FIGEATER PRESS

"Led by clarinetist Beth Fleenor, Figeater make improvised music that ranges from insistently propulsive and buoyant—Fleenor can channel the spirit of Raymond Scott with aplomb—to aloof atmospheres, thugged-up backbeats, and loony, melismatic rants."

The Multifarious Spawn of Monktail Creative Music Concern
- Chris Delaurenti

LIVING ROOM PARTY 10

SKETCH_COMMENTARY

OWCHARUK 5

The Owcharuk 5 - a Ukrainian afro-punk jazz quintet - is headed into the studio 12/6/09 to do a live room recording of a collection of compositions/arrangements by Michael Owcharuk and a tune by trumpeter Jim Knodle.

Owcharuk 5 features Cody Rahn (drums), Nate Omdal (bass), Michael Owcharuk (accordion/composition), Jim Knodle (trumpet/composition), Beth Fleenor (clarinet)

Excerpts from rehearsal...

WACO - RIVER OF WHISKEY

On 10/27/09 I got to perform Wayne Horvitz's concerto for clarinet - River of Whiskey - with the Washington Composer Orchestra (WACO) as part of the Earshot Jazz Festival.

I still don't have audio from the performance but photo is by Daniel Sheehan and the video is from a Robin Holcomb composition during a WACO rehearsal.

FOR YOU 2

this is actually very small - fits in your hand.

LIVING ROOM PARTY 9

SKETCH_FIRECRACKER

(shot with vado on music stand)

LIVING ROOM PARTY 8

SKETCH_SIBERIAN DELIRIUM

(shot with vado on music stand)

FOR YOU 1

I consider making presents/cards/gifts a further manifestation of my artistic self and continuation of my discipline.

I bought a ukulele on a trip to Hawaii in 2001 when a dental injury left half of my face numb and I couldn't play clarinet for a while. Now, 8 years later, I can play two songs on the ukulele: Little Grass Shack (which I learned on that trip) and Free Bird....all that and NOT ONE LESSON! ahem.

This little gem was made for my KS friends, in an attempt to give them a little southern comfort whilst they traveled through Europe...

(shot with vado on bookshelf)

LIVING ROOM PARTY 7

SKETCH_AND I CRY

(my first compost-ition written on piano...I can't play piano....but this video, shot from atop the piano, once again of my head, does give you a nice view of my nostrils)

(I hope to work this one out with FIGEATER performing unit: Special Fig)

PLAYING THE GAME

As of Monday 11/30/09 I will be on day 66 of "Playing the Game" - a performative installation where I play nice and interact with the world as Communications Associate for Cornish College of the Arts, in an effort learn more about institutional dynamics and collect bio-survival tickets. In this role I handle event publicity, marketing, advertising, and box office management in addition to working on various publications for the school. I've actually been doing this piece since 06/07, but I didn't start counting the days of the performance until 08/03/09. "Playing the Game" will end 01/29/10.