Monday, December 23, 2019

Flown to the infinite sky: the most wonderful Dusky Pionus parrot in the world.





For 27 years, every moment I spent at home, I spent with her.
And she was so much on my mind, when I was away.
A beautiful, gentle, patient soul.
A pillar of my life.

Fly eternally, Murphy Marie, and take with you only love.
I will never stop missing you.
March 12, 1992 - November 15, 2019

Friday, December 06, 2019

duo B Experimental Band 1st anniversary extravaganza!

dBxB is now a whole year old! To celebrate, we're taking over the Temescal Arts Center for a four-hour performance and installation. You're welcome to drop in and out, or stay for the whole thing. Here's the schedule:


Tuesday, September 17, 2019

duo B experimental band - October 6th

Sunday, October 6, 4pm
as part of SF Music Day 2019
SF War Memorial Veterans Building,
401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
Admission FREE
the duo B. Experimental Band plays People in Sorrow

Saturday, October 5, 8:30pm
Do-Over Music Series at Temescal Arts Center
511 48th St, Oakland
$10 admission/NOTAFLOF
*plus opening set by the Fay Victor-Jochem van Dijk Duo 

Sunday, October 6, 3pm
as part of SF Music Day 2019
SF War Memorial Veterans Building,
401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
Admission FREE

Polly Moller-Springhorn, flutes (Oct 6 only)
Kyle Bruckmann, oboe
Kevin Robinson, woodwinds
David Boyce, tenor saxophone
Cory Wright, woodwinds
Randy McKean, woodwinds
Henry Hung, trumpet
Alan Williams, trombone
Murray Campbell, violin
Karl Evangelista, guitar
Erika Oba, piano
Lisa Mezzacappa, bass
Donald Robinson, drums
Jason Levis, drums
with special guest, Fay Victor, voice

The ever-evolving, often morphing duo B. Experimental Band continues its bi-monthly residency  at Temescal Arts Center next month — on Sat eve, we play a long-form version of the Art Ensemble's masterpiece, People in Sorrow, and reprise a shorter version for SF Music Day the following afternoon. An exciting part of leading this band is how we are able to expand, contract and shapeshift the ensemble to suit different repertoire and contexts: we are super excited to bring this group of stellar humans/musicians together to celebrate the Art Ensemble's vision, 50 years after their seminal recording.
ALSO!
in a supporting role:

Jason Levis Septet 
@ Pro Arts Gallery, Oakland, Mon Sept 23, 9pm

***
Bruce Ackley & Henry Kaiser Explore the Music of Steve Lacy
 @ the Back Room, Berkeley, Sun Sept 29, 8pm

***
Duo with flutist Wilfrido Terrazas 
@ Mills College, Friday, October 4, 8pm

***
Yizkor: Andrew Conklin & Maya Ciarrocchi 
@ the Center for New Music, SF, Sunday, October 6, 7:30pm

Monday, July 29, 2019

Outsound Summit highlight reel


Check out the excerpt from my dbXb solo at the beginning of this highlight reel, plus excerpts from the Tomography Fortunae premiere starting at 10:16!

Saturday, July 27, 2019

"The opening selection by Polly Moller Springhorn definitely established new ways of thinking about both composition and improvisation."

Tomography Fortunae has had its world premiere. Good fortune manifested in seven Toms performing in the same time and place! Read the review by the redoubtable Stephen Smoliar.

Tom Weeks...Tom Duff...Polly...Tom Djll...Tom Scandura...Tom Dambly...Tom Nunn...Tom Dimuzio
Photo by Amanda Chaudhary

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Also playing in the duo B Experimental Band, July 23rd


I've had the pleasure of playing in the duo B Experimental Band for several months now, and we'll be kicking off the Outsound New Music Summit on July 23rd. Check out this lovely video preview.

Tuesday, July 02, 2019

Roman numerals and Fortunate Numbers


These are the Roman numerals and Fortunate Numbers which will guide the seven musicians named Tom in the premiere of my new piece, Tomography Fortunae. This will happen on Friday, July 26th at the 18th Annual Outsound New Music Summit.

Monday, June 03, 2019

July 21-27 in San Francisco

Come to the 18th Annual Outsound New Music Summit to hear me play with the duo B Experimental Band and to witness the world premiere of my piece, Tomography Fortunae, for seven musicians named Tom!


Monday, May 20, 2019

June 1st in Oakland




Saturday, June 1, 8:30pm
DO-OVER Music Series #6:
duo B. Experimental band

with opening set by Ryan Pate, solo guitar

Temescal Arts Center
511 48th Street, Oakland
$10/ NOTAFLOF
Polly Moller Springhorn, flutes
Randy McKean, woodwinds
Cory Wright, woodwinds
Josh Marshall, tenor saxophone
Gabby Fluke-Mogul, violin
Murray Campbell, octave violin
Shanna Sordhal, cello
Kjell Nordeson, percussion
John Finkbeiner, guitar
Lisa Mezzacappa, bass
Jason Levis, drums
The duo B. Experimental Band continues its bi-monthly residency....new works for improvising large ensemble by Lisa Mezzacappa and Jason Levis! Conducted improvisations! Improvisation games!

Monday, March 11, 2019

All hail the Kingfisher Queen!

Friday, February 15, 2019

The first sound art installation by Usufruct


Usufruct is now an Affiliate Artist of Mojave Sound Art, and we're excited to be a part of the 2019 Incantations gathering. Our piece will be in residence in a pink cinder-block jackrabbit cabin in Wonder Valley over the last weekend in March. For more info, check out the Incantations web site.

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Sponsor me in Community Music Center's Field Day Performathon!

Hey there.
I will be playing my piece Psalm (after John Coltrane) in the March 17th Field Day at San Francisco's Community Music Center. I believe very much in their mission of making music accessible to all. Find out all about it on my fundraising page:

https://sfcmc.rallybound.org/pollymollerspringhorn