Daniel Popsicle

was founded by Dan Plonsey in September 1999.

Daniel Popsicle is stigmatized due to its large and unusual instrumentation, which enables it to escape the standards of intonation which have prevailed in the Western World for the majority of the millenia.

Daniel Popsicle was organized to meet an obligation to Plonsey's former teacher, Anthony Braxton
"Sir, we must now write music for the next millenium!"

Since its inception, Daniel Popsicle has been dedicated to presenting the music of El Cerrito, in an open-ended series of volumes. Of the following, music from volumes 1, 2a, 2b, and some of 3 have been recorded. Two pieces from volume 4 were recorded at a concert at the Berkeley Arts Festival. Fourteen pieces from the collected "Cerrito Theatre Music" were performed April 9, 2002, at the Black Box, and were recorded by both Zoka and John Shiurba.

Volume 1: Music of Dan Plonsey (party music) (Yesnolp, CD-R)
Volume 2: Relations among Two of the Three Primary (Great) Kingdoms of Natural Objects: Plants and Animals
Volume 2a: Moving About, Humming, Still Our Flowers are Blooming, Under the Old Portcullis (UnLimited Sedition, CD)
Volume 2b: Wise King Taken by the Foolish One
Volume 3: The 23 Marches for Casual Space Tourist, a.k.a., Destination: Fremont!
(These Marches were commissioned by New Music Works, Santa Cruz, for 2001: A Space Garden (Garden Party))
Volume 4: Music for Occasions of State, El Cerrito
Volume 5: El Cerrito Annex: late 14th Century French Secular Polyphony
Volume 6: Music from Northern El Cerrito: Daniel Popsicle plays Cerrito Theatre Music of Dan Plonsey
Volume 7:The Playback Operas of El Cerrito
Volume 8:``Jazz at Yoshi's'' (Yesnolp, CD-R)

Performances

  1. December 2, 1999: The Starry Plough
  2. July 22, 2000: The Zeum courtyard.
  3. October 15, 2000: ACME Observatory
  4. June 24, 2001: A Berkeley Arts Festival and Beanbender's Presentation.
  5. December 8, 2001: two pieces performed by: New Music Works of Santa Cruz
  6. April 9, 2002: The Black Box, Oakland, CA.
  7. June 21, 2002: Garden of Memory: Chapel of the Chimes, Oakland, CA.
  8. July 27, 2002: New Langton Arts Award Show, San Francisco, CA.
  9. August 5, 2002: At the Richmond Arts Center, Richmond, CA.
  10. September 30, 2002: At Yoshi's, Oakland, CA. (A Jazz in Flight presentation.)
  11. June 19, 2003: Memorial Concert for Matthew Sperry
  12. September 28, 2003: Daniel Popsicle Subsidiary Marching Band in the "How Berkeley Can You Be?" Parade
  13. April 25, 2004: CD Release at the Jazz House
  14. June 27, 2004: Outdoor conccert at MoCHA
  15. October 30, 2004: Berkeley Arts Festival HQ
  16. June 12, 2005: Santa Cruz New Music Works Avant Garden Party
  17. June 02, 2006: The Starry Plough, as part of the 4th annual SperryFest.
  18. October 6, 2006: The Illuminated Corridor (at 21Grand)
  19. October 7, 2006: Museum of children's Art, Oakland
  20. May 4, 2007: The Berkeley Arts Festival HQ (2323 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley)
  21. May 9, 2007: 21Grand, Oakland
  22. June 21, 2007: The Chapel of the Chimes, Oakland
  23. August 23, 2007: The Starry Plough
  24. September 15, 2007: Peanut Butter Jam, Alameda
  25. February 22, 2008: The Berkeley Arts Festival, 2213 Shattuck Avenue

Musicians who have played in the ensemble:

Dan Plonsey
Carol Adee
Kyle Bruckmann
Ben Goldberg
Michael Zelner
Matt Ingalls
Randy McKean
Scott Rosenberg
Cory Wright
Joshua Smith
Fran Holland
Jared Prolo
Joe Karten
Liz Albee
David Bithell
Chris Grady
Chris Silvey
Tom Yoder
Tim Madden
Jay Rozen
Phil Gelb
Ward Spangler
Wayne Vitale
Tom Swafford
Naomi Okuyama
Sarah Willner
Danielle DeGruttola
Samantha Black
Ashley Adams
Marc Culbertson
Matthew Sperry
Steve Lew
Randy Porter
John Schott
John Shiurba
Steve Kirk
Mike Pukish
Jenya Chernoff
Matt Lebofsky
John Hanes
Suki O'Kane
Erling Wold
Lynn Murdock (Wold)
Myra Chachkin
Mantra Ben-Ya'akova
Cleveland Plonsey 		c melody saxophone, oboe, clarinets
piccolo
oboe and English horn
clarinet
clarinet
clarinet
bass clarinet
sax, contrabass clarinet
soprano, bari sax, bass clarinet
tenor sax, drums
bass clarinet
bassoon
shofar
trumpet
trumpet
trumpet
trumpet
trombone
trombone
tuba
shakuhachi
xylophone, glockenspiel, percussion
Balinese percussion & gangsa
violin
violin
viola, Balinese instruments
cello
cello
bass
bass
bass
electric bass
cumbus, guitar, violin
national steel guitar
electric guitar
banjo
drums & percussion
drums & percussion
drums & percussion
drums & percussion
toys, drums & percussion
farfisa organ
acrusonic organ
little Yamaha synth, bass, cello
voice
percussion, Italian keyed whistle
Poster by Alan Anzalone

Appearances

December 1, 1999:
The Starry Plough, Berkeley With: Dan Plonsey, c melody sax; Joe Karten, shofar; Phil Gelb, shakuhachi; Ben Goldberg, clarinet; Tom Yoder, trombone and sackbutt; Erling Wold, farfisa; Lynn Wold, acrusonic organ; Tom Swafford, violin; Sarah Willner, viola and gangsa; Samantha Black, cello; Ashley Adams, bass; Matthew Sperry, bass; Randy Porter, cumbus, guitar, violin; Wayne Vitale, Balinese drum and gangsa; Ward Spangler, percussion; with Henry Kuntz, guest, Balinese instruments.

Saturday, July 22, 2000:
The Zeum courtyard. 1PM-3PM. Admission FREE! Poster by Alan Anzalone.
With: Dan Plonsey, c melody sax; Phil Gelb, shakuhachi; Ben Goldberg, clarinet; Tom Yoder, trombone; Erling Wold, farfisa; Lynn Wold, acrusonic organ; Tom Swafford, violin; Samantha Black, cello; Ashley Adams, bass; Matthew Sperry, bass; Randy Porter, cumbus, guitar, violin; Ward Spangler, percussion.
Performed compositions from among "Music for El Cerrito: Volume 1" and Introductions and sections A-E of Moving About, Humming, Still our Flowers are Blooming Under the Old Portcullis.
Sunday, October 15, 2000:
ACME Observatory 7:48PM (Moe! opening.)
3192 Adeline, a block South of Ashby BART.
The world premiere of the complete
Moving About, Humming, Still our Flowers are Blooming Under the Old Portcullis
for large ensemble and miniature tableau theatre, by Dan Plonsey, with: Dan Plonsey: c melody sax, Phil Gelb: shakuhachi, Michael Zelner: clarinet, Tom Yoder: trombone, Erling Wold: accordion, DX7, Lynn Wold: farfisa organ, Tom Swafford: violin, Sarah Willner: viola, Ashley Adams: bass, Steve Lew: electric bass, Mike Pukish: percussion, Cleveland Plonsey: percussion and Italian keyed whistle, Mantra Plonsey: tableau-maker, Kattt Sammon: tableau-maker

Photos by Alan Brightbill
Sunday, June 24, 2001:
A Berkeley Arts Festival and Beanbender's Presentation. With:
Dan Plonsey, c melody saxophone;
Phil Gelb, shakuhachi;
Carol Adee, piccolo;
Ben Goldberg, Michael Zelner clarinets;
Tom Yoder, trombone;
Sarah Willner, viola;
Randy Porter, electric guitar, violin, cumbus;
John Schott, John Shiurba electric guitars;
Mark Culbertson, acoustic bass;
Wayne Vitale, Ward Spangler, various children percussion;
Mantra Ben Ya'akova, voice.
December 8, 2001:
New Music Works of Santa Cruz performs two works written for Daniel Popsicle. Following are the program notes:

"Two Eyes and A Nose" and "Cow With Ears" (both 1999) were written for any ensemble of unbalanced, asymmetric instrumentation, preferably including at least one instrument from Bali, and one or two people who can't play their chosen instrument so well. The lyrics to "Cow With Ears" were written by my older son Cleveland, who was three at the time. (He performs with various of my ensembles frequently.) These two compositions are part of an ongoing open-ended cycle of "Music From El Cerrito," in which I use materials, performers, and inspiration close at hand to create music which fails to meet any classical "standards." This music in fact draws upon all of my weaknesses at least as much as upon my strengths, and is intended as an testament to the beauty of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. As such, I dedicate this performance to all those who will be falsely accused of crimes against the USA.

Tuesday, April 9, 2002
At the
The Black Box, 1928 Telegraph Ave, Oakland CA. With:
Dan Plonsey, c melody saxophone;
Carol Adee, piccolo;
Matt Ingalls and Michael Zelner, clarinets;
Tom Yoder, trombone;
Randy Porter, mandolin, cumbus;
John Shiurba, electric guitar;
Matthew Sperry and Mark Culbertson, acoustic bass;
Lynn Wold, keyboard;
Matt Lebofsky, keyboard and drums;
Ward Spangler, vibes and percussion;
Friday, June 21, 2002
``Garden of Memory'' concert at the Chapel of the Chimes, Oakland CA. With:
Dan Plonsey, c melody saxophone;
Michael Zelner, clarinet, electronics;
Tom Yoder, trombone;
John Shiurba, electric guitar;
John Schott, national steel guitar;
Matthew Sperry, acoustic bass;
Lynn Wold, keyboard;
Suki O'Kane, percussion, toys, electronics;
and guests: Randy Porter, khen, unknown double-reed; Phil Gelb, shakuhachi.
Saturday, July 27, 2002
Bay Area Awards Show concert at New Langton Arts, San Francisco. With:
Dan Plonsey, c melody saxophone;
Ben Goldberg, Matt Ingalls, Michael Zelner, clarinets;
Phil Gelb, shakuhachi.
Tom Yoder, trombone;
Naomi Okuyama, violin;
Sarah Willner, viola, violin, Balinese percussion;
Steve Kirk, banjo;
John Shiurba, electric guitar;
John Schott, national steel guitar;
Matthew Sperry, acoustic bass;
Lynn Wold, keyboard;
Ward Spangler, vibraphone, percussion;
Suki O'Kane, percussion, toys, electronics. 		``Sort of orchestral
modern jazz with
a child's melodic mindset.
Very odd, very fun...
but wished it
would have featured more
banjo-bass duets...''
-- Scot Hacker

Monday, August 5, 2002 6:30-8:30PM, Richmond Art Center
With:
Suki O'Kane,
Naomi Okuyama,
John Shiurba,
Matthew Sperry,
Lynn Wold,
Tom Yoder,
Michael Zelner.

Monday, September 30, 2002, 8PM and 10PM, at Yoshi's, Oakland, presented by Jazz in Flight: Daniel Popsicle: "Music from El Cerrito: Daniel Popsicle plays Music by Dan Plonsey"
At Yoshi's -- a Jazz in Flight production.
Concert Preview from Contra Costa Times, by Andrew Gilbert

With:
Carol Adee,
Liz Albee,
Jenya Chernoff,
Marc Culbertson,
Phil Gelb,
Ben Goldberg,
Steve Kirk,
Matt Lebofsky,
Suki O'Kane,
Naomi Okuyama,
Randy Porter,
Mike Pukish,
John Schott,
John Shiurba,
Matthew Sperry,
Sarah Willner,
Lynn Wold,
Tom Yoder,
Michael Zelner. 		"On September 30, the centerpiece of our concert will be the premiere of a giant piece, Wise King Taken by the Foolish One, which will span the two sets (no pieces will be repeated from set one in set two; the audience is invited to stay for the entire evening of music). In and around this piece will be some other works which range from selections of very short, through-composed works, to tunes and songs which are designed to set up improvisations by the group's many fine players. Indeed, the music I am writing can only be played by musicians with skills in both reading and improvising: they alone can bring the sort of tight-but-looseness, the spontaneous combustability, and the subversiveness which in my opinion is the soul of what we have called Jazz. I am very fortunate to be living in the Bay Area, where uniquely in this world I have access to such musicians who _also_ bring in enormous individual experience in Klezmer, Balinese music, rock, blues, classical music, Salsa, free improv, Italian film music, Japanese music, Brazilian music, and of course all the historical traditions comprising jazz."
-- Dan Plonsey

Thursday, June 19, 2003:
On this evening, Daniel Popsicle joined many friends and family at 21 Grand to pay tribute to our beloved bassist, Matthew Sperry, who was killed in an accident while riding his bicycle. We played "Lila Looms and Brooms" (which had been written a year earlier to honor Matthew's daughter Lila), and a new piece, "For Matthew, Stacia, and Lila," dedicated to Matthew's wife Stacia and to Lila. With Phil Gelb, John Shiurba, Randy Porter, Lynn Wold, Tom Yoder, Samantha Black, Ashley Adams, Michael Zelner, Matt Ingalls, Gino Robair, and Tim Perkis.

Sunday, September 28, 2003:
The Daniel Popsicle Subsidiary Marching Band (Plonsey, Shiurba, Chernoff, Lebofsky and Zelner) march in the "How Berkeley Can You Be?" Parade.

Sunday, April 25, 2004, 8PM:
Daniel Popsicle celebrates the release of its CD: "Music of El Cerrito, Volume 2a:
Moving About, Humming, Still Our Flowers Are Blooming, Under the Old Portcullis"
More information: Full Press Release

June 27, 2004:
At the courtyard of the Museum of Children's Art (MoCHA), Old Oakland.
While we played, children and their parents made art (some using popsicle sticks). The music written for this event became the basis for "Simple Music series 1: Color Music" of which there are now over 70 pieces, being recorded steadily at the home studio of Michael Zelner and Suki O'Kane.
Musicians on this date: Suki O'Kane, Mark Culbertson, John Shiurba, Lynn Wold, Kyle Bruckmann, Michael Zelner, Liz Allbee, and Plonsey.
Scenes from this concert are included in Tim Perkis's forthcoming video documentary on Plonsey.

Saturday, October 30, 2004 at the Berkeley Arts Festival HQ, 2324 Shattuck Avenue, as part of the Festival:

This concert consisted of two sets of music. With: John Hanes, Mark Culbertson, John Shiurba, Randy Porter, John Schott, Lynn Wold, Tom Yoder, Liz Allbee, Scott Rosenberg, and Plonsey.

Sunday, June 12, 2005 at the Santa Cruz New Music Works annual Avant Garden Party, at the UCSC Arboretum
We played a 15 minute semi-improvised marching set and then 30 minutes of Music of El Cerrito, Volume 5: Simple Music: Series 2: "Colors."
With: Suki O'Kane, Ward Spangler, John Shiurba, Lynn Wold, Michael Zelner, Randy McKean, Scott Rosenberg and Dan Plonsey.

Friday, June 2, 2006 at the Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley. We played a set as part of the first night of the SperryFest 2006. Music was all from the Color Pieces (Music of El Cerrito, Simple Music, Series 2).
With: Suki O'Kane, Ward Spangler, John Shiurba, Lynn Murdock (Wold), Liz Allbee, Chris Silvey, Tom Yoder, Mark Culbertson, Myra Chachkin, Michael Zelner, and Dan Plonsey.

October 6, 2006, as part of The Illuminated Corridor (at 21Grand), we played "Chitty Ch'Bang Bang" accompanying an edited version of the film; edited, that is, to remove as much of Dick van Dyke as possible.
With: Suki O'Kane, John Shiurba, Lynn Murdock, Chris Silvey, Tom Yoder, Cory Wright, Myra Chachkin, Michael Zelner, and Dan Plonsey.

October 7, 2006, we played in Gregory Gavin's Riveropolis, at Museum of children's Art, Oakland.
With: Suki O'Kane, John Shiurba, Lynn Murdock, Chris Silvey, Tom Yoder, Cory Wright, Myra Chachkin, Michael Zelner, Mark Culbertson, and Dan Plonsey.

May 4, 2007, at The Berkeley Arts Festival HQ (2323 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley). We played a full concert of two sets of the Color music.
With: Suki O'Kane, Lynn Murdock, Chris Silvey, Tom Yoder, Cory Wright, Michael Zelner, Randy McKean, Joshua Smith, John Schott and Dan Plonsey.

May 9, 2007, at 21Grand, Oakland as part of Phillip Greenlief and Jon Raskin's 2+2 series, we played a set-long premiere of "Rafting Season." We were joined by five members of the DROP ensemble, who are dancers from Dandelion Dance Theatre (including Mantra).
With: Suki O'Kane, Myra Chachkin (cello), Chris Silvey, Tom Yoder, Cory Wright, Michael Zelner, Joshua Smith (percussion), John Schott, Matt Lebofsky (bass) and Dan Plonsey.

June 21, 2007, at The Chapel of the Chimes, Oakland, as part of the annual summer solstice concert, The Garden of Memory. we played outdoors at the very top and back of the Chapel. We played a set of COLOR music, a set which consisted of "Rafting Season," and a short last set of more of the COLOR music.
With: Lynn Murdock, Myra Chachkin (cello), Chris Silvey, Cory Wright, Michael Zelner, Joshua Smith (drums), John Shiurba, Fran Holland and Dan Plonsey. With guests Phil Gelb (shakuhachi) and Jie Ma (pipa) on "little Pinko and the Big Blue."

August 23, 2007, at The Starry Plough
With: Kyle Bruckmann, Myra Chachkin, Mark Culbertson, Randy McKean, Lynn Murdock, Suki O'Kane, John Schott, Chris Silvey, Josh Smith, Cory Wright, John Shiurba, Michael Zelner, and Dan Plonsey.
Performing 16 Color Music compositions

September 15, 2007, at Peanut Butter Jam, Alameda
With: Lynn Murdock, Suki O'Kane, Chris Silvey, Cory Wright, John Shiurba, Michael Zelner, and Dan Plonsey.
Friday, February 22, 2008
8PM
The Berkeley Arts Festival presents: Dan Plonsey/Daniel Popsicle playing Music of El Cerrito
2213 Shattuck Avenue (formerly Gateway Computers next to former site of Eddie Bauer!)
$10-$5

Current Lineup of Daniel Popsicle:

Program: Selections from the Color Music of El Cerrito (the complete set comprises 99 pieces, designed to accompany artists at work) Also: My Version, The Superhero of Shirts, and Music for Sax Quartet, and Music for Solo Oboe whose primary use in El Cerrito is to promote among those who hear it and those who do not, hope for an eventual Understanding of Human Behavio [sic].

Right: Eight members of Daniel Popsicle.
Top row: Tom Swafford, John Shiurba, Sarah Willner
Middle row: Tim Madden, Mike Pukish
Bottom row: Lynn Wold, Danielle DeGrutolla, Dan Plonsey

For information about booking, send e-mail to: Dan Plonsey.