Friday, December 9th, 2016
SAINT PAUL, MN (December, 2016) – The American Composers Forum is pleased to announce our 3rd season of Landmark to Lowertown: weekday, lunchtime concerts of new music held in the beautiful public spaces of downtown Saint Paul. Continuing the tradition, this season’s composer/performers are past awardees of the Minnesota Emerging Composer Award (MECA), which recognizes up & coming artists in Jazz/Improvisation, Electronic, and World music. All concerts in this series are free and open to the public. Take a break from your busy day, and soak in some new music by some of Minnesota’s most innovative composers.
Yohannes Tona Band
“13 Months of Sunshine”
Wednesday, January 25 from 12-1pm
Landmark Center Cortile, 75 West 5th Street
Yohannes Tona’s new album celebrates the sounds and equatorial climate of his native Ethiopia, the only place on earth where the year is tracked using the 13-month Coptic Calendar. Join us in the beautiful Landmark Center Cortile for live music & Ethiopian food for purchase. We’re bringing warm music & flavors on a chilly Minnesota winter day!
Dosh & Ghostband
Thursday, March 2 from 12-1pm
TBD in the Saint Paul Skyway
Jon Davis and Martin Dosh have built revered solo catalogues over the last decade, but this formation yields something entirely new. The pair have discovered a brotherhood that not only speaks to their shared history in a jazz-rich Twin Cities scene, but which holds these two in a mind-meld of melody and rhythm. The ideas and influences of the long-time collaborators are chopped and synthesized, merging Herbie Hancock and Caribou, Squarepusher and Wu-Tang, The Meters and Medeski, Martin & Wood.
Mike Hodnick a.k.a. Kindohm
Thursday, May 18 from 12-1pm
Ecolab Plaza, 376 Wabasha St N
Algorithms and improvisation intersect in the art of live coding. Hear and see Mike Hodnick create electronic music line by line on Ecolab Plaza. Curious about the process? He’ll also answer questions and talk about his programming. This event is co-presented with Public Art Saint Paul and their City Art Collaboratory, a cross-disciplinary research and development fellowship for artists and STEM professionals.
Kevin Washington Quintet
Thursday, June 15 from 12-1pm
Mears Park Pavilion, 221 5th St E
It’s summer in Saint Paul! Grab lunch from a nearby food truck and join us in leafy Mears Park for original tunes by Kevin Washington, played by his talented band. “One of the first things the audience will notice is that Washington never stops moving. Whether he’s on the drums, playing the guitar or singing, the bandleader is a fountain of energy, delivering rhythm — and melody — in ways that show a deep connection to the music.” – David Cazares, MPR
About the American Composers Forum
The American Composers Forum (ACF) is committed to supporting composers and developing new markets for their music. Through granting, commissioning, and performance programs, ACF provides composers at all stages of their careers with valuable resources for professional and artistic development. By linking communities with composers and performers, the Forum fosters a demand for new music, enriches communities, and helps develop the next generation of composers, musicians, and music patrons. Founded in 1973 as the Minnesota Composers Forum, the organization has grown from an innovative regional initiative into one of the nation’s premier composer service organizations, including membership of over 2,000 artists, organizations and community members.