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The Devastation Menu

Ken Vandermark (Chicago), reeds
Eva Reiter (Vienna), viola da gamba & recorder
Liz Allbee (San Fran), trumpet & electronics
Andrea Neumann (Berlin), innenklavier
Steve Heather (Berlin), drums & percussions
Clare Cooper (Berlin), guzheng
Vera Fischer (Vienna), bass flute
Joke Lanz (Berlin), turntables
Clayton Thomas (Berlin) double bass
Anthea Caddy (Aust) cello
Magda Mayas (Berlin) clavinet

In two nights of small, medium and large experiences.

March 24 and 25, 2010 / Ausland

A collection of musicians  who find themselves in Berlin by chance or by choice, refining their group languages, defining their relationships and exploring the potentials of in-the-moment decision making.

Some of us have played a lot and some of us have never met, but, for all one can judge, this will be two nights of dynamic sound.

Ken Vandermark is a jazz musician, composer and work-a-holic. Best known as the leader of The Vandermark 5, as a standout guest wth AAYLY Trio, and as a pivotal member of Sonor and The Peter Brotzmann Ten-Tet

Eva Reitar is a composer, improviser and intensely engaged performer in the Baroque and contemporary music traditions, and a death defying creative powerhouse to boot.

Liz Allbee moved from San Francisco to Berlin last year, bringing with her an openness and enthusiasm that is infectious. Her playing sits somewhere between Bill Dixon and Merzbow but has none of social problems that may suggest.

Andrea Neumann is a musician genuinely pursuing a personal and potent contemporary language. In the past few years she has concentrated on physical performance, composition and movement as extensions  of her improvisational options.

Steve Heather is an Australian born percussionist, drummer, sound maker, dancer, composer, performance artist, father. He has so much SUPER POWER he has registered it as a trade mark.

Clare Cooper uses the harp and the guzheng to open the doors of her immediate perceptions and turn off a mind that has been likened to a Golden Porsche.

Vera Fischer is a long-standing member of Klang Forum Wien, one of the worlds premier contemporary music ensembles. She is a natural improviser – which even her ability to hear 6 percent sharp can’t hinder.

Joke Lanz is a Swiss electronics musician best known as the being that is Sudden Infant! He remarked in passing– but I love improvising with turntables, and nobody here knows that.

Clayton Thomas is a double bass player who loves improvising and the musicians who do too. He is not adverse to practicing Charlie Parker tunes.

Anthea Caddy is one of the few cellists with a Masters in electronic music and sound art. An aesthete of the highest order, she is uncompromising in life and on stage.

Magda Mayas! On piano she uses the complexity of an electro acoustic orchestra without the cross purposes of a large ensemble. With the clavinet making its entry into ausland, we might hear more power-punk than we’re used to.