New album out November 1!
My new album of solo saxophone music, entitled human, will be officially released on November 1st via New Amsterdam Records. You can also stream the album in advance on the release date (i.e now) if you are a New Amsterdam Records subscriber on Bandcamp. You can read more about the release and/or pre-order CDs here: https://www.newamrecords.com/albums/human
cover art by Sarah H. Paulson
Skanu Mezs Festival
Subtle Degrees (duo with Gerald Cleaver) will be at this year's Skanu Mezs Festival in Riga, Latvia on October 5th. Very Happy to be sharing the bill with the amazing Circuit Des Yeux from Chicago.
Additional tour dates announced
We’re only halfway through summer, but rock legend Vandam is already giving us more to look forward to in the fall.
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Lucerne Festival Premiere Date Announced
I'm ecstatic to announce that my new long-form piece for the JACK Quartet and myself will be premiered on August 31st at the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland. This is truly an honor for me. Info can be found HERE.
Photos from Arete Gallery concert
A few photos from a recent solo performance in Brooklyn, NY. Sharing the evening with big dog little dog, in celebration of their new record on New Amsterdam Records.
Inner Garden
I am thrilled to have been invited to compose for and perform alongside one of my favorite current ensembles: Yarn/Wire. I've been a big fan of Yarn/Wire for years so getting to work with them is a real honor for me. Yarn/Wire is Laura Barger (piano), Ning Yu (Piano), Ian Antonio (percussion), and Russell Greenberg (percussion). Inner Garden is the title of the long-form piece that I wrote for us and we will perform it twice in the coming months; on February 2nd at The Stone @ The New School in NYC and on May 21st @ Roulette in Brooklyn, NY. Please see the shows page for further details.
Upcoming Residency
I am honored to be a 2019 Artist in Residence at Roulette in Brooklyn, NY. I'm so happy to be included in such a great group of artists! Read More.
NYC Winter Jazz Festival
I'm happy to announce that Subtle Degrees will be performing at the NYC Winter Jazz Fest on January 11th, 2019. So grateful to be a part of such a vibrant festival that always has a phenomenal lineup!
New York Review of Books article
Thanks to Adam Shatz for a very thoughtful article about Subtle Degrees A Dance That Empties in relationship to John Coltrane's Interstellar Space for The New York Review of Books. I'm elated to be in such good company with Gerald Cleaver, James Brandon Lewis, and Chad Taylor. Read the article HERE
Recent Press for Subtle Degrees
Here are a few recent reviews of A Dance That Empties:
'A Dance That Empties' now streaming!
Stream my new record A Dance That Empties HERE as a part of a special feature via LPR. The record comes out on Friday 2/23! Tour dates are posted in the 'shows' page!
Vandoren Interview
Vandoren recently interviewed me about saxophone extended techniques.If you're interested the interview can be found HERE.
Moers Festival
I'm happy to be included in the program of this year's Moers Festival in Germany on June 5th.Battle Trance will also perform in Rotterdam on June 6th and in Amsterdam at the Bimhuis on June 8th. Here is an interview for the Moers Festival website.
Victoriaville
Very much looking forward to performing this weekend with Battle Trance at The Festival International Musique Actuelle Victoriaville. Also on the festival is Terry Riley, Anthony Braxton, and many other greats. We perform Saturday, May 20th @ 1pm.
A Dance That Empties
Wednesday, March 1st will be the premiere of my newest long-form composition entitled A Dance That Empties at Roulette in Brooklyn, NY. The piece features Gerald Cleaver on drums and myself on tenor saxophone. Also on the evening is Battle Trance (TL, Patrick Breiner, Matt Nelson, Jeremy Viner- tenor saxophones) performing Blade of Love. If there was only one concert of my music that you can attend this year, I would recommend this one. Here is the facebook invite.
Travis Laplante (L) and Gerald Cleaver (R).
End of the Year
Some recent press/end of the year lists that include 'Blade of Love':
Rolling Stone: '20 Best Avant Albums of 2016'
Stereogum: '10 Best Jazz Albums of 2016'
Bandcamp Daily: 'New Directions in Sax'
Uncanned Music: 'Favorite albums of 2016'
'Blade of Love' is out today!
It is with joy and intense vulnerability that I announce that Battle Trance's Blade of Love is now available. As most of you know, Battle Trance is my tenor saxophone quartet with Patrick Breiner, Matt Nelson, and Jeremy Viner, and has been a primary musical focus of mine for the past few years. Blade of Love is the culmination of 2+ years of writing, rigorous rehearsals, many tears, and a little laughter.
CD/digital download/free stream available via New Amsterdam Records:http://battletrance.bandcamp.com/album/blade-of-love
Vinyl version available via NNA Tapes:http://nnatapes.com/available-releases/battle-trance-blade-of-love/