Fall 2019 – Spring 2020 Visiting Artists

Spring 2020

Thana Alexa

THANA ALEXA will be at CalArts for a Wintersession class that is open to the Institute, "Singing with Thana Alexa." 

Surprising is the word that perhaps best describes Thana Alexa, an extraordinarily creative force in music.  An awe-inspiring vocalist, composer, and arranger – for whom the voice is both a lyrical and experimental instrument – her music pushes the boundaries of the genre into new and unexplored territory with deep seeded roots in jazz and overtones of contemporary soul and world music.

Location
School of MusicWorkshops

Fall 2019 Visiting Artists

Alex Rosson

Best known as the Founder and Former CEO of Audeze, Alex Rosson has enjoyed a storied history with the love of music as his underlying motivation. Beginning with drums at 11 and DJing at 12, the LA-native joined his first band at 15 playing any venue or show that would invite them. These days you may catch him playing a 4-hour durational set at Moogfest or opening for A Perfect Circle.  Rosson founded Audeze and with the development of the LCD-2 planar magnetic headphone made a substantial impact on the personal audio industry. Relieving himself as CEO after years of product development and taking his company from a garage, having to ship products on his lunch break, to opening distribution in 40 countries and being accepted into Apple retail. He also co-founded heavy bass music label Play Me Records with his wife, DJ Reid Speed. Since then he’s directed Shinola’s foray into audio and while not consulting continues refining his passion for reference level audio equipment combined with unique design.

Event Details

BEAM SPLITTER

Utilizing the pure sounds of acoustic and closely amplified sound sources, the duo of Nørstebø and Chen join together two individual voices into a distinct dialog that delve beyond the borders of the corporeal elements of extended technique and sound. There is an intimacy and conflict that becomes evident as the two personas intertwine, in moments joining together seamlessly and in the next, being left with the feeling of irrevocable fracture. The two manage between these extremes with a kind of improvised grace that reveals an effort towards a common goal. It is an honest metaphor for a human relationship in process that even in the most serene moments can leave one raw and entirely exposed.

Event Details

John Beasley

Grammy-Nominated Pianist / Composer / Arranger / Music Director / Producer

“Beasley, the one-time keyboardist for Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis, reflects a variety of generational influences, incorporating the emphatic chordal clusters of Herbie Hancock, the rhythmic quirkiness of Monk and the lush intelligence of Art Tatum into a highly refined personal voice.” –LA Times

Event Details

Ben Monder

A musician in the New York City area for over 30 years, Ben Monder has performed with a wide variety of artists He also contributed guitar parts to the last David Bowie album, “Blackstar”. Ben conducts clinics and workshops around the world, and has served on the faculties of the New England Conservatory and the New School. He was the recipient of a Doris Duke Impact Award in 2014, and a Shifting Foundation grant in 2013.  Ben continues to perform original music internationally in solo and trio settings, and in a long standing duo project with vocalist Theo Bleckmann. He has appeared on over 200 CDs as a sideman, and has released 7 as a leader.

 

Event Details

12345