Hi Friends, I hope you’ll all join me at our next New Music Circle concert to hear the Bloom Project – a dynamic duo of virtuoso instrumentalists, Thollem McDonas – piano and Rent Romus – saxophone, this Saturday night, 1/22, 7:30pm, at the Kranzberg Arts Center,501 N. Grand. As a composer and improviser, myself, I believe these two performers have found a truly successful and vibrant combination of both media. For more info. visit: http://newmusiccircle.organd for bios and sound samples: http://www.edgetonerecords.com/bloom.html

Hi Friends, Happy New Year! We have two really interesting musical events coming up this week, both of which will feature new approaches to improvising and ensemble playing. This Thursday, 1/6, from 7:00pm – 9:00pm, Dave Cheli will perform on saxophone, along with his sons, Kevin (drums & percussion) and Dominic (keyboards). Their approach to controlled free improv. is something to behold, with the sons’ level of virtuosity and spontaneous invention being quite the match and inspiration for the dad.Location: Stone Spiral Coffeehouse 2500 Sutton Blvd Maplewood, MO 63143(314) 335 7388 http://www.stonespiralcoffee.com/location.htmlThen, on Saturday, 1/8, the Chelis will be playing again, in the first half of the evening (8-9pm), and in the second half I’ll be playing flute in a duo setting, along with virtuosic and broad ranging improviser, Jim Hegarty, on piano. We’ll play some original music and our own version of pieces by Ornette Coleman, Brian Eno and Douglas Ewart.Location:  St. Charles Coffeehouse 3821 McClay Road, St. Peters, MO 63376-7327(636) 922-1566 http://www.saintcharlescoffeehouse.com/Hope to see you there!