THEE MAXIMALISTS SPECIAL EDITION OCTOBER 2006 FEATURING ELLIOTT LEVIN &MARSHALL ALLEN (SAXES, WOODWINDS, PERCUSSION) AND THE USUAL SUSPECTS KEITH MACKSOUD - BASS & PAUL SEARS –DRUMS APPEARING: OCT 6TH AT THE ROTUNDA, PHILADELPHIA, PA HTTP://WWW.THEROTUNDA.ORG OTHER ARTISTS TBA NOV11TH AT ORION SOUND STUDIOS, BALTIMORE MD HTTP://WWW.ORIONSOUND.COM KEITH MACKSOUD - ELECTRIC BASS N.Y. based-bass player plays 4-, 5-, 6-string bass guitar. Has played for years on the NY and Philadelphia improv scene and with many composers. His unique sound and picking technique have actually landed him some paying gigs. Musicians and bands he has worked with include: Jim Meneses - Joel Trieger in Polite Force Jim Meneses - Wally Smith - Rick Iannacone in Polite Quartet (recorded live on WXPN 81-83) Elliott Levin - countless occasions, as well as Elliott's band with Rick Iannacone, New Ghost, for a performance in Prague, Chech 1999. Keith was a co-founder of Digital Cream with Ken Yamazaki and Steve Buchanan. Performed with Ken Yamazaki, Byard Lancaster, and Elliott Levin in a Sun-Ra festival in Philly in 1990, in which he contributed a composition. Co-founded Devil's Breakfast with Carlo Nicolau (Nazca - Mexico), Fred Klatz (Drummer's Collective and numerous other groups), Carlos Vivanco, Elliott Levin, and Joel Trieger, as well as Gloria Tropp. s recorded for Dave Kerman (5uu's). Toured in Europe with Sludge-50 with Swiss guitarist Stephan Wittwer, and Philadelphia's own Jim Meneses. Toured in U.S. with Chris Cutler (Henry Cow - Science Group) improvising. Performed and recorded with Von LMO. Performed with Uri Caine. Played with Dave Tronzo and Bill Milkowski. Played with David First and Virgil Moorefield. Played with Michael Gordon (Bang on a Can) and Jon Fields. Played with all the Stickmen, including William Bradfield. Played with Jack Wright, and George Cartwright (of Curlew). And most notably has worked with the Belgian band Present (Roger Trigaux) since 1998, touring in U.S., Canada, Europe and recording in Israel. As well as the Maximalists with Paul Sears and many other artists since 2003. PAUL SEARS PAUL SEARS: DRUMS Born in 1953 into a musical family & was exposed to symphonic, avante garde, and other contemporary music including Wagner, Stravinsky, Delius, Gregorian Chant, Bela Bartok, Donald Erb, Miles Davis, Edgard Varese, Gershwin, Karlheinz Stockhausen, etc., and a lot of other contemporary 20th Century music. Now a Baltimore Maryland based drummer, and occasionally makes noise with other instruments. Producer. Since 1970, Paul has played and / or recorded with a wide variety of people including Fred Frith, John Greaves, Peter Blegvad in the 1970s, The Muffins from 1976-81 and 1998 to present, Daevid Allen, 9353, Chainsaw Jazz, Pepe Gonzalez with Magick Theatre, Thee Maximalists since 2003 with Keith Macksoud & many others , Mark Stanley, Yanni Papadopoulos Henry Kaiser, Bill Laswell, Yochk'o Seffer, guest percussion with PRESENT, Clearlight, Marshall Allen and Knoel Scott from the Sun RA Arkestra, Mike Keneally, Bryan Beller, Bob E Rock, Steve Stills, and specializes in improvisation. For discography and more information, see: HYPERLINK www.paulsears.net, & "www.myspace.com/muffinspaul. He can be contacted at [email protected] ELLIOTT LEVIN ELLIOTT LEVIN - compositions & performances through flutes, saxophones, words. Born and based in Phila., Pa. pursuing early studies with Michael Guerra (legendary saxist/clarinetist of Phila. Orchestra under Stokowski); and composer/flutist Claire Polin (collaborator with flute innovater William Kincaid). Later studies with masters- pianist/improvisor/composer Cecil Taylor; and later with saxophonist/improviser/composer Odean Pope- led to long time relationships of performing and recording with their ensembles. A member of many groups in Phila/NYC area over the past 30 years (since the early '70's), he has continued to work with his own ensembles as well including INTERPLAY Ensemble, NEW GHOST, The PHILADELPHIA PHENOMENA to name a few...(collaborating with artists such as Rick Iannacone, Ed Watkins, Ron Howerton, Keno Speller, Marshall Allen, Tyrone Hill, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Calvin Weston, and many others). RECORDINGS include: THE MOTION OF EMOTION; SOUL-ETUDE; A FINE INTENSITY; OPPORTUNITIES & ADVANTAGES ("ON IN ON-ON-DAGA!")- on CIMP Recordings (as a leader)... THE LIGHT OF CORONA; ALMEDA- on FMP (w/ Cecil Taylor Ensemble)... THE SOUND VISION ORCHESTRA- on Eremite (w/ Alan Silva)... and up coming: ODEAN POPE'S SAXOPHONE CHOIR- Live at The Bluenote (w/Michael Brecker; James Carter, & Joe Lovano); LEVIN/CARTER/BALGOCHIAN/KRALL/SHURDUT Ensemble; a solo Poetry & Music CD; and Bobby Zankel's WARRIORS OF THE WONDERFUL SOUND. His book of poetry "does it swing...?" is published by Heat Press (LA). for more info: "www.radical3over2.com/elliott/levin.html HYPEwww.myspace.com/elliottlevin contact:l.com"[email protected] MARSHALL ALLEN Marshall Belford Allen, alto saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, and arranger, was born May 25, 1924 in Louisville, Kentucky and started clarinet lessons at age 10. At 18, he enlisted in the Army's 92nd Infantry (renowned as the Buffalo Soldiers), playing clarinet and alto saxophone in the 17th Division Special Service Band. Stationed in Paris during World War II, he played with pianist Art Simmons and saxophonist Don Byas, and he toured and recorded with James Moody during the late '40's. Upon honorable discharge, Mr. Allen enrolled in the Paris Conservatory of Music, studying clarinet with Delacluse. Returning to the States in 1951, Marshall settled in Chicago, where he led his own bands, playing in clubs and dance halls, while writing his own music and arrangements, as he continues to do today. During the mid-'50's, Marshall met Sun Ra and became a student of his precepts. After joining the Sun Ra Arkestra in 1958, Marshall Allen led Sun Ra's formidable reed section for over 40 years (a role akin to the position of Johnny Hodges in the Duke Ellington orchestra). Marshall Allen lived, rehearsed, toured and recorded with Sun Ra almost exclusively for much of his musical career, leading the reed section during the time that the Sun Ra Arkestra won the "Downbeat" polls as number-one big band in 1988 and 1989. As a featured soloist with the Arkestra, Marshall pioneered the avante-garde jazz movement of the early '60's, expanding a style rooted in Johnny Hodges and Don Byas, and influencing all leading avante-garde saxophonists thereafter. During this time, Marshall also invented a woodwind instrument he called the "morrow," utilizing a saxophone mouthpiece attached to an open-hole wooden body. (This instrument is currently being marketed under another name, as Marshall never secured a patent on his invention). Marshall Allen was one of the first jazz musicians to play traditional African music and what is now called "world music," working frequently with Olatunji and his Drums of Passion. In fact, Marshall is most likely the sole jazz musician who builds and plays the kora (a popular West African multi-stringed instrument), and he has been a major factor in its introduction to American audiences, as well as the world at large. Marshall Allen is featured on over 200 Sun Ra releases, as well as appearing as special guest soloist in concert and on recordings with such diverse groups as NRBQ, Phish, Sonic Youth, Diggable Planets, Terry Adams, 2 CDS with THE MUFFINS, and Medeski, Martin & Wood. Perhaps most significantly, Marshall Allen assumed the helm of the Sun Ra Arkestra in 1995 after the ascension of Sun Ra in 1993 and John Gilmore in 1995. Mr. Allen continues to reside at the Sun Ra Residence in Philadelphia, composing, writing and arranging for the Arkestra much like his mentor, totally committed to a life of discipline centered totally on the study, research, and further development of Sun Ra's musical precepts. Marshall maintains the Sun Ra residence as a living museum dedicated to the compilation, restoration and preservation of Sun Ra's music, memorabilia, and artifacts. Marshall has launched the Sun Ra Arkestra into a dimension beyond that of mere "ghost" band by writing fresh arrangements of Sun Ra's music, as well as composing new music for the Arkestra. He works unceasingly to keep the big-band tradition alive, reworking arrangements of the music of Fletcher Henderson and Jimmie Lunceford for the Arkestra to play, along with many other American standards. Marshall Allen is recognized all over the world as the premier avant-garde saxophonist, appearing in solo concert in London in 1995, duet with Terry Adams in 1997 in Canada, and featured in articles in "JazzTimes" (12/02), "Signal to Noise" Magazine, and innumerable other music magazines and radio and TV interviews. He is frequently called upon to give master classes, lectures, and demonstrations of Sun Ra's musical precepts, and he Keeps himself accessible to all who have an interest in Sun Ra's legacy. Marshall Allen plays the alto saxophone, flute, clarinet, oboe, kora, and E.V.I. (Electronic Valve Instrument). .