CSO Presents Classical Works of Local Composer, Jason Seed, June 3rd at 6:30PM

May 6, 2009 - PRLog -- The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Skookumchuck Strings Quintett will perform the original genre-bending works of local composer/guitarist, Jason Seed on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 6:30 pm at the Buntrock Hall Symphony Center located at 220 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.

Seed’s music http://www.myspacemusic.com/jasonseedelixirensemble has been performed by various ensembles in jazz, rock and classical settings across the United States as well as in Holland, Germany and Poland. He has performed as a guitarist with Present Music (performing the music of Astor Piazolla, Elena Kats-Chernin, Michael Torke, Julia Wolfe and others), The Jessica Lurie Ensemble, Trey Gunn (of King Crimson), Bill Frisell and numerous groups of his own.  Seed studied music at Indiana University with David Baker and privately with composers Douglas Lofstrom, William Russo and Ileana Perez-Velasquez.  

“Jason Seed composes with looseness of the jazzer, an experimental curiosity and constant openness to new sounds, respect for the 20th century masters, and the lyricism of, yes, Dvorak.  Rhythmically, his compositions can incorporate the rigor of Frank Zappa, the driving swing of Bulgarian mixed-meter dances, or the languor of the blues,” says Daniel Armstrong, bass musician for the CSO.

The CSO All-Access Chamber series http://www.cso.org/main.taf?p=3,11,6,1&EventID=9287 will feature “Five Tangos in Three Movements” and “String Quintet No.1” composed by Seed in addition to Antonin Dvorak’s “String Quintet, Op.77”.

About his compositions Seed says, “Five Tangos in 3 Movements is pretty literal in terms of the title. It's a series of interrelated tangos that were inspired by my love of Tango and the music of Astor Piazolla.”  He continues, “String Quintet No. 1 is a piece written specifically for this performance. I've always been a bit flabbergasted that there aren't more pieces for string quartet and bass. It's a combination that I am very drawn to if just from working in a jazz context for so many years.”

This concert marks the debut performance of Seeds works by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  “Having an opportunity to work with the CSO and such fantastic musicians is both a thrill and an honor,” reflects Seed.

For more information about Jason Seed, please contact Laura Szymber at (312) 850-2090 or laura@axiommegamedia.com.  For more information about this performance or the Chicago Symphony Orchestra please visit www.cso.org.

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Jason Seed studied music at Indiana University with David Baker and privately with composers Douglas Lofstrom, William Russo and Ileana Perez-Velasquez. His music has been performed by various ensembles in jazz, rock and classical settings across the U.S., Holland, Germany and Poland. He has performed as a guitarist with Present Music (performing the music of Astor Piazolla, Elena Kats-Chernin, Michael Torke, and Julia Wolfe), The Jessica Lurie Ensemble, Trey Gunn (King Crimson), and Bill Frisell. In 2006 Seed created the Elixir Ensemble with musicians from Chicago and Milwaukee Symphonies, Present Music and MusicNow. In 2007 he won the Independent Music Award for Jam Album of the Year.

Members of the Elixir Ensemble have (collectively, individually and somehow otherwise) shared the stage with such fabulously fracturous famous folk as Pierre Boulez, Edgar Meyer, Bill Frisell, Wynton & Branford Marsalis, Elliot Carter, Mark O'Conner, Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma and many, many others.