Latest news with #Pollinator
Chicago Tribune
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Jazz bassist Matt Ulery returns to his roots with ‘Mother Harp' and a release concert at Hungry Brain
Music pours out of Matt Ulery. Since moving to Chicago 25 years ago, the Rockford-born bassist, 43, has put out 15 albums of originals, a body of work that defies generalization. He's composed for jazz bands, classical ensembles and even berimbau, a single-stringed Afro-Brazilian instrument best known for accompanying capoeira matches. In 2020's 'Pollinator' — a 1920s-inspired brass band release — he even traded his upright for a sousaphone, an instrument he hadn't played since high school. But in an average month, Ulery isn't only playing his own music. Like so many working musicians, he's stringing things together. He estimates that, on average, he performs in the city nightly, mostly as a sideman. When we meet up at a coffee shop in Lincoln Square, Ulery has his bass in tow, returning from a day of teaching at Northeastern Illinois University. He juggles that job with other teaching posts at Loyola and Roosevelt University, the latter his alma mater. So, when on Earth does all that composing happen? 'I don't have an issue with finding the muse,' he admits, almost sheepishly. 'If you're always open to a little spark of an idea, you can capture that spark. The hard part is sitting down and doing the work.' A residency this month at Hungry Brain gives Ulery a platform for his uncorkable creativity. Ulery brings four different groups to the West Lakeview venue, including his Pollinator band and sprawling Nonet. He wraps the residency with his new Mother Harp band, a thrashing union of punk rock, jazz and folk. The group releases a self-titled album the same day on Ulery's Woolgathering Records label. 'Mother Harp' — taking its name from a piece Ulery composed in 2019 — is Ulery's most dramatic pivot since 'Pollinator.' Though Ulery can often be spotted around town on electric bass, 'Mother Harp' marks the first time he's played on the instrument in any of his releases as a bandleader. The album's searing, adrenaline-laced sound is new to his recorded output so far. 'It's like extremely melodic punk,' Ulery says, 'and electric bass is a higher-energy than upright bass. It just is. You can turn it louder and it sounds better instead of worse.' Ulery acknowledges it's a little ironic that it took him so long to record an album on bass guitar. The instrument has been part of his life far longer than the double bass, with roots in his childhood hobby of plucking out songs on his father's old acoustic guitar. Thing was, the guitar was missing all its strings except the lowest two. 'Someone was like, 'Oh, you're actually playing the bass notes. Try this (bass guitar),'' Ulery recalls. Later, as a teenager, Ulery led what he calls 'parallel musical lives.' Some nights he sat in with old-time swing bands, playing with a fake ID; others, he played in ska-punk band with friends, like any '90s kid worth his salt. You won't find ska rhythms in 'Mother Harp,' but you will find its distinctive horn-driven, rhythmic spirit. Those rhythms tend to be flowing yet asymmetrical — another ghost from Ulery's musical past. For much of the 2000s, Ulery played in Eastern Blok, a quartet which infused classical and jazz with Balkan folk music. For example, the melody of 'Five Pocket,' off 'Mother Harp,' seems to bounce along inexhaustibly. Though the groove underneath it is lopsided, the tune never stumbles. 'When people say 'odd meter,' I used to think, What's so odd about it? But it's just an odd number,' Ulery says. 'Playing in Eastern Blok, I really developed a more intimate understanding of the odd-meter folk dances.' From an outsider's perspective, 'Mother Harp' seems to fuse two very different facets of Ulery's musical life. Ulery himself doesn't see it that way. 'What was my folk music, growing up as a white suburban kid? It was punk and third-wave ska,' he says. 'I was a teenage dancer, going to shows with friends, moshing or skanking. It's all there.' Hannah Edgar is a freelance writer.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blondie Drummer Clem Burke Dead at 70, Dennis the Menace Actor Jay North Dies at 73, Billy Joel: And So It Goes Documentary to Open 2025 Tribeca Festival
Blondie drummer Clem Burke dies at 70. Described as 'the heartbeat of Blondie,' drummer Clem Burke cemented himself as a rock 'n' roll legend, playing with some of the genre's most iconic groups and artists. He joined the group led by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein in 1975, playing on all of the band's iconic studio albums, from their self-titled debut Blondie in 1976, to their most recent release Pollinator in 2017. Along with Blondie, Burke played alongside countless other legendary rock artists, including Bob Dylan, Eurythmics, the Go-Go's, Slinky Vagabond, Ramones, Joan Jett, The Fleshtones, Bob Geldof, and more. His passing was revealed in a statement from Debbie, Chris, and the entire Blondie family on Instagram, citing cancer as his cause of death and writing, 'Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.' Dennis the Menace star Jay North dies at 73. The former child star passed away on Sunday at his home in Lake Butler, Florida after a multiyear battle with colorectal cancer. His death was confirmed by close friend Laurie Jacobson in a Facebook post, writing 'He had a heart as big as a mountain, loved his friends deeply. He called us frequently and ended every conversation with "I love you with all my heart." And we loved him with all of ours.' North first won audiences' hearts at the age of 6, first appearing as the titular character on Dennis the Menace in 1959. The show ran for four seasons, airing its final episode in 1963. Billy Joel: And So It Goes documentary to open 2025 Tribeca Festival. The HBO original two-part documentary will kick off the 12-day festival on June 4 at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. Tribeca announced news of the documentary's debut on Sunday, stating 'For nearly 25 years, Tribeca Festival has been a love letter to the artists, culture, and stories that make New York great. That's why we're excited to open the 2025 Festival with the world premiere of Billy Joel: And So It Goes, an @HBO Original documentary exploring the life and music of the man who captured New York's soul in a single song.' Following its premiere at the festival, fans will be able to tune into the documentary on HBO and its streaming service Max, however dates for those releases have yet to be set. Today's holidays: National Coffee Cake Day, National Beer Day, National No Housework Day, World Health Day, International Beaver Day, Public Television Day. In today's birthday news: Country singer Bobby Bare turns 90, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola 86, singer John Oates 77, actor Jackie Chan 71, actor Russell Crowe 61, late jazz singer Billie Holiday was born on this day in 1915.
The Independent
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
‘Unmatched' Blondie drummer Clem Burke dies aged 70 after cancer diagnosis
Blondie drummer Clem Burke has died aged 70 after a cancer diagnosis, the band has said. Born in New Jersey, US, Burke featured on all of the Debbie Harry-fronted band's studio albums, from their self-titled debut, through their 1978 classic Parallel Lines, to 2017's Pollinator, after joining the band a year after their formation in 1975. In a statement on Blondie's Instagram, Harry and the band's guitarist Chris Stein said: 'It is with profound sadness that we relay news of the passing of our beloved friend and bandmate Clem Burke following a private battle with cancer. 'Clem was not just a drummer, he was the heartbeat of Blondie. His talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable. 'Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. 'Clem's influence extended far beyond Blondie, a self proclaimed 'rock and roll survivalist', he played and collaborated with numerous iconic artists.' Burke played on Iggy Pop's 1982 album Zombie Birdhouse, and also performed with Bob Dylan, The Ramones, The Who guitarist Pete Townshend, and Joan Jett. The statement continued: 'His influence and contributions have spanned decades and genres, leaving an indelible mark on every project he was a part of. 'We extend our deepest condolences to Clem's family, friends, and fans around the world. His legacy will live on through the tremendous amount of music he created and the countless lives he touched. 'As we navigate this profound loss, we ask for privacy during this difficult time. Godspeed, Dr Burke.' Burke made his final live appearance with Blondie last year, and even performed with tribute act Bootleg Blondie in 2019. The drummer performed on classic tracks such as Call Me, Heart Of Glass and One Way Or Another, scoring six UK number one singles and two UK number one albums. Among those paying tribute was Kinks guitarist Dave Davies, who said in a post on X: 'I feel saddened that Clem Burke was taken from us so soon. 'May he rest in peace, spectacular drumming, we were friends.' The band began their career performing at New York's CBGB and Max's Kansas City clubs, which witnessed the birth of a number of pioneering punk bands, including the Patti Smith Group, Television, The Ramones and Talking Heads. During their early days Burke was credited with keeping the band together after original bassist Fred Smith left to join Television, recruiting his friend Gary Valentine to take over. He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with his fellow bandmates in 2006.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Unmatched' Blondie drummer Clem Burke dies aged 70 after cancer diagnosis
Blondie drummer Clem Burke has died aged 70 after a cancer diagnosis, the band has said. Born in New Jersey, US, Burke featured on all of the Debbie Harry-fronted band's studio albums, from their self-titled debut, through their 1978 classic Parallel Lines, to 2017's Pollinator, after joining the band a year after their formation in 1975. In a statement on Blondie's Instagram, Harry and the band's guitarist Chris Stein said: 'It is with profound sadness that we relay news of the passing of our beloved friend and bandmate Clem Burke following a private battle with cancer. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Blondie (@blondieofficial) 'Clem was not just a drummer, he was the heartbeat of Blondie. His talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable. 'Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. 'Clem's influence extended far beyond Blondie, a self proclaimed 'rock and roll survivalist', he played and collaborated with numerous iconic artists.' Burke played on Iggy Pop's 1982 album Zombie Birdhouse, and also performed with Bob Dylan, The Ramones, The Who guitarist Pete Townshend, and Joan Jett. The statement continued: 'His influence and contributions have spanned decades and genres, leaving an indelible mark on every project he was a part of. 'We extend our deepest condolences to Clem's family, friends, and fans around the world. His legacy will live on through the tremendous amount of music he created and the countless lives he touched. 'As we navigate this profound loss, we ask for privacy during this difficult time. Godspeed, Dr Burke.' Burke made his final live appearance with Blondie last year, and even performed with tribute act Bootleg Blondie in 2019. The drummer performed on classic tracks such as Call Me, Heart Of Glass and One Way Or Another, scoring six UK number one singles and two UK number one albums. Among those paying tribute was Kinks guitarist Dave Davies, who said in a post on X: 'I feel saddened that Clem Burke was taken from us so soon. 'May he rest in peace, spectacular drumming, we were friends.' The band began their career performing at New York's CBGB and Max's Kansas City clubs, which witnessed the birth of a number of pioneering punk bands, including the Patti Smith Group, Television, The Ramones and Talking Heads. During their early days Burke was credited with keeping the band together after original bassist Fred Smith left to join Television, recruiting his friend Gary Valentine to take over. He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with his fellow bandmates in 2006.
South China Morning Post
16-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Your perfect week: what to do in Hong Kong, March 16-22
Try this WestK FunFest More than 20 site-specific pop-up performances will take place at WestK FunFest. Photo: WestK FunFest Running over five weeks from March 21, West Kowloon's family-friendly festival will feature nearly 100 activities for kids and kids at heart alike, from interactive performances and theatre experiences to free programmes and workshops, all created by acclaimed artists and arts groups from around the world. Don't miss American artist duo Alex Schweder and Ward Shelley's live artist residency and experimental performance initiative Pollinator, exhibited in Asia for the first time. See the full schedule on their website Eat this Prince and the Peacock Prince and the Peacock has debuted its The Nawabs of Bengal menu. Photo: Prince and the Peacock Be spirited away to the palatial feasts of 18th century India with The Nawabs of Bengal seasonal menu at Prince and the Peacock. The menu, which runs until mid-April, takes inspiration from the spice-rich cuisine that arose in the Nawab courts, whetting the appetites of Mughal aristocrats and Bengali intellectuals, from the perfumed ghugni to the punchy morog pulao with bhapa chingri. Advertisement 2/F, Central Magistracy, Tai Kwun, 1 Arbuthnot Road, Central See this Guernica in Sand Guernica in Sand by Lee Mingwei. Photo: Dan Leung Taiwan-born American artist Lee Mingwei presents Guernica in Sand, a free installation at M+ recreating Pablo Picasso's 1937 anti-war masterpiece using, well, sand. Lee's work embodies impermanence, contrasting with Picasso's powerful statement – line in the sand, if you will – on the bombing of the city of Guernica during the Spanish civil war, and is on show until July 13. The installation runs alongside 'Picasso for Asia – A Conversation', an exhibition that invites reflection on chaos and transformation, but with no sand. The Studio, B2, M+, 38 Museum Drive, West Kowloon Cultural District Drink this Socio Corn Husk from Socio's new menu. Photo: Socio Sustainable cocktail bar Socio has unveiled a hyper-local menu focused on upcycling ingredients discarded by neighbouring businesses. The Avocado, for example, uses avocado by-products from Mexican taqueria Uncle Miguel in a gin and whisky-based tipple, while Oyster Shell reuses the titular ingredient from nearby seafood joint Hooked. 17 Staunton Street, Central
