tag:benkono.com,2005:/blogs/latest-news?p=1Latest News2023-10-25T10:27:29-04:00Ben Konofalsetag:benkono.com,2005:Post/72931852023-10-25T10:27:29-04:002023-10-25T10:33:17-04:00Interview with Zac Zinger on his new album and my approach to improvisation on it.<p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.facebook.com/zac.zinger/posts/pfbid02qtE9TFKqQ73yBjiTa4n5AzsgutuMNDt1soE7hYi5ckdzGrsW6R6EHHmpRtZPP37ql?notif_id=1698170365060453&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic_tagged&ref=notif"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/133557/df78b24cf5a0465a7712c2e5a278afd45f75e3f2/original/screen-shot-2023-10-25-at-10-30-37-am.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" />https://www.facebook.com/zac.zinger/posts/pfbid02qtE9TFKqQ73yBjiTa4n5AzsgutuMNDt1soE7hYi5ckdzGrsW6R6EHHmpRtZPP37ql?notif_id=1698170365060453&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic_tagged&ref=notif</a></p>Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/71797712023-03-28T09:15:18-04:002023-03-28T09:19:56-04:00Program for opera 'Fractured Mosaics' premiering virtually March 30, April 1 and April 3, 2023.<p><a class="no-pjax" href="/files/1219841/Program%20'Fractured%20Mosaics'" target="_blank">/files/1219841/Program 'Fractured Mosaics'</a></p>Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/71743052023-03-18T19:21:11-04:002023-03-18T19:24:28-04:00New opera "Fractured Mosaics" premiering March 30-April 1st<p>Some of you know I have been working on a new opera production this past year. I’m excited to announce that “Fractured Mosaics,” a virtual opera that asks what it means to be Asian American will be presented by @White Snake Projects March 30 - April 3 online! It’s been a thrill to work with librettist Cerise Jacobs, the wonderful singers and a terrific creative team. I will be one of five featured composers contributing to this unique opera cycle. Get tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fractured-mosaics-a-virtual-opera-tickets-508028495907 or visit https://www.whitesnakeprojects.org/projects/fractured-mosaics/ for more information. <br> </p>Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/71319472023-01-03T12:13:02-05:002023-01-03T12:13:02-05:00Ben Kono interview on The Musical Universe of Professor Hurst podcast<p>Hello all! Here's a link to a recent interview with Craig Hurst on his wonderful podcast <a contents='"The Musical Universe of Professor Hurst"' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://anchor.fm/craig-w-hurst/episodes/EPISODE-ONE-HUNDRED-ELEVEN--interview-with-New-York-City-based-multi-woodwind-artist--composer-and-band-leader-Ben-Kono-e1qmnk8">"The Musical Universe of Professor Hurst"</a> where we discussed everything from compositional process to music education. He has a wide range of interviews and it's been enjoyable to see what others' have to say about the state of music across a breadth of disciplines and styles. Hope you enjoy!</p>Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/68534402021-12-28T11:34:01-05:002021-12-28T11:34:01-05:00'Voyages' on Facebook Live!<p><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="429" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbenkono%2Fvideos%2F645289366506160%2F&show_text=true&width=560&t=0" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="560"></iframe></p>Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/67752412021-10-13T20:50:38-04:002021-10-13T20:50:38-04:00'Voyages' is "in the can!"<p>We had a wonderful two days recording our <strong>Chamber Music America New Jazz Works</strong> grant project <em>Voyages </em>at Big Orange Sheep studios in Brooklyn Aug.16-17th following our performance at ShapeShifter Lab on the 14th. Many thanks to Pete, Mike, Matt, Jared, Sara, Meg, Lois and Jody for incredible performances, to Chris Benham for engineering, and to my long-time friend Henry Hey for producing in the control room. Can't wait to share this music with the world!</p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/133557/1969d3e24283685d7550bdcbb58cab23e39e966e/original/img-2254.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_xl justify_center border_none" alt="" /></em></p>Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/67752182021-10-13T20:25:26-04:002021-10-13T20:39:13-04:00International Society of Arrangers and Composers Artist Blog feature<h3>Very special thanks to ISJAC for allowing me to post the Ben Kono Group's latest project 'Voyages' in their Artist Blog!</h3>
<p><a contents="Voyages-Staying on Point with a Message" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://isjac.org/category/artist-blog" style="" target="_blank">Voyages-Staying on Point with a Message</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/133557/cf91c03298f41a64a7a446770a2f9ba039c0cb6f/original/category-artist-blog-isjac-international-society-of-jazz-arrangers-and-composers.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_xl justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/65163752021-01-08T10:31:37-05:002021-01-08T10:34:28-05:00'Voyages' premier video<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="rJaNs8pN47I" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/rJaNs8pN47I/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rJaNs8pN47I?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>Hey all, since it doesn't look like we'll be getting out there any time soon, I thought I'd share some video from Ben Kono Group's most recent project: Voyages. This was a suite of compositions commissioned by Chamber Music America New Jazz Works and we premiered it at Jazz Forum in Tarrytown, and again at Greenwich House in NYC this past December. Inspired by the writings of my grandfather Juhei Kono it traces our family's transition from Japan to America and features my quintet augmented by some very special friends on strings. The first installment of these is called "Bata Kusai!!", a rather colorful phrase my grandfather used to describe his first taste of American food and culture when he was summoned over to work on a farm, and I wrote it to feature the amazing Sara Caswell on violin. Hope you enjoy! </p>
<p>Ben Kono Group premiere of "Bata Kusai!!" from "Voyages" suite, commissioned by Chamber Music America New Jazz Works Grant at Renee Weiler Concert Hall, NYC Dec.18, 2019. </p>
<p>Ben Kono, tenor saxophone and composition <br>Pete McCann, guitar <br>Mike Holober, piano <br>Matt Clohesy, bass <br>Jared Schonig, drums <br>Sara Caswell, violin <br>Meg Okura, violin <br>Lois Martin, viola <br>Jody Redhage Ferber, cello</p>Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/65163572021-01-08T10:20:52-05:002021-01-08T10:20:52-05:00"Don't Blink" featured in Chamber Music Magazine Fall 2020 issue<p>Many thanks to Chamber Music Magazine for featuring my CMA grant project "Don't Blink" in their Fall 2020 issue, and to the musicians who have kept this project going over the years: Henry Hey, Pete McCann, Kermit Driscoll, Satoshi Takeishi, Mike Holober, Jared Schonig, and Matt Clohesy. Looking forward to a time when we can continue presenting this music live again!<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/133557/c46744f276eef2b9b241f05b57785c0df1084d3e/original/screen-shot-2021-01-08-at-9-55-29-am.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/47984662017-07-31T23:37:40-04:002018-11-24T10:32:37-05:00Summer Newsletter, Music Mountain<p>Dear Friends, </p>
<p>I hope you are having an enjoyable summer! The family and I just returned from a truly inspiring tour of our national and state parks on the west coast for a long awaited getaway. Highlights included camping among the California redwood giants of Jedediah Smith State Park; wandering through Sahara-like sand dunes of Oregon’s coast; and hiking among the glaciers and marmots of Mt.Rainier in Washington. If you get a chance to do so, I highly recommend spending some time immersing yourself in nature away from home. It doesn’t have to be exotic, just far enough from the city so you can see the stars at night and hear the birds over the sound of trains and automobiles! Our country’s natural environment is a treasure that never ceases to inspire me, and now more than ever it’s crucial to remind ourselves why we need to take action and protect these special places. <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/133557/2aca86b982f6782e46f65d9ffd530bee9ba340bd/original/dsc-0222.jpg?1501335208" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>This spring I had the pleasure of taking the Ben Kono Group to Joplin, Missouri and presenting our environmental jazz suite “Don’t Blink” as part of the revered Pro Musica Chamber Music series. I must admit that, during our drive from the airport in Arkansas to our hotel in Joplin, I was a bit apprehensive about the reception of our message as we passed mile after mile of fracking fields and gas refineries. As it turned out, not only was our performance well received, but there was an overwhelming positive response to our message concerning the fragility of our environment, and it seemed to strike a particular nerve with that community. Thanks to Bonnie Yetter for all the careful planning and warm hospitality given to us on our visit, she is a great advocate for the arts in Joplin! And of course thanks to Henry Hey, Pete McCann, Matt Clohesy and Ross Pederson for bringing their incredible musical expertise and positive energy to the gig. They are the best of the best! </p>
<p>If you happen to be on the east coast, we now present this same program at Music Mountain Chamber Music Festival in Falls Village, CT on Saturday August 5th at 6:30 as part of their Twilight Series performances. Music Mountain is the oldest summer chamber music festival in the country and has one of the finest sounding acoustic spaces around. Tickets are $30 for the concert only, or there is a pre-concert theme dinner option at Falls Village Inn for $70 if you want to make a night of it. If you are in the Berkshires area we would love to see you there! Visit dontblinkmusic.org for a preview of the music we will be playing. </p>
<p>In other news this summer, I spent June recording some amazing new music with the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble—our third album with this band; a new recording of wind ensemble music with Gotham Winds; a CD release concert for Korean jazz composer Hyeseon Hong; and, coming up in August, the debut recording of Japanese jazz composer Migiwa Miyajima and her most excellent jazz orchestra. Jazz and camping, what a great way to spend the summer!</p>Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/46828472017-04-24T12:46:05-04:002018-09-25T01:04:38-04:00April newsletter: Earth Day, Peoples Climate March, Midwest Tour, and a new Music Video<p>This weekend was Earth Day and our family celebrated by planting trees on our street, pulling some junk out of the Hudson River, and celebrating nature with friends outside on a beautiful spring day. I also dabbled in some film production, and so I present to you a new music video for the Ben Kono Group’s upcoming release <a contents="“Don’t Blink”" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://tblinkmusic.org/" target="_blank">“Don’t Blink”</a>. The piece is entitled <a contents="“Passenger”" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GaNwafPGG0" target="_blank">“Passenger”</a> and was written to commemorate the centenary passing of the last passenger pigeon over a hundred years ago. I hope you enjoy! <br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GaNwafPGG0" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/133557/43f6955fc5835d6bb63506ef4f2e922ad7276495/original/screen-shot-2017-04-24-at-10-16-15-am.png?1493049638" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p>This coming weekend marks another opportunity to voice our appreciation and concern for the environment. In Washington DC and around the country this Saturday April 29th citizens will be coming together at the <a contents="Peoples Climate March" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://peoplesclimate.org/" target="_blank">Peoples Climate March</a> to voice their concerns over our global climate change. During this tumultuous period of environmental crisis it is more important than ever to voice our opposition to those who would undo the progress made to better our earth, and to draw attention to the effect our footprint has on the health of our planet. </p>
<p>Rather than heading to DC, however, I’m taking the Ben Kono Group to the midwest to do our part in spreading the word! I am very excited to be partnering with <a contents="Pro Musica in Joplin, Missouri" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://promusicajoplin.org/ben-kono-group-jazz-saturday-april-29-2017/" target="_blank">Pro Musica in Joplin, Missouri</a> to present our environmental suite “Don’t Blink” this Saturday April 29th at Missouri Southern State University as part of their chamber music series. We will be presenting a masterclass open to the public at Corley Auditorium from 1-2pm, then the concert at 7:30pm. If you or anyone you know resides in the Joplin area and would be interested in attending, please pass along this information, we’d love to meet you! </p>
<p>If you don’t know about our project “Don’t Blink”, you can read all about it at www.dontblinkmusic.org. The work is a commentary on our relationship with the environment as seen through the lens of my own personal path towards environmental activism. It was commissioned by the Chamber Music America New Jazz Works Commissioning and Ensemble Development Grant, and you can preview the music and read the story on our website. </p>
<p>For those of you who can't travel to Joplin to hear us, we will be appearing later this summer at the Music Mountain Twilight Series in western Connecticut, and we will be releasing the complete recording soon via Bandcamp, iTunes, CD Baby and all your favorite music outlets, so visit www.benkono.com for updates!</p>Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/45969412017-02-18T13:37:08-05:002018-07-11T03:00:25-04:00Ben Kono Group featured in Chamber Music Magazine: "Reflecting a Planet in Peril"I'm proud to be featured in a story that appeared in the Fall 2016 issue of Chamber Music Magazine: "Reflecting a Planet in Peril". Writer Nicole Loeffler-Gladstone produced a well-written piece based on interviews with chamber groups who reflect an ethos of environmental activism in their work, and the Ben Kono Group's recent project "Don't Blink" was well-represented. Thank you Nicole and all the featured groups for doing justice to a great cause! You can read the article in its' entirety here:<br><br><a contents="Reflecting a Planet in Peril" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.chamber-music.org/magazine/reflecting-planet-peril" target="_blank">Reflecting a Planet in Peril</a>Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/39895332016-01-14T19:26:34-05:002018-08-24T17:50:12-04:00Ben Kono Group performs CMA Commission 'Don't Blink' at Chamber Music America 2016 National Conference<p>Dear Fellow Conference Attendee, </p>
<p>We are excited to present our showcase this evening and would love to see you there! The Ben Kono Group will be presenting excerpts from their 2013 Chamber Music America New Jazz Works commission DON"T BLINK. </p>
<p>FRIDAY JANUARY 8, 5:00PM <br>WESTIN NEW YORK AT TIMES SQUARE <br>MAJESTIC BALLROOM 5TH FLOOR </p>
<p>The Ben Kono Group is: </p>
<p>Ben Kono; woodwinds and compostion <br>Pete McCann; guitar <br>Mike Holober; piano <br>Matt Clohesy; bass <br>Satoshi Takeishi; drums </p>
<p>Please come by to listen, we would love to meet you and chat with you after the performance!</p>Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/38021022015-08-03T22:41:48-04:002018-05-03T03:20:41-04:00Ben Kono Group at Hopper House Music in the Garden Aug.13th, Nyack, NY<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/133557/98a24a12c072f442beaa698627a296004e6a15db/original/bkg-hopperhsflyer2.jpg?1438656089" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/37389952015-06-12T09:29:51-04:002018-11-24T10:31:28-05:00Ben Kono Group plays New Music Festival in Bryant Park June 15<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/133557/55931a80f04ccfd553b268a768a87e41774e8347/original/new-music-festival-digital-promotion.jpg?1434115778" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/37306132015-06-05T13:55:25-04:002018-05-08T05:06:23-04:00Bryant Park June 15th and other delights...<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Dear family, friends and colleagues,</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I am way past due sending out an update on all things musical. Lots going on this spring and summer (!) but I thought I would focus on an upcoming event: The <a href="http://benkono.bandzoogle.com/home">Ben Kono Group</a> will be a featured ensemble at the <a href="http://www.bryantpark.org/plan-your-visit/newmusic.html">Bryant Park New Music Festival </a> on June 15<sup>th</sup> from 4:30-10pm. This concert features works commissioned by <a href="http://www.chamber-music.org/new-music-bryant-park-2015">Chamber Music America</a> and will be the closing concert of it's 2015 season. We will be performing our 2013 Chamber Music America New Jazz Works commission “Don't Blink” and I'm excited to be playing along five other grantees, including two of my musical heroes Donny McCaslin and Don Byron, both of whom will be leading their own respective ensembles. The concert is free and open to all ages in one of the most beautiful settings in New York City, and I hope to see you there.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">In other news, the BKG recorded our commission “Don't Blink” in February and will be doing some final mixing soon. I'm pretty stoked about how it sounds! Thanks to Pete, Henry, Kermit and Satoshi for the incredible playing, Paul Wickliff for getting great sounds and keeping the session moving, and to my brother Simon for capturing the moment on film. Here's a sneak preview of what's in store:<br><br><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WzfB6z53TbY" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">If you can't catch us in Bryant Park, perhaps you'll come hear us in a lovely garden concert at <a href="http://www.edwardhopperhouse.org/music-in-the-garden-jazz-series.html"> The Hopper House</a> in Nyack, NY. We'll be playing there Thursday evening August 13<sup>th</sup> at 7:30pm at one of my favorite places to hear music, the home of iconic American artist Ed Hopper in my hometown of Nyack on the Hudson. It's a perfect place to bring family and friends and enjoy an evening outdoors.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Other upcoming events you may want to see:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">June 6 at 7pm. , <a href="http://www.liveatthefalcon.com/#!150606/c14th">The Falcon</a> Marlboro, NY</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Ed Palermo Big Band presents The Wizard of Zodd featuring Napoleon Murphy Brock. The ultimate mashup of Frank Zappa and Todd Rundgren wrapped up in a twisted pageant based on the Wizard of Oz. I've been a member of Ed's band for fifteen years—you won't want to miss this one!</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">June 10 at 8pm. <a href="http://roulette.org/events/31928/">Roulette</a>, 509 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, NY</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble will be celebrating the release on Sunnyside Records of “Songs We Like a Lot”, the sequel to the Grammy-nominated album “Songs I Like a Lot”. We will also be performing at the Newport Jazz Festival July 31<sup>st</sup> if you happen to be attending.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">June 25 at 7:30pm. Christ and St.Stephens Episcopal Church, 120 W.69<sup>th</sup> St., New York, NY</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><a href="http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/570564">27th Annual BMI Jazz Composers Workshop Concert</a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">That's right: 27 years of cutting edge big band music premiers, the last fifteen of which I've been a proud participant. And unfortunately this will be the last one, so make sure to see this if you can. If you want to know more about the history of this incredibly influential workshop and it's future, you can visit this site and join in the conversation: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/593463090756480/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/593463090756480/</a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Thank you for reading and I hope to see you at one of these events! If you have any comments drop me a line or visit <a href="http://benkono.bandzoogle.com/home">benkono.com</a>, would love to hear from you.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Musically yours,<br><br>Ben</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> </p>Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/35491332015-02-22T09:39:09-05:002018-05-31T22:02:46-04:00"Don't Blink" is in the can!Whoo hoo! The Ben Kono Group had a great two days at Paul Wickliffe's studio in Hampton, NJ recording the complete suite "Don't Blink", commissioned by Chamber Music America: New Jazz Works Grant and funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The peaceful rural environment (including a family of deer!) stoked our creative energies and we have something we think you'll find very different and rewarding to listen to. Thanks to the band--Pete, Henry, Satoshi, and Kermit--for making the long hall, and to Paul for getting us great sounds. Special thanks to Henry for the three-flight walkup in the East Village with a newly restored vintage Fender Rhodes--the sound was worth it!Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/33154682014-11-21T16:55:42-05:002018-07-16T01:45:15-04:00Ben Kono Group performs "Don't Blink" at ShapeShifter Lab, Brooklyn Dec.2nd<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/133557/c76a5bba632bee28cb03f411ec580e45fb57ea5b/original/bkg-ssl.jpg?1416606811" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/31017292014-07-27T16:16:49-04:002018-10-18T00:11:26-04:00Shapeshifting, Mixing, Relaxing, and RIsing in JulyThanks to everybody who came out to our second installment of "Don't Blink: A CMA New Jazz Works Commission" at Shapeshifter Lab in Brooklyn last month, and hope you are all enjoying the summer! We seem to have escaped the 'dog days' here out east but, returning from a family trip out west, I can attest that California is indeed in the midst of a terrible drought. I spent a good many hours chilling in my mother-in-law's 'swamp cooler' mixing the multitrack recording of our concert while my daughter played in the pool under the baking sun. Nothing like mixing a record to get intimate with your bandmates! Thanks to Kermit Driscoll, Satoshi Takeishi, Pete McCann and Mike Holober for some slamming performances. I hope to post the mixed and edited performances on this site very soon. I should also mention what a great experience it was to perform at <a contents="Shapeshifter Lab" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.shapeshifterlab.com/" target="_blank">Shapeshifter Lab</a>, they are very artist-friendly, provide some nice services like recording and video, and the tech crew make things much easier when you're running around madly trying to set things up. Thanks so much to Fortuna Sung, Matthew Garrison, and "Kiwi" for making that happen, and to my good friend <a contents="JC Sanford" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.jcsanford.com/" target="_blank">JC Sanford</a> for sharing the bill.<br><br>Nice to 'exhale' after a lot of hard work this spring. Sometimes, though, a little surprise can come out of the blue. In perusing the August issue of <a contents="DownBeat Magazine" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://downbeat.com/" target="_blank">DownBeat Magazine</a>, I noticed my name in the "Rising Star: flute" category of the annual critics' poll! I'm not sure how these things work, but it's nice to see my name alongside Sam Most and Kent Jordan, although honestly I should think they would be in the "established artist" category. Anyway, regardless of what you think of polls (obviously there are many omissions) "Rising Star" is better than "Sinking Stone" and congrats to all those whose contributions were noticed (including longtime friend and Ben Kono Group member <a contents="Henry Hey" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://twitter.com/henryhey" target="_blank">Henry Hey</a>).<br><br>Coming up: New recording sessions and concerts planned for <a contents="Ed Palermo Big Band" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.palermobigband.com/" target="_blank">Ed Palermo Big Band</a>, <a contents="Chris Zuar" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.chriszuar.com/" target="_blank">Chris Zuar</a>, and a concert in Israel with saxophonist <a contents="Eli Degibri" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.degibri.com/" target="_blank">Eli Degibri</a>. Happy summer to you!Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/28478642013-07-01T20:20:00-04:002014-06-06T11:59:10-04:00Ben Kono Group awarded CMA New Jazz Works Composition and Ensemble Development Grant for 2014!<div class="news-excerpt description"><p>I am thrilled to announce that we have been granted a commission to write an extended work for BKG to be performed sometime in 2014. Many thanks to Chamber Music America and the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation! More details to come...</p></div>Ben Konotag:benkono.com,2005:Post/28478672011-12-19T17:20:00-05:002014-04-20T21:07:28-04:00Nineteen-Eight Holiday Sale and end-of-year wrap-up<div class="news-excerpt description"><p>Hello friends, and seasons' greetings!<br><br>In the spirit of the season, the good folks over at <a href="http://www.nineteeneight.com/" target="_blank"><b>Nineteen-Eight Records</b></a> are offering a sweet deal on all of their records, including "Crossing" released this year by your's truly. For a limited time only, they are offering every single cd in their catalog for only $7 each. This special holiday pricing will last through the rest of December only and will end on January first. You can see the limited-time pricing adjusted on each artist page. This pricing only applies to physical CDs and is only available at Nineteen-Eight. If you already have "Crossing", perhaps you know some else who may enjoy it (…just saying'…!) or perhaps check out some of the other fantastic releases from this year. Either way, can't go wrong with great music!<br><br>"Crossing" has had some fine reviews over the year including some recent end-of-the-year press:<br><br><a href="http://jja.camp8.org/2011Bestof?mode=PostView&bmi=768553" target="_blank"><b><i>'CROSSING'</i> TOP DEBUT ALBUM OF 2011</b>--<i>Jazz Journalists Association</i></a><br><br><a href="http://steptempest.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-of-2011-part-1.html" target="_blank"><b>BEST OF 2011</b><br><br>"The first time I listened to "Crossing" (Nineteen-Eight), the debut CD by multi-reed player Ben Kono, the music stopped me cold. Not only does Kono play a slew of instruments (oboe, english horn, flute, alto flute, clarinet, tenor saxophone and shakuhachi), his compositions and arrangements are strikingly good. Supported by the rhythm section of John Hollenbeck (drums) and John Hebert (bass) plus the fine keyboard work of Henry Hey and soaring electric guitar of Pete McCann (his acoustic work is also excellent), Kono creates an aural auto-biography that is as moving as it is musical. His wife, Heather Laws, adds vocals and french horn to several tracks. What a debut!"--<i>Step Tempest</i></a><br><br><a href="http://thebigcityblog.com/2011jazztop10-first/" target="_blank"><b>JAZZ: SEMI-TOP TEN FOR 2011</b><br><br>"Kono is one of the stalwart session men on the New York scene, from Broadway to the stellar big bands of Darcy James Argue and John Hollenbeck. His versatility as a player comes through on Crossing in a rich range of musical thinking; all the pieces are his own, and his writing makes excellent use of wordless voice, french horn, and his own terrific flute and double-reed playing. His writing makes the band, with Heather Laws the aforementioned singer/horn player, Henry Hey on piano, guitarist Pete McCann, John Hébert on bass and drummer Hollenbeck, sound enormous. The musical ideas come out of the contemporary legacy of sophisticated, internationally tinged jazz composition and orchestration, make use of the best lessons from the likes of Pat Metheny as well as his own colleagues. Kono places an emphasis on melody, and is a real craftsman, shifting his lovely lines through different textures and harmonies, combining sections that seem like bits of songs into larger forms and never losing track of where he has come from and where he is going."--<i>The Big City Blog</i></a><br><br>Looking forward to some great things in 2012 and I hope to see you at some of them! Thanks for listening and for your continued support, I wish you all the best for the holidays and the new year.</p></div>Ben Kono