Alex Coke's Iraqnophobia, a suite for creative jazz ensemble

What: The Creative Opportunity Orchestra and the Church of the Friendly Ghost present Alex Coke’s jazz orchestra suite Iraqnophobia, followed by Brian Allen & Hernan Hecht.

When: September 11, 2007 (see event listings for times)
Where: Salvage Vanguard Theater (2803 Manor Road)
Time: 8:00 pm
Tickets: $10 General Admission (includes both performances)

FOR TICKET INFO & OTHER INQUIRIES: Contact the Church of the Friendly Ghost at 786 2015 or email halfmanhalfpie@hotmail.com.


Event Description
To commemorate this September 11, Alex Coke will lead the Creative Opportunity Orchestra in a performance of his jazz orchestra suite Iraqnophobia. Originally recorded and released on the VoxLox label in 2005, Iraqnophobia “(is a) deep meditation on human rights, peace, and social justice. For all (its) sensuous aesthetic, this composition is also a critical work of musical citizenship. Like Alan Pogue’s stunning photographs (included in the CD package), it directly confronts the brutal circumstances of life in war zones. (It) causes us to ask about the pain and misery of these places, and in doing so advocate(s) for compassion and human dignity.” – Steven Feld, MacArthur Fellow, Professor of Anthropology and Music, University of New Mexico

Please join the Creative Opportunity Orchestra and the Church of the Friendly Ghost for this special presentation on September 11th, at the Salvage Vanguard Theater in East Austin.

“Tina Marsh and CO2 have many years commissioned and performed works of musical conscience. As Austin’s premier aggregation of progressive musical spirits, their agenda has been as much social as musical, asking us to remember that music is not just a passive pleasure but also an active form of soul searching.” – Steven Feld, Professor of Anthropology and Music, University of New Mexico

Feld, President of VoxLox, explains that the small label’s “documentary sound art advocates for human rights and acoustic ecology. Our human rights recordings present exile, refugee, disaporic, and indigenous voices muted or censored by mainstream media.”

Bill Shoemaker wrote: “Songs are effective vehicles for the delivery of outrage, and the history of protest music is only slightly shorter than the history of music itself. Musical expression of political protest reached its greatest concentration in the 20th century … as I listened to Coke’s music, the messages about domestic ills (prisons and social justice) and foreign-policy mistakes (the Iraq war) receded. They were not lost but were superseded by accomplished writing, improvising and ensemble playing. The pieces incorporate elements of Southern blues, modern mainstream jazz, avant garde classical music, free jazz and middle-Eastern songs. Iraqnophobia makes a solid case that jazz remains a vital American medium for the advocacy of peace and social justice.” – Bill Shoemaker

FEATURING: Tina Marsh, Alex Coke, John Mills, Brian Allen, Ron Westray, Chris Maresh, Steve Schwelling, Rich Harney., Ephraim Owens, Pat Murray, with Steve Vague, and Oliver Rajamani.


CO2 will be followed by trombonist Brian Allen and drummer Hernan Hecht as part of their US Duo Tour.

The Brian Allen and Hernan Hecht Duo creates anthems for last place soccer teams, jams for alien big band dances, and songs for calculus teachers. Augmenting their respective primary instruments of trombone and drums, Brian and Hernan employ all manner of electronics: 8 bit video game sounds, samplers, melodica and various other toys and noisemakers. Tonight's Austin performance kicks off their southwestern U.S. tour, formally releasing their debut CD "Huiepi" into the wilderness.

This is the first U.S. duo performance of native Texas Allen and Argentinean-born, Mexico City-based Hecht. Their playing has been focused in Mexico, beginning in the Yucatan this past January with additional tours in the greater Mexico City area, made possible by Brian's Meet the Composer Global Connections Grant. Brian has been heard with Anthony Braxton, Mark Dresser and Roswell Rudd, his trio with Tony Malaby and Tom Rainey, the duo Brainkiller, and as a composer for chamber, jazz and wind ensembles. Hernan also travels wide circles, working in a trio with Bill Carrothers, gigging with Dave Fiuczynsky and Scott Henderson, touring his Gru-B Project and XPression Quartet, scoring music for documentaries, and playing drums in pop singer Ely Guerra's band. For more info, see www.braintone.com and www.hernanhecht.com.