Tag: Tom Blancarte

From New York’s Roulette:

Sparks (Peter Evans and Tom Blancarte) has been playing together since 2005. From the beginning of the formation of the duo, they have been constantly working to push their own boundaries of density and speed of interaction while freely improvising. They have performed extensively in New York City and the U.S., and have toured several times in Europe, performing at festivals such at Žedno uho 9 in Zagreb and at the Ring Ring Festival in Belgrade . Since their formation the duo has performed both as a self-contained unit and as a part of larger groups, including performances with Nate Wooley, Peter Brotzmann, Han Bennink and Lisle Ellis. Their first (self-titled) CD was released in 2008 on Creative Sources.

Aug 24th @ 8:30
Cyber Sparks
Tonight they are joined by Sam Pluta, Nathan Davis, Adam Linson on electronics (Adam will be processing via the internet) and Kevin Shea on drums.

Aug 25th @ 8:30
Sparks
(performing compositions by Evans and Blancarte)

Aug 26th @ 8:30
Sparks Orchestra
w/ Dan Blake, Okkyung Lee, Nate Wooley, Brondon Seabrook, Sylvie Courvoisier, and Dan Peck

Keeping in the spirit of density of information, Peter and Tom formed the Sparks Orchestra in late 2008. Using graphic scores that utilize the unique Sparks vocabulary, the Sparks Orchestra is a larger realization of hyperactive duo. A smaller ensemble had a performance in 2008 and the full group debuted at Roulette in March of 2009.

Electronics have provided another avenue for expansion; a performance with Joel Ryan at STEIM in the summer of 2008 and concerts with New York-based electronic musicians have led to the formation of this expanded group that features frequent collaborator Kevin Shea on drums.