Bruce Brubaker has announced his upcoming album, Eno Piano, coming out November 10, where he explores the complex genre of ambient music with the goal of creating an album full of songs that make airport music desirable, with inspiration from Brian Eno’s Music for Airports.
Brubaker’s album, Eno Piano, started in 2017 with the question: “With all those sustained notes in the music– can Brian Eno’s Music for Airports be played on a piano?” Brubaker heard jazz pianist Evan Allen experiment with an EBow inside a piano (an EBow is an electromagnetic device used to make long notes by vibrating a string on an electric guitar). Then, Bruce met Florent Colautti, the French inventor who was developing electro-magnetic devices suspended over the strings inside a piano to make long musical tones.
Bruce Brubaker makes connections to music old and new through his explorations of minimalism. In his album Codex, there was a dialogue between open-form music by Terry Riley and very early keyboard pieces written by anonymous scribes in the 15th century. Brubaker’s performances of music by Philip Glass glorified by his album Glass Piano on InFiné, caused critic Roland Duclos to write: “Brubaker is to Glass what Glenn Gould is to Bach.”
Brian Eno’s “Ambient 1: Music for Airports” is known as the greatest ambient composition of all time. Within the guidelines of Bruce Brubaker’s Eno Piano, the album’s definitive track “Airport 2.1” is recontextualized as a piece created for a single instrument.
Brian Eno’s music is a significant part of the repetition-based musical minimalism practiced by Philip Glass, Terry Riley, and others in the 20th century. In 1971, Philip Glass performed at the Royal College of Art in London. In the audience were two 23-year-olds: David Bowie and Brian Eno. Glass’s music was a formative influence on Eno. Later, Philip Glass wrote three symphonies based on the three albums of Eno and Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy. Eno Piano, from which the new track is taken, acknowledges a deep artistic bond.
Brian Eno defined the new genre of ‘ambient music.’ Spending hours waiting for a flight at the Cologne-Bonn Airport, Eno became frustrated with the airport’s uninspiring atmosphere. At that moment, Eno conceived an album of music “designed for airports.”
Whereas conventional background music is produced by stripping away all sense of doubt and uncertainty (and thus all genuine interest) from the music, Ambient Music retains these qualities. And whereas their intention is to ‘brighten’ the environment by adding stimulus to it (thus supposedly alleviating the tedium of routine tasks and leveling out the natural ups and downs of the body rhythms) Ambient Music is intended to induce calm and a space to think. Ambient Music must be able to accommodate many levels of listening attention without enforcing one in particular; it must be as ignorable as it is interesting.
Brian Eno, in his original 1978 liner notes
Eno Piano is the music of Eno, with the contributions of Rhett Davies, Robert Wyatt, Dieter Moebius, Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Harold Budd, Jon Hopkins, and Leo Abrahams.
Eno Piano will be released on November 10, 2023. Pre-order the album here.
L-Acoustics released a video piece about the use of the pioneering audio technology L-ISA in the Broadway production of Here Lies Love. Featuring interviews with musical legend David Byrne (concept, music & lyrics), sound designers Cody Spencer and M.L. Dogg, and scenic designer David Korins, the video goes in depth on how L-ISA is used in the show and what it means in the context of Broadway productions.
Here Lies Love is a revolutionary Broadway show with a rock-pop pedigree, creating a demand for a sufficient sound system to do justice to the Byrne-Fatboy Slim musical. The L-ISA spatial sound system brings an essential sense of immersion to the production, with over 220 speakers in configuration around the theater.
Here Lies Love tells the story of former Filipina First Lady Imelda Marcos’ astonishing rise to power and subsequent fall at the hands of the Philippine People Power Revolution. The show features the first all-Filipino cast to perform on Broadway, and opened in July to raving reviews.
Developed and directed by Tony Award-winner Alex Timbers and choreographed by Olivier Award-nominee Annie-B Parson, the show uses creative choreography and movement to immerse the audience in not only the music, but the dancing and thrill of the Broadway experience.
Tickets are on sale at Telecharge.com, by phone at 212-239-6200, or in person at the Broadway Theatre box office (1681 Broadway at 53rd Street). For information on groups of 10+, contact Broadway Inbound at broadwayinbound.com or call 866-302-0995.
Rush tickets are available in-person at the Broadway Theatre box office on the day of the performance for $35 each. Tickets are limited to a maximum of 2 per person and are subject to availability.
Digital lottery entrants can register for the chance to purchase up to 2 tickets at $39 each. Entries for the Here Lies Love digital lottery start at 12 AM, one day before the performance, and winners are drawn the same day at 10 AM and 3 PM. Visit rush.telecharge.com for more information and to register. Drawings only appear when they are open for entries.
The Bushwick Film Festival is set to celebrate its 16th anniversary this fall, with the festival taking place from October 25-29th. Inspired by the notion of the “Sweet Sixteen,” a time of growth, self-discovery, and newfound independence, this year’s festival theme revolves around exploring and embracing our passage into life’s next chapter, through cinema.
The festival continues its partnership with Williamsburg Cinemas, where all festival films will be screened. To celebrate its Sweet 16, this year’s films will explore themes of coming-of-age, self-realization, and the quest for personal freedom, captured through the cinematic lens.
Turning 16 traditionally symbolizes growth and discovery, but these transformative moments are not bound by age. We find defining moments at every juncture and during every transition. As we usher in the 16th Bushwick Film Festival, we’re celebrating more than just cinema; we’re embracing the journey, the lessons, and the stories that have brought us here. Here’s to life’s defining chapters and the many stories that intertwine with them.
Kweighbaye Kotee, Founder
The festival features not only an exciting lineup of films, but also a range of special events. The Opening Night Red Carpet Reception will take place at Brooklyn Borough Hall on October 25. In addition, the Movie Industry Conference will feature a full day of panel discussions, conversations, and networking opportunities for industry professionals and filmmakers. Finally, a lively Sweet 16 Party will be held at Lot 45.
Tickets to the 16th Anniversary Bushwick Film Festival, and film programing highlights can be found below, as well as at www.bushwickfilmfestival.com:
Halloween-inspired movie night: Campy Horrors, Thrillers and Supernartural
Madison Square Garden received the shortest extension in the arena’s history, with The City Council unanimously voting on September 14 to give the venue only a five-year permit to continue to operate above Penn Station in Manhattan.
Photo by Gabriela Bhaskar for The New York Times.
“At this time the Council cannot determine the long-term viability of an arena at this location, therefore five years is an appropriate term for this special permit,” said Erik Bottcher, a Manhattan councilman whose district encompasses Madison Square Garden. The arena’s owner, James Dolan’s MSG Entertainment, wanted a permanent extension of the operating permit, which expires this year, receiving ten-year permits in the past.
“A short-term special permit is not in anyone’s best interest and undermines the ability to immediately revamp Penn Station and the surrounding area,” MSG Entertainment said in a statement. The issue at hand is the ongoing tension between Penn Station and the Garden. There needs to be a creation of a transportation management plan to address “use conflicts” related to the arena’s loading operations on West 31st Street and pedestrian access, with MSG ordered to provide a plan within six months of its progress. If the venue fails to do so, they could have their operating permit revoked.
“I still believe that ultimately, we would be able to build the most extraordinary train station if Madison Square Garden was not there,” Bottcher said in an interview. “I’m still hopeful that would happen someday, but in the immediate term there are plans under consideration that would permit us to have a very extraordinary Penn Station with Madison Square Garden in place.‘’
For now, state officials are focused on a $7 billion renovation of the station, putting away a broader redevelopment plan for the area.
The New York Latino Film Festival (NYLFF) will be held on September 15-24 at New York City’s Regal Union Square. With an impressive roster of 116 films from nearly 20 countries, the festival marks the 25th celebration since its inception in 1999. With musical tribute films, brand new biopics, and the return of long-time favorite actors and directors, the festival has something for everyone.
The festival will open with the NYC premiere of Amazon Prime’s Cassandro (2023, 99min, USA). Starring Gael Garcia Bernal, the film follows the true story of a gay wrestler from El Paso who rose to international stardom. Directed by Roger Ross Williams, the feature film also stars global music sensation Bad Bunny.
“Amidst this historic moment in the entertainment industry, NYLFF continues to uphold the importance of stories as a powerful and important tool for collective social change. The Festival, for 23 years, has and will continue to offer Latino filmmakers and content creators a platform to highlight our stories. More than ever, we been ready
Calixto Chinchilla, Founder, New York Latino Film Festival
In addition, the NYLFF will screen Aristotle Torres’ debut feature Story Ave (2023, 94min, USA). Starring Puerto Rican-New Yorker Luis Guzman, the film follows an MTA worker held up by young graffiti artist Kadir (Asante Blackk) in a robbery gone right. Luis Guzman, known for hit films such as Punch-Drunk Love (2002), The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009), and the new hit series Wednesday (2022) as Gomez Addams, was raised in New York’s Greenwich Village and Lower East Side.
We are thrilled to shine a light on independent film production in NYC by once again supporting the New York Latino Film Festival. This year’s opening night film, Story Ave, directed by up-and-coming NYC filmmaker Aristotle Torres, is the perfect example of why this festival, and others like it, are so important; to provide a global platform to amplify diverse storytelling.
Pat Swinney Kaufman, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment
Music lovers can enjoy NYLFF’s screening of feature film Carlos (2023, 88min, USA), that follows Santana’s journey from 14-year-old street musician to 10-time Grammy-winning global sensation. After the rock group’s legendary performance at New York State’s Woodstock Festival in 1969, Santana shot to global fame with their unique blend of salsa, jazz, and rock music.
The New York Latino Film Festival will close with a free outdoor event in Washington Heights’ Quisqueya Plaza, featuring live music and food.
For more information on the festival, and a full list of featured films and shorts, visit nylatinofilmfestival.com.
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra will launch its 2023-24 Season, “Beethoven and Beyond,” with Beethoven’s Sixth; a program led by Music Director Finalist Jeffrey Meyer and featuring Pianist Xak Bjerken.
The September 23 concert opens with Carlos Simon’s “Fate Now Conquers,” followed by Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, and finally with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 to finish the evening. There is also a free pre-concert chat at 6:30 pm for anyone who wishes to attend.
Jeffrey Meyer has captivated audiences throughout North America, Europe, Russia, and Asia, with his passion for championing contemporary orchestral music and groundbreaking collaborations. His programming has been awarded multiple prizes including three ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming and two Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Awards in Orchestral Programming. Artistic Director of the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic for two decades, his work with the orchestra was noted for its breadth and innovation.
Praised as “one of the most interesting and creatively productive conductors working in St. Petersburg” by Sergei Slonimsky, the orchestra’s American debut with three performances at Symphony Space’s Wall-to-Wall Festival in New York City was described by The New York Times as “impressive,” “powerful,” “splendid,” and “blazing.” He also led the acclaimed conducting program at Ithaca College for ten years.
Pianist Bjerken has appeared as a soloist with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and has performed at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Glinka Hall in St. Petersburg, the Konzerthaus in Berlin, and St. Cecilia in Rome. He was for many years a member of the Los Angeles Piano Quartet, and has held chamber music residencies at the Tanglewood Music Center, the Spoleto Festival and the Olympic Music Festival. Bjerken is a Professor of Music at Cornell University where he co-directs the international chamber music festival Mayfest with his wife, pianist Miri Yampolsky.
For more information and subscriptions, or for tickets, visit this link or contact the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Box Office at 607-272-8981 or info@CCOithaca.org.
In partnership with Caffè Lena, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center announced that the popular Caffè Lena @ SPAC Festival will return for a free 1-day concert on Saturday, October 7 from 12-5:30pm. Taking place at SPAC’s Charles R. Wood stage, the festival will feature five bands, exploring genres including rock, bluegrass, jazz, reggae and more.
The featured performers will include Upstate, Los Sugar Kings, Soggy Po’ Boys, Amythyst Kiah, and The Clements Brothers. The Caffè Lena @ SPAC Festival highlights an ongoing collaboration between the arts center and the folk music venue in Saratoga Springs.
Upstate will close out the night with their signature blend of folk, bluegrass, jazz, and soul. The Woodstock-based collective is known throughout the state for their passionate songwriting, vulnerability, and stellar instrumentation.
This event combines the intimacy and style of Caffè Lena with the expansive outdoor setting of SPAC. Our organizations have had a great time collaborating on this project and the crowd has gotten bigger every year. This year’s line-up is really exciting featuring five inspiring artists, including our first GRAMMY nominee.
Sarah Craig, executive director of Caffè Lena.
The collaboration between SPAC and Caffè Lena first launched in 2017, resulting in jointly curated programs at both venues. Guests are welcome to bring food, drink, blankets, and lawn chairs for the concerts. Food concessions will be available. The concert will take place rain or shine.
This Fall, the Binghamton Philharmonic presents their first Family Free Symphony Session for “Shaker Songs” at The Forum Theatre on September 28th.
Tree of Life (Shaker Drawing c. 1848)
The Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra assembles to celebrate the old tradition of Shaker music producing a family friendly environment for all ages with an opening piece of Copland’s version ‘Simple Gifts’, the enchanting variation on a Shaker Melody. ‘Simple Gifts’ was originally sung by The Shakers and was made best known by composer Aaron Copland in Pulitzer Prize winning Ballet Appalachian Spring.
The family free symphony sessions are made possible by The Community Foundation for South Central New York granting friends and families to come together as a community to commend The Shakers and their music. The Shakers music was shared through oral tradition between many communities and created religious folk music with lively dance tunes, anthems and hymns.
On Saturday, September 30 at 7:30pm at the Broome County Forum Theatre, the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra will open its 2023-2024 season with “Beethoven’s Fifth,” a concert exploring masterworks of the classical music tradition. Under the direction of Maestro Daniel Hege, the orchestra will present Aaron Copland’s quintessentially AmericanVariations on a Shaker Melody, Edward Elgar’s moving Cello Concerto in E minor (as featured in the film Tár) with soloist Annie Jacobs-Perkins, and Beethoven’s towering Fifth Symphony.
All Children 17 and under get in for free, courtesy of M&T Bank, our Symphonic Series Sponsor. For tickets and more information, contact the Binghamton Philharmonic box office at 607-723-3931 or visit www.binghamtonphilharmonic.org.
In addition, the Orchestra is presenting several FREE community events in advance of opening night:
September 28, 2023, 2pm, Kilmer Mansion: Lecture-demonstration with cello soloist Annie Jacobs-Perkins and Dr. Julia Grella O’Connell: “Nostalgia, Loss and the Great War in Elgar’s Cello Concerto
September 28, 2023, 6:30pm, Forum Theatre: Family Symphony Session, “Shaker Songs,” a tour of the Forum Theatre and a family-friendly chat about Shaker music and dance
September 30, 2023, 5:30pm, DoubleTree by Hilton: “Ties and Tutus,” an opportunity for Binghamton City School students to enjoy a pre-concert dinner, a visit with Maestro Daniel Hege and guest cellist Annie Jacobs-Perkins, and a night at the symphony, courtesy of our sponsor IBM
September 30, 2023, 6:30pm, Forum Theatre: Pre-concert chat, “Music and Utopia,” with Dr. Julia Grella O’Connell, Director of Education and Community Engagement
The Forum Theater also offers a behind the scenes tour included as the orchestra prepares to rehearse, kids attend for free while first time adult concert-goers receive complementary tickets to the Philharmonics concert on September 30 to kick off the upcoming fall season.
Broadway Musicians Equity Partnership (BMEP) announced the launch of its pilot program. BMEP’s innovative program aims to provide access and learning opportunities for musicians who have historically been underrepresented on Broadway to learn about being in the musical theater industry.
BMEP’s program kicked off September 13 at the inaugural meet & greet of Local 802’s DECIBAL (Diversity, Equity, Community, Inclusion, Belonging, Access, Leadership) Collective, Local 802’s diversity collective that counts BMEP as one of its members.
We set out to create a program that would respectfully and responsibly open doors to the Broadway scene for multiple communities that have been historically underrepresented and excluded, including people of color, people with disabilities, and transgender or nonbinary individuals.
Anja Wood, co-chair of the BMEP committee
The inaugural cohort of BMEP includes 19 visiting partner musicians matched with current Broadway chair holders.
BMEP is funded via a grant from the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment says they are proud to support this innovative program and is committed to supporting NYC’s workers.
BMEP was developed in August 2021 by a group of Broadway musicians, music directors, and former Local 802 Executive members, with the specific goal of fostering collaboration, growth, inclusion, and equity within the Broadway community.
Every musician in a Broadway orchestra pit got their start thanks to someone who gave them a change and gave them a hand to work their way up. This program aims to provide that same opportunity to talented musicians who might not otherwise have a chance.
Alvin Hough Jr., co-chair of BMEP committee
The BMEP is a program that’s stretched over three months of one-on-one partnerships, offering:
Shadowing and Pit Visits: visiting partners get the chance to learn by shadowing their chairholder partner in the Broadway orchestra pit.
Facilitated Workshops: visiting partners get access to in-person workshops with various guest speakers ranging from Broadway music directors to chairholders. These workshops provide a greater context to the complex working environment on Broadway and also offer critical networking opportunities.
Final Project: a hands-on playing experience between Broadway chair holders and visiting musicians to demonstrate their playing skills after learning a Broadway book.
The program is open to all professional musicians in the New York City area from groups which have been historically underrepresented in musical theater. For more information about BMEP, visit their website.
Mondo.NYC, the annual global business summit and showcase music festival held in New York from Oct. 10-13, announced the agenda for its new AI track, consisting of ten-panel sessions at the Williamsburg Hotel.
A highlight of this track will be Mondo.NYC’s first-ever AI Hub, hosted by SingularityNET, a day-long immersive experience held in the hotel’s iconic Water Tower on Tuesday, October 10. SingularityNET was founded by Dr. Ben Goertzel with the mission of creating a decentralized, democratic, inclusive, and beneficial Artificial General Intelligence.
Mondo.NYC’s inaugural AI track will cover the most important topics and trends in the AI and music space, including AI sourcing, ethics, AI artists, creator tools, using AI safely, and AI’s opportunities and challenges. In addition to the AI track, Mondo.NYC 2023 will also feature programming focusing on topics including the state of the industry, management, music tech, gaming, policy, finance, investment, creation and production, touring, and more.
Amidst the ever-evolving issues facing the music business, AI has emerged like no other, roaring into our collective consciousness, capturing the attention of thought-leaders across the industry spectrum who are seemingly – and often simultaneously – cheering its potential for good and decrying its potential for disaster. We can’t wait for Mondo attendees to experience the latest in all things AI from the top minds in our industry and start conversations that will reverberate throughout the music business long after Mondo.NYC 2023 ends.
Bobby Haber, Managing Director of Mondo.NYC
See the complete agenda here. Mondo.NYC tickets are available here.
Albhy Galuten and others will discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with artificial intelligence in the music ecosystem. Is it just another invention like the synthesizer or electric guitar, or is it the end of life (and income) as we know it for musicians and writers?
3:00 PM – Days of Future Passed: Disruptive Technologies and the Music Industry
Speakers:
Bill Rosenblatt, President, GiantSteps Media Technology Strategies
Howie Singer, Adjunct Professor, NYU Music Business
If you want to predict how new technologies such as AI and social video will change the music industry, one way is to analyze how previous innovations impacted the business. Howie Singer and Bill Rosenblatt, authors of the new book Key Changes: The Ten Times Technology Transformed the Music Industry, look at lessons from historical developments over more than a century to help us predict how the latest disruptive technologies will shake up the music business.
Moderator: Justin Gray, CEO/President, Songistry Inc.
Music supervisors, songwriters, labels, and publishers all have differing opinions about the benefits of AI and its long-term effect on creativity and job security. Come see how Songistry is using AI to completely reshape how music is managed, discovered, pitched, and licensed.
5:00 PM A Whole New Ecosystem: Creating & Releasing New Music with AI
Speakers:
Moderator: Sean Glover, Director of Industry Engagement, SoundExchange
The co-writer of your artist’s next big hit or the reason you debut on the charts could be AI. With endless ways artists can collaborate and access beats, samples, tracks, and more, we are living in an age of true musical exploration and innovation. The experts on this panel are one step ahead, leveraging these tools or building them, and will dig into how they create and how they release new music into the world.
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
12:00 PM – Beyond the AI Boogeyman: Trust & Safety in the Modern Music Industry
Speakers:
Christine Barnum, Chief Revenue Officer, CD Baby
The critical conversation around trust and safety in music’s digital marketplaces has never been louder, but as each business lays out its own position, how can the industry align to formulate a collaborative approach to a nuanced issue? In this discussion, our panel will focus on the impact of streaming fraud, how a proactive approach to trust and safety is necessary, and why AI=Fraud isn’t the nuanced understanding the industry needs to progress.
2:00 PM – AI Alchemy: The Future of Creator Tools
Speakers:
Moderator: Daniel Rowland, Head of Strategy and Partnerships, LANDR
Matan Kollenscher, CEO, MyPart
Rachel Lyske, CEO, DAACI
Yotam Mann, Musician & Software Maker
AI is becoming increasingly good at not just prompt-based generation of full songs, but one-shot samples, loops, and even presets for digital instruments, along with composition assistance, mixing, mastering, and other workflow enhancements. But most popular music production software has few – if any – AI features. Will the old guard adapt, or will we see a surge in the popularity of fresh, AI-native creator tools?
3:00 PM – The Artist as API: The Next Level of Fan Engagement
Speakers:
Moderator: Daniel Rowland, Head of Strategy and Partnerships, LANDR
Seth Goldstein, General Counsel and Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs, Moises.ai
Stefan Heinrich, Co-Founder & CEO, MAYK Inc.
Outside of using AI in their own productions, some artists are offering fans AI models of their sound, likeness, and voice. Is this the future of fan engagement, brand building, and collaboration at scale?
4:00 PM RIAA Presents The End of Reality: AI and the Future of Music…
Speakers:
Moderator: Jem Aswad, Executive Music Editor, Variety
Dr. Moiya McTier, ExplAIner-in-Chief, Human Artistry Campaign
Jonathan Taplin, Director Emeritus, Annenberg Innovation Lab, University of Southern California
Jessy Wilson, Songwriter & Recording Artist
Variety Executive Music Editor Jem Aswad leads a discussion with USC Annenberg Innovation Lab Chairman Emeritus Jonathan Taplin, author of The End of Reality; Grammy-nominated songwriter and recording artist Jessy Wilson; and noted scientist, author, and storyteller Dr. Moiya McTier for their expert perspectives on AI, innovation, and the future of the music business.
5:00 PM – The Well-Trained Model: Ethically Sourced AI for Artists
Speakers:
Moderator: Daniel Rowland, Head of Strategy and Partnerships, LANDR
Chris Horton, SVP Strategic Technology, Universal Music Group
Stefan Lattner, Research Leader, Music Team, Sony Computer Science Labs
Joe Lyske, Inventor and Co-Founder, Mashtraxx Ltd.
How does an artist know what dataset the AI tool they are using was trained on, and whether their own music was used? A discussion of how AI is trained and the future of attribution and compensation for artists.
Friday, October 13, 2023
1:00 PM – Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing: Hot Topics in Generative AI in the Music Industry from Neural Networks to Fake Drake
Speakers:
Moderator: Phil Hill, Special Counsel, Music Industry Practice, Covington & Burling LLP
Chris Horton, SVP Strategic Technology, Universal Music Group
Shannon Sorensen, SVP, Legal and Business Affairs, National Music Publishers’ Association
Generative AI has been the hottest topic in the last several months from board rooms to dinner parties. Our panel will discuss this new technology’s impact on the music industry and will address topics such as copyright, rights of publicity and privacy, contracts and licensing, and overall policy.
