Steve Horowitz's Mousetrap, and also the collaborative off-shoot, "Mousetrap Plus, playing music
inspired by Sun Ra" (w/ Peter van Bergen, and others from among: Michael Moore, Dave Revelli, Jim Bove,
Joost Buis, Jim Meneses)
John Schott's Diglossia Ensemble
Ben Goldberg's Brainchild
Imperfect Masters (w/ Robert Horton)
Spirit Park (with Ron Thompson and Karen Stackpole)
Music of El Cerrito Volume 2B: Wise King Taken by the Foolish One (UNlimited Sedition,
December, 2006).
A two-hour-long 2-CD piece in 26 sections, this is the second part of the Kingdoms Diptych. As with the first part (Volume 2a, see below), the music is
performed by Daniel Popsicle. More information:
Full Press Release
I consider this recording to be one of my very best works.
I did a great deal of writing around this piece, mostly after it was recorded, reflecting upon the multiple meanings of the title in light of the music. Start at the page about the
Kingdoms Diptych and then proceed
into the
collection of Wise King essays.
Music of El Cerrito, Volume 8: "Jazz" at Yoshi's (digitalis,
foxglove 086;
released September 30, 2005).
The music on this CD is culled from a performance by a
20-person version of Daniel Popsicle at Yoshi's, September 30, 2002.
The concert was under the auspices of Jazz in Flight.
Imperfect Masters:No One Knows Why (students of decay,
SoD-31, 2007).
Since for whatever reason I've listed this discography in most- to least-recent order, this is the second release by Imperfect Masters, a collaboration with Robert Horton. Unlike the first release, these tracks are the result of improvisation and utilize relatively little overdubbing. My own satisfaction with these pieces waxes and wanes - I'm not often happy with my work on the first track - it was the first playing we'd done that day and has the hesitancy that sometimes marks a first attempt. I hope to do more with Robert in the near future - I feel that we're close to if not quite entirely on top of something interesting in the world of improvisation - a world I spend less and less time with - it too often seems old and predictable.
Imperfect Masters:Strike Out (digitalis,
foxglove 104;
released February, 2006)
This is a collaboration with Robert Horton, who is credited with:
vibrator percussion tree, sex machine, computer, practice bagpipe chanter,
trumpet, perc, casio mt-68, casio fz-1, sampler, bass guitar, bowed boot,
dulcimer organ, filters, soundhack, vocals, soprano recorder,
reel to reel, sine waves, broken cassette player, noise cancelling
microphones, fuzz boot, snare, mouth pieceless trumpet, cds, turntable, rubber
band, string harp, clay ruby bass. I play: alto sax, reverse alto, oboe, alto
clarinet, clarinet, bass, violin, farfisa organ, flute-like instrument,
bass clarinet, baritone sax, soprano sax, tenor sax. There are guests: Gino
Robair, Henry Kuntz, Hal Hughes and Mike Sugar.
What Leave Behind:
Concerto for Electric Guitar and Toy Orchestra by
Dan Plonsey, performed by
Fred Frith and Toychestra.
(S.K. Records,
May, 2004)
Review
birdless inspiration, dancing plotless, forward deck, flashlit gloaming, potlid ARTSHIP Recordings 09,
January, 2002. Improvisation upon solo baritone saxophone, mini cd (21 minutes).
Understanding Human Behavio Music for oboe, cheap synth and voice, performed
live, with real-time processing and effects by Myles "Earl Wacky" Boisen.
Limited Sedition
006, 1999.
This CD, recorded the day after my 40th birthday, is one of the most popular with people who actually like music, and who aren't afraid of the sound
of the
oboe as played by someone who can't play it, but who can do certain other things.
Ivory-BillMusic and Arts,
May 20, 1997.
Solo and multiple saxophone compositions
(all parts played by Plonsey).
Reviews of Ivory Bill:
Dipping Into Color The Manufacturing of Humidifers.
yes.no.lp / retro.P 03 (tape), 1992.
Dire Images of Beauty The Manufacturing of Humidifers.
yes.no.lp / retro.P 02, 1991.
The Manufacturing of Humidifers The Manufacturing of Humidifers.
yes.no.lp / retro.P 01 (tape), 1989.
As leader or co-leader on a compilation
Wavelength Infinity
(compilation of Sun Ra compositions). Rastascan, 1995.
(review) An arrangement of Sun Ra's composition "Constellation" which
includes a half-sung recitation of his poem "The Art Scene" with members of
Gamelan Sekar Jaya, trumpet, bass and tenor sax.
Somethin' Else!!!, (compilation). Somethin' Else magazine
(tape)
The tape is a compilation which includes a re-mix of
"But we Love You, Charlie Brown" (from Ivory Bill). The magazine
includes a long interview with Plonsey, as well as interviews
and articles about Evan Parker, Gino Robair and others. The tape
also includes a piece from
Parker/Guy/Lytton's
June 21, 1995 concert at Beanbender's.
(Y)earbook, Vol. 1 (compilation). Rastascan, 1993.
Solo tenor sax piece, "The Idiotic Repetion of Idiots."
Akrobat Schooon, (compilation). Akrobat Schooon (tape)
One track by the Manufacturing of Humidifiers (from the Dire Images
of Beauty sessions), and one by Everything in the World (which would become
Dreamland), 1990.
Freeway Compilation Tape, (compilation). Freeway Magazine
(tape)
One track by the Manufacturing of Humidifiers, an
alternate take of "Itchy Day" from Dipping Into Color, 1990.
As a sideman
Steve Horowitz's Mousetrap
(Fluff-Tone Records, 2007).
This is a 3-CD set that comes in a video box. The first two CDs are of Steve's band
with Peter van Bergen and myself
on reeds; Steve Horowitz, bass; and Dave Revelli, drums. Michael Moore, alto sax, appears on several tracks. These CDs were recorded in May, 1999, live at sevearl locations in the Netherlands, and in
an Amsterdam studio.
The
third CD is really a collaboration between Horowitz and myself
of Sun Ra inspired compositions, including four of mine. it features van Bergen and
myself, reeds; Joost Buis, trombone; Horowitz, bass; and Jim Bove, drums, and
was recorded February, 2001 at the Bimhuis.
First Light, Robert Horton.
I play clarinet on the first track.
Kyrgyz, Tom Carter, Robert Horton, Loren Chasse, Christine Boepple.
On track 6 I play alto sax.
just before setting the sky on fire, Robert Horton.
I play alto sax on the last track.
La Tigre e la Neue, soundtrack (to the Roberto Benigni
movie), with music by Tom Waits and others.
Sony BMG, 2005.
I play clarinet on the first track,
"You Can Never Hold Back Spring" (Waits/Brennan).
Orphans, Tom Waits,
Epitaph, 2006.
This 3-CD set appears to collect recent Waits recordings
that hadn't found places on his recent albums.
I appear only on CD 2 (a.k.a. "Bawlers"), track 2, in the same recording of
"You Can Never Hold Back Spring" (Waits/Brennan) as in the above item.
Future Ears free jazz copy? noise, Robert Horton.
(jyrk,
hoalrecords, 2005)
I play alto sax on tracks 1 and 4, "pluto"
and "free jazz copy ? noise" respectively.
I'll add a description eventually, but meanwhile, buy it and Play Loud Only!!!!!
John Schott's Typical Orchestra, John Schott's Typical Orchestra.
(John Schott, 2005).
I play baritone sax on the sixth track,
"The World is Upside Down" (Schott). This is a really good album that grows
with repeated listenings. It's really quite an idiosyncratic approach
to music - more an informed parallel universe of genres which are similar
to ours but which are infected by various... difficulties and/or shortcuts.
Or you could say: music made by a person whose consciousness of a huge amount
of music history leads to crossings and double-crossings. Or you might notice
nothing awry and just appreciate the album's complex yet listenable sounds.
The Beck of Beyond, Frank Pahl.
(Novel Cell Poem, 2003).
I play clarinet on one track, "Binary Plonsey."
This is a really magical
album of mechanically played instruments mixed with guitar, bass, whistling,
harmonium,
singing, euphonium, etc., mostly played by Frank Pahl. There are many layers of
shimmering and twinkling sounds co-existing with drones and/or simple chord changes.
Highly recommended!
6 Compositions (GTM) 2001, Anthony Braxton.
Co-released by Rastascan, Limited Sedition, Barely Auditable.
This is a 4-CD set, of which I appear on CDs 1 and 2 (Composition 286
for tentet), and on CD 3
(Composition 289 for saxophone quartet).
Recorded January 6 and 7, 2001, Middletown, CT.
Blood Money, Tom Waits,
Anti 86629-2 (2002).
There's only a little
Dan Plonsey audible on this CD, but I spent more time working on it than on many
other albums in this list; certainly I got paid more!
New Millenium Orchestra, Myles Boisen & Friends.
Limited Sedition, LS027.
Another
4 CD set! A 2-day music improvisation event supervised by Myles Boisen,
recorded by Myles Boisen, Oakland, CA, 12/31/00 & 1/1/01.
35 tracks, 286 minutes, limited to 63 numbered copies.
I appear on CD 3 and 4.
Available Mar 21, 2002.
Collective Personnel:
Myles Boisen, Matthew Brubeck, Kyle Bruckmann, Lara Bruckmann, Erik Carter,
Graham Connah, John Finkbeiner, Larry Ochs, Dan
Plonsey, Gino Robair, John Shiurba, Dave Slusser, Matthew Sperry, Karen
Stackpole, Ron Thompson.
Shuffle Play,
John Schott. New World, 2000.
Several solos I'm pleased with on a very very fine album of
music composed, re-composed, and
un-composed by John Schott. This is a great album!
Buddy Systems,
Gino Robair. Miniscus, 1999.
One of the dozen duets of Gino Robair (percussion) and friends,
on clarinet
Horror Part One, Eugene Chadbourne,
Chadula
'Originally [sic] released on the now defunct House of Chadponk label,
the first in the horror series was released in 1997, with saxophonists
Walter Mali and Dan Plonsey and others. Dedicated to "Godfather of Gore"
Lucio Fulci, director of such classics as "Zombie," "The Gates of Hell"
and "The Beyond."'
Jungle
Cookies,
Eugene Chadbourne.
Old Gold, 1998.
Also available (perhaps?) as a tape from Eugene Chadbourne
as, Harinpakker Steeg (And on the eight day God created
Mad Doctors: And God said, "Jungle Cookies" so there were
Jungle Cookies), Eugene Chadbourne. 1997 (tape)
This 2-CD set or tape is a collection of a handful of collages. On
several, solo sax improvisations (from the Ivory Bill recording sessions)
are mixed into various environments, most notably the sounds of
Harinpakker Steeg, a street in Amsterdam.
Goya,
Eugene Chadbourne. Double cassette.
This was listed on ebay, details given are:
Private issue double cassette.Has Chadbourne solo banjo piece as well as music by the quartet: ASHLEY ADAMS, TOM
HEASLEY, DAN PLONSEY, GINO ROBAIR. Tapes come in stickered Goya box.
Some Prefer Cake,
Eskimo.
Vaccination Records
1998.
Alto and tenor sax on a few tracks, a couple solos.
Eskimo is one of my all-time favorite bands! This album is a
soundtrack to a film, and not necessarily the first Eskimo CD to
hear, but it's still very very very good.
Wondering in Volume,
Mumble and Peg.
Vaccination Records
Vac013, 1997.
Clarinet backgrounds on one track.
I like this album, but by now (November, 2000), the band
has progressed far beyond where they were in 1997, so look
for whatever their most recent release happens to be!
Pack Small "r" Half Inch, Ron Anderson. Rastascan, 1996.
(review) Various saxophones on about 5 tracks. My favorite
Ron Anderson project (he's known as leader of the Molecules).
Crazy stop/start stuff, with rhythms that had to be learned
painstakingly by ear being entirely un-notatable. Not at all easy listening,
take it 5-10 minutes at a time. At most!
Connections, John Hinds. Omni Sonic, 1995.
(review) Saxophones on a couple tracks. John is a genius.
See also: Main Plonsey Page BIOGRAPHY DISCOGRAPHY
Includes band bios, links to audio samples, photos,
etc. UPCOMING APPEARANCES
and past appearances too. EDUCATION ARTWORKS BEANBENDER's:
With Bill Hsu, Nancy Clarke, Alan Brightbill and Steve Mays,
Plonsey
books shows of weird weird weird wonderful bizarre music related to but
distinct from jazz, new music, whatever else...
