An audiovisual concert curated by international artist, composer and performer Volker Goetze together with renown photographer and artist Sam Samore. Inspired by stories of Staten Island offering new perspectives featuring Oran Etkin (Clarinets), Nick Dunston (bass) and Richie Barshay (drums).
Volker Goetze - Composer, Trumpet
Volker Goetze is a New York-based composer, trumpeter and media artist. He has been investigating the oral culture of West Africa and its influences on black culture in America. Past performances include the Jazz Gallery New York, LA Festival of Sacred Music, Paris Jazz Festival, New Philharmonie Paris and the Munich Opera Festival. Mr. Goetze has held many master classes and was invited as a panelist by the Apollo Theater and the New York Foundation for the Arts.
Sam Samore - Art
Long considered one of the pioneers of large-scale conceptual photography in the 1980’s, Sam Samore is well known for his earlier series of photographic work such as “Allegories of Beauty (Incomplete)” and “Situations”. This artist has been exhibiting his work for the past forty years. Prominent monographic exhibitions have been held at De Appel in Amsterdam, P.S.1 MoMA in New York, Casino Luxembourg, and the Kunsthalle Zürich. Samore participated in the 46th Venice Biennale, the Istanbul Bienniale 2007, and the Tirana Biennale 2005. Sam Samore currently lives and works in New York City.
Richie Barshay - Drums and Percussion
Percussionist Richie Barshay, noted for his work with the Herbie Hancock Quartet, has established himself as a prominent musical voice of his generation and is regarded as "a player to watch" by JazzTimes magazine. On tour and recordings his diverse résumé includes Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Esperanza Spalding, The Klezmatics, Fred Hersch, Kenny Werner, Lee Konitz, Natalie Merchant, David Krakauer, Fred Wesley, Claudia Acuña, Bobby McFerrin and Pete Seeger among others. Since 2004, he has led outreach projects as an American Musical Envoy with the U.S. State Department in Asia, Africa, South America, and Europe. Now based in New York City, Richie began playing Jazz and Afro-Caribbean music during his youth and has expanded his focus to Indian rhythmic concepts and tabla, inspiring his 2007 recording debut Homework on Ayva Records. “Homework introduces a major rhythm voice on the rise” says Downbeat magazine, and The Guardian (UK) praises “the arrival of a major innovator who also knows how to have fun.”
Oran Etkin - Bass Clarinet
Oran Ektin has been described as a "great clarinet player" and "an excellent improviser" by the New York Times music critic Ben Ratliff and a "composer of eminent individuality" by his mentor and teacher, the legendary Yusef Lateef. His music is featured on several CDs, including a GRAMMY Award winning antibullying compilation CD.
Nick Dunston - Bass
Composer and bassist Nick Dunston (b. 1996) was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in New York City. Starting as early as high school, Nick has been gigging in the New York music scene, in venues such as Dizzy's
Club Coca Cola, Rockwood Music Hall, Mezzrow, Muchmore's, Whynot Jazz Room, Fat Cat, and the Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Special thanks to Sam Samore, Gena Mimozo, Monica Valenzuela, Elizabeth Bennett, Diane Velletri, Janice Monger, Jennifer Ciarleglio, Katie Cox, David Johnston, Palma Mingozzi, June, Kristin Wallace, Meg Ventrudo, Katie Mazzari, Amy Desiato, Jim Anderson, Tino Passante, Rachel Somma, Melissa West, Lorie Honor, Tom Matteo, Jennifer Sammartino, Dawn Daniels, Rosemarie Furno and Lisa Dahl. Endless thanks to my wife Theresa, my daughter Devika, my mother Ruth, and my in-laws Francis and Rosamoo Thanjan. “Tennis Racquet” courtesy of Alice Austen House. Special thanks to Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, the Staten Island Museum and the Alice Austen House.
Secret Island is made possible by a DCA Premier Grant from Staten Island Arts, with public funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Special thanks to the Turtle Bay Music School for providing their space for composing and rehearsing the music. The compositions were created with the support of the EtM Con Edison Composers’ Residency, administered by Exploring the Metropolis. The EtM Con Edison Composers’ Residency is funded by Consiolidated Edison, The Amphion Foundation, the George L. Shields Foundation, AOH Foundation, DJ McManus Foundation, The Reed Foundation and individuals.