1709 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
blond-noise
blond-noise is a multi-instrumentalist, sound artist, and producer creating experimental electronic and alternative music in Portland, Oregon. Their creative practice stems from play, experimentation, and outsider approaches to guitar and singer songwriter traditions, expanding into noise, synthesis, and experimental sound design. Music releases blend voice, instrumentation, field recordings, and sound design into immersive, textural compositions, often accompanied by their multimedia visual art. Their current improvisational work explores meditative electroacoustic soundscapes through guitar, modular synth, and other instruments, alongside vocal drones, singing, noise, and feedback, while responding to and creating with the unique resonance of each performance space and audience.
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GITSLINGER
Gitslinger, with Alan Cook on drums and percussion, Mike Murray and Jack Maiolo on guitar and electronics, explores the world of improvisation and spontaneous composition from a unique perspective. Each player brings decades of experience to create dynamic musical tapestries full of color, texture, creativity and deep listening.
Alan Cook
Born in Ayr, Scotland, Alan Cook brings a dynamic and multifaceted perspective to the creative exploration of the percussive arts, with over 50 years of diverse musical experience which includes performing with Nigerian master drummer Francis Awe’s Talking Drum Ensemble, competing to top international honors with the Misty Isle Pipe Band, ensembles large and small covering music in a wide range of genres, as well as extended experience in solo accompaniment for modern dance and
performance art. Originally self-taught, from his early twenties on he had been professionally active in the Southern California area, as well as nationally and internationally for several decades, studying and performing with renowned musicians such as Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz, Fred Katz, Bobby Bradford, Vinny Golia, and others.
Since relocating to the Pacific NW in August of 2015, Alan has continued to be musically active on many fronts, most notably live performances in Seattle at The Chapel Performance Space and on air performances on the long running radio series Sonarchy, produced by engineer extraordinaire Doug Haire. In the Portland area, Alan has been actively involved with the Creative Music Guild, the Portland Story Theater, experimental film maker Pamela Chipman, singer/songwriter Noah Kite, and freelance work in jazz settings with a wide range of artists such as Nancy King, Paul K Ward, Harrison Richter, John Stowell, Ryan Meagher, Rich Halley, Noah Bernstein, legendary bassist Andre St. James, Andrew Jones, among many others. He is currently working on original creative improvised music, either spontaneously produced or compositionally directed, with SAMadhi, a quartet that features Noah Bernstein on alto sax, Mike Murray on guitar, Shao Way Wu on bass, and himself on drums and percussion.
Since August of 2021, Alan has been the creative director of the ongoing Thursday’s the new Friday jazz series at Roland Wines in Longview, WA.
Mike Murray
Elements of jazz, rock, noise, microtonal and world traditions have all made their way into the music of Mike Murray. Whether involved in original composition, free improvisation, electronics, the great American songbook or somewhere in between, the guitarist is always pushing to explore new territory.
Mike is a Berklee grad who has also received a masters degree in jazz studies from the New England Conservatory having studied with Jon Damien, Jimmy Giuffre, George Russell and Mick Goodrick. He has performed and/or recorded with CT free improv masters Paul Flaherty and
Randall Colbourne, the late Thomas Chapin, Royal Hartigan, Scott Thornton, Matt Moran, Rich McGhee, Steve Marien and many others in and around the New England and New York areas. He now makes his home in the Pacific Northwest exploring creative music with some of the area’s finest improvisers.
Jack Maiolo
Jack’s musical concept delicately weaves together both improvisation and written composition. Nature has been one of Jack’s greatest teachers. The cyclical yet expansive rhythms of nature constantly inspire him to push the boundaries of form. For Jack, music is a collaboration—an ever-evolving dialogue where every player’s unique perspective is shared and honored. While studying at Berklee College of Music, Jack was immersed in several musical mediums, and he uses this diverse foundation to more authentically translate his inner world into sound. With his music, Jack aims to find the balance between tradition and his own unique style.
Contact addresses:
Website
Instagrams: @jackmaiolo, @beatrootalan
Oleo with Al Pasture
Oleo – Guitar – @oleo.ig
Mike Gamble – Drums
Christian San Nicolas – Saxophone & Effects – @cmlsn
Joshua Lehman – Bass – @sirpauljoshua
Bio:
Oleo (O Leo) is a guitarist and composer based in Portland, Oregon. Rooted in samba, ambient, and free improvisation, they create warm, organic music that blends expressive guitar with subtle electronics. The result is spacious, immersive sound that balances intimacy and atmosphere.
Al Pasture is the collective experimental vehicle of student and teacher Oleo and Mike Gamble, with powerhouse additions Joshua Lehman and Christian San Nicolas. Celebrating the release of their debut recording, Al Pasture has come to the Creative Music Guild ready to shred.
https://oleomusic.bandcamp.com
