Io Casino - Notes from 2006 event

You are invited to a sound performance

io casino - electronics, bass and voice
Neil Leonard - woodwinds and electronics
Anne Rhodes - voice
Jonathan Chen - violin

GASP Gallery
Sunday, 18th December at 7-8 pm, 2006



IO CASINO [electronics, bass, and voice] is a sound artist who lives in Barcelona, Spain. Her work ranges from long drones with bass and metallic textures to voice works that evoke ‘a young girl and ancient Inuit women processed by sampler and electronics.’ casino has released three CDs: "Io Casino" (Zanfonia / Gràcia Territori Sonor), "Mundo das ferramentas" (Gràcia Territori Sonor w/ Kasper Toeplitz, Francisco López, Tibetan Red, Josep Gimenez, and Victor Nubla), and "Cicalà" (Icones). In 1996, she became part of the Gràcia Territori Sonor team, which organizes the Festival LEM (Barcelona) and which she directs. This event is part of casino’s first tour on the U.S.

Saxophonist and composer, NEIL LEONARD [woodwinds and electronics], is known for his highly unique approach to composition and improvisation. His ensemble has featured Marshall Allen (Director of the Sun Ra Arkestra), Bruce Barth, Don Byron, Uri Caine, Kenwood Dennard, Robin Eubanks, Frank Lacy, Badal Roy, and Jamaaladeen Tacuma. Leonard composed the music for "Relatives," by Tony Oursler and Constance DeJong, which was featured at the Whitney Biennial and in 25 cities around the world. He is co-owner of Gallery Artist Studio Project (GASP) and curator of the GASP sonic arts series in Brookline. Leonard teaches at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

ANNE RHODES [voice] is originally from Portland, Maine. She has performed with the Portland Opera Repertory Theatre Chorus, the Crane School of Music Opera Ensemble, the Boston University Camber Choir, the New England Conservatory Continuing Education Opera Studio, MIT Gilbert and Sullivan Players, the Anthony Braxton Large Ensemble and the Connecticut Opera Chorus. Anne is currently pursuing an M.A. in Music Performance at Wesleyan University, focusing on experimental music, improvisation and collaboration with composers. She is particularly interested in the inherent issues involved in singing music written by instrumentalists, and in using the voice as an ensemble instrument as opposed to a vehicle for text. She is currently working in collaboration with Neely Bruce on a large body of French art songs and with Anthony Braxton on a duo “Ghost Trance” recording project.

JONATHAN CHEN’s [violin] work, including sound installations, compositions, and improvisations, has been featured by The Soap Factory (Minneapolis), Chicago Cultural Center, Asian American Jazz Festival, and many others. Chen’s performance venues include the Chicago Jazz Festival, Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art, Renaissance Society, Smithsonian Institute, Sounds Like Now Festival (NYC), WNUR Jazz Festival, Sonic Circuits International Festival of Electronic Music, and others. He has worked with Anthony Braxton, Gene Coleman, Nic Collins, Olivia Block, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Megan Rodgers, Jenny Walsh, Amnon Wolman, Santiago Cucullu, and Jeff Chan. Recent duets with bassist Tatsu Aoki will be released on Asian Improv Records.