't bottom out, but scrape along mashing everything in their path.

All this for $5, seriously come out & support experimental music in Toronto.

Also FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=335661895202

416 - 2009

The ninth edition of the 416 Toronto Creative Improvisers Festival gets underway tonight at the Tranzac. I'm going to be MCing the Friday edition, which I helped program. Dougal Bichan will be stopping by the Abstract Index tomorrow at 7PM to talk about this jam packed celebration of some of Toronto's most innovative music.

Here's the description from the website:

The fest is a series of concerts, 3 a night over 4 days that feature some of Toronto’s finest improvising musicians. These improvisations often take the form of completely free-form spontaneous compositions, created entirely “in the moment, at the moment of performance, by the performers”. At other times, a drawing, or graphic, or other object may be used to inspire the music.

Tuesday, Nov. 17

9 pm
Lori Freedman solo- bass clarinet
and duo with guest Martin Tétreault

10 pm
Martin Tétreault solo - turntable
and duo with guest Lori Freedman

11 pm
Gordon Allen - trumpet, with a bunch of locals
Rob Clutton - bass
Tomasz Krakowiak - percussion
Ben Grossman - hurdy gurdy

Wednesday, Nov. 18

9 pm
Woodchoppers Orchestra
Dave Clark and friends, you never know who will show up. A collective of some of the finest improvisers hereabouts.They play with love in their hearts.

10 pm
Cracker & Shoe
Michael Keith - various strings
David Sait - guzheng

11 pm
Joe Sorbara's Other Foot First
Ken Aldcroft - guitar
Jay Hay - saxophones, clarinets
Nicole Rampersaud - trumpet, flugelhor)
Nate Renner - guitar
Ronda Rindone - clarinets
Evan Shaw - saxophones
Joe Sorbara - drums, percussion
Scott Thomson - trombone

Thursday, Nov. 19

9 pm
bitchin'
Dougal Bichan - guitar
Alan Bloor - bass, violin
Rod Campbell - trumpet, etc
Elliott Chapin - various winds
Jack Vorvis - percussion

10 pm
Quartetto Graphica
Mike Hansen - turntables
Arnd Jurgensen - guitar
Guy LeBlanc - electronics
Pao Torres - laptop

11 pm
Scarborough Streisand
Michael Keith - guitar
Chris Cawthray - percussion
Glen Hall - saxophone

Friday, Nov. 20

9 pm
Nick Storring - solo cello & electronics

10 pm
Amir Amiri - solo (Persian) santur

11 pm
Lamp Chops aka Simeon Abbott (prepared guitar) and Colin Fisher

midnight
Kyle Brenders Quartet
Kyle Brenders - woodwinds
Steve Ward - Trombone
Tomas Bouda - bass
Mark Seeger - drums

Saturday, Nov. 21

2 pm
416 Toronto Creative Improvisors' Pool Workshop
facilitated by Rod Campbell
Palmerston Library
560 Palmerston Avenue

Huelepega @ Wavelength - Sunday Sept 13

at Yonge Dundas Square, with Luisito Obregoso on timbales

Huelepega's next jam takes place post-EX and Getatchew. Sunday night marks our return to Sneaky Dee's some 10 months after our first ever live performance. The post-punk (kinda...) crowd may be especially ready to party, as it will be one of the final three performances at Sneaks for the Wavelength series. They're pulling up roots and moving to a new venue called Garrison in October, read all about it here.

Sunday's bill, aka Wavelength 480, consists of:

Transcendental Rodeo Mothership (Doc Dunn's hillbilly trance kollektief) @ 1am

Gordon Grdina Trio (bad-azz improv jazz for guitar & oud, from Vancouver) @ 12

Huelepega Sound System (Latin dub noise masseeeeev) @ 11

What A Wonderful Day!

Kyle Brenders & Parmela Attariwala

For live music outside 91 St. George St, aka CIUT!

Today's the big broadcast - Freedom Of Community, the most ambitious broadcast ever undertaken by the Abstract Index!

Why is this an important broadcast?

• It represents a huge (potential to reach 8 million people) audience for improvised music in this city, and countless more online.
  
• It's free - no financial barriers to enjoyment for anyone! You don't need broadband access, just a radio...
• It's yet another manifestation of what CIUT does best - connecting music on the margins with a mass medium, using only a handful of people to pull it off!
• It's a great showcase for AIMToronto's upcoming Interface with Urs Leimgruber
• Not only will the audience hear three distinctly different approaches to improvisation, AIMToronto board member Parmela Attariwala will speak to the organization's mandate and themes. That interview takes place at 6:45.
  

Forecast is 19 degrees and sunny for this evening - come down and enjoy the surf-rembetika-improv of Alaniaris @ 6PM underneath the leafy canopy outside the radio station.

There is one change to the programming - Kyle Brenders is subbing for Michael Keith in the second set, in duet with Scott Thomson.

Hope to see you at CIUT!

Freedom Of Community - An Audio Manifesto

On Wednesday June 3, the Abstract Index, CIUT and AIMToronto present Freedom Of Community.

Toronto’s free improvisers have been internationally renowned for their skillful musical exploration for more than four decades. Coincidentally, CIUT also has a four decade history of boundary breaking musical programming.

Freedom Of Community brings these two important, community-based cultural institutions together for the first time.

AIMToronto was formed in 2005. It was conceived as an umbrella under which each of the city’s disparate pockets of improvising musicians could all organize, providing increased visibility for the community as a whole while maintaining its diversity. It is an organization of global significance, hosting the world’s finest improvisers such as William Parker, Joe McPhee and Les Poules in quarterly Interfaces. Its next such presentation features Swiss saxophonist Urs Leimgruber from June 5-7.

All three sets of Freedom Of Community feature members of AIMToronto.

Set 1) a FREE CONCERT from 6:00-6:45PM on the front lawn of 91 St. George St. (weather permitting) with Alaniaris, (fractured Greek rembetika stylings) - Michael Kaler - bass, Ken Aldcroft -, guitar, Mark Zurawinski - drums

Set 2) Michael Keith - guitar, Scott Thomson - trombone

Set 3) Odradek (electro/acoustic small objects) - William Davison - electronics small instruments, Jim Bailey - electronics, small instruments, Andy Yue – synth

Return To The Valley Of Uma Nota

Short notice on this... sorry.

If you're looking to kick off the weekend sometimes known as May 2-4 (when it actually lands on May 24 - what is up with this coo coo bananas calendar year??), samba on down to the Gladstone.

I'm opening up the set with some tasty party starting vibes. Stick around for the dynamic duo of DJ Nana and maestre General Eclectic.

Liveness is provided by the super deluxe version of Samba Elegua getting horny with my old buddy Rich Underhill.

Here It Comes...