Tag Archives: New York

R.I.P.: James Chance of the Contortions Remembered

Text by Dawoud Kringle

James Chance Saxophonist, bandleader of The Contortions and Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, and No Wave pioneer James Chance passed away.

Born James Alan Siegfried in Milwaukee, Chance began studying piano in elementary school and in his teens began playing the alto saxophone. He attended Michigan State University and Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee where he formed the James Siegfried Quintet and Death, a Stooges-influenced group. He would later study with jazz saxophonist David Murray.

He moved to New York in 1975 and began using the stage name James Chance. A year later he formed Teenage Jesus and the Jerks with singer Lydia Lunch. In 1977 he formed the first version of the Contortions.

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INDIEGOGO Fundraising Campaign: globalFEST 2016 – Bringing the World’s Music to You

Join a bevy of world music fans, tastemakers, music professionals, journalists and more for a night of musical surprises at one of today’s most pioneering music festivals. Your ticket to the show is guaranteed through your contribution. As our main annual fundraiser, your support of globalFEST via Indiegogo plays a crucial role in our success each year.

This year’s groundbreaking 3-stage, 12-band world music festival on January 17 hits the historic Webster Hall in New York City and we’re especially excited about our outstanding line-up! As one of the most influential events in North America and the premier gateway for emerging and established artists from around the world, gF’s success stories continue to grow. Crowdfunding has made this possible.

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CD Review: Brooklyn Duo Mark Rogers and Mary Byrne…the music is subtle and minimalist while remaining dynamic and stylistically robust

Mark Rogers & Mary Byrne CD coverArtist: Mark Rogers and Mary Byrne
Title: I Line My Days Along Your Weight
Label: Important Records
Genre: folk noir/folk music

CD review by Dante Mann

I Line My Days Along Your Weight, the debut album by Mark Rogers and Mary Byrne , is compelling and an intriguing form of modern folk. There is a distinct southern flavor to this album; the music is subtle and minimalist while remaining dynamic and stylistically robust.

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