MUSIC

subconsciouscafe & VORTEX present Thomas Helton (Houston TX) microtonal bass playing solo and with: Todd Brunel - bass clarinet Scott Dakota - fretless guitar Thomas Helton

For 15 years Thomas Helton has laid down basslines for jazz ensembles in Houston and around the US. He has deep-seated love and respect for jazz traditions, ingrained by instructors like Shelly Berg and Larry Slezak. In a tribute to Houston musicians, he compiled and published the first Houston Musician's Realbook. He has appeared at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and has recorded with Joe LoCascio, Carol Morgan, Chris Connolly, Smitty, Kevin Patton, & Cindy Scott. Thomas brings all of his passion and experience for jazz to the table when it comes to his other half, avant-garde music.

Early in his jazz career, Thomas was inspired by the sounds of John Zorn and Peter Kowald to venture outside mainstream musical bounds. This journey began with the Rosta Jazz Avengers, a Houston-based quartet all about free improvisation and sonic exploration. Thomas quickly jumped into composition, beginning to develop a style that combines thematic composition with free improvisation, a sort of loosely controlled writing style showcasing his hand-selected performers. Thomas has released three albums to date. "Good Robot" (2007) and "Experimentations in Minimalism" (2006) feature compositions for small ensemble. "Doublebass" (2003) is a collection of live, freely-improvised solo performances. Thomas also appears on the 2003 Norcal Noise Fest compilation CD, as well as the KUHF "The Front Row" 2006 compilation CD.

Todd Brunel is an innovative, critically acclaimed clarinetist who performs extensively as a crossover classical and jazz musician. In the world premiere event 'From Requiem to Renewal' at Boston College, clarinetist Todd Brunel and pianist Synthia Sture played with "Tremendous virtuosity and heart," The Boston Globe. He has premiered works by numerous composers including: George "Skip" Brunner, Matthew D. Harder, Rick Sowash, Ara Sarkissian, Jose Louis Hurtado, Johnny Reinhard, Vuk Kulenovic, Arnesto Klar, Pamela Watson, and Vache Sharafyan. "The perfect control over the instruments allowed the soloists the subtle at times almost jocular transition through different styles and genres."Musical Horizons Magazine.

As a jazz/improvisational performer and composer, he produces The Vortex Series for new and improvised music, a frequent jazz "pick of the week" in the Boston Phoenix and the Boston Globe. Among his hundreds of performances at clubs and social establishments, Brunel has played at the Montreal Jazz Festival, The Bowery Poetry club, The National Black Arts Festival, The International Woodwind Festival, Preservation Jazz Hall, Ryles, CBGB's Gallery, The Boston Music Festival and the American Microtonal Festival under the direction of Johnny Reinhard. He is a founding member of Neon Juju, a literary music ensemble, the Lilli Lewis Project, The Rivera Brunel Method, the Circadian Rhythm Kings (2008 Innova Recordings) Musaner, The DNB Trio, the Black Dust Ensemble and the Vortex Other Dimension Ensemble. His work with conductor and composer Lawrence "Butch" Morris includes Conductions recorded in NYC and performances in Boston, with the New England Skyscraper. He collaborates frequently with the Jeff Robinson Trio and as a featured artist at Rob Chalfen's Subconscious Cafe with David Maxwell's Ether Bandits and bassist John Voigt. Scott Dakota Scott Dakota (The Moors, Valhalla Kittens, Producer of The Steamy Bohemians and others), fretless wide range guitar, microtonal and just intonated improvisations, live looping, and soundscapes.

http://www.thomashelton.com

http://www.myspace.com/thomasheltonbass

http://www.clarinetconspiracy.com/

http://www.myspace.com/scottdakotaproducer

OUTPOST: 186 ½ Hampshire St., Inman Sq. Cambridge (rear)

DIRECTIONS: Near cr. Prospect St., opposite Hess gas, behind 7-11. Big "186" on R side. Follow walk at left to gallery in back. booking & mail kontrol : robchalfen@hotmail.com