Kule Kule Live @ Nuemos

Last night at Nuemos in Seattle. Me and my sextet played a bunch of songs including this one. I arranged this cover of Konono No 1's Kule Kule for this crew of players and it turned out well. The video and audio were shot on my Iphone so its not so clear but I think I might be getting a different more high quality version of it soon. Thanks Mayumi for shooting this!
Also been working super hard on this new Kultur Shock record. It is sounding really cool and it is really fun to be around this different kind of music. Yesterday we recorded about 20 people marching and singing which was great. Tomorrow, horns and more violins. should be wrapping it up this weekend!
Kule Kule (Orchestral Version) by Jherek Bischoff

Brain Fried..

I just completed a long crazy string quartet this evening.. My brain has totally melted. The composition is for a performance with The Degenerate Art Ensemble for our big Frye Art Museum exhibit/Performance mid next year. Doesn't look like much but I am pretty excited about it. I haven't written by hand in a looooong time and man.. my fingers hurt like crazy! I realized I haven't even picked up a pencil in ages. It felt nice to compose this way again. I wish I could have been away from my computer, but I was composing off of a video of Haruko Nishimura dancing a crazy doll dance. I am going to go try it all out with a real string quartet tomorrow.. Maybe if I am fancy enough I will post some audio from the rehearsal. Okay..blah blah blah.. I am going to go watch bad tv now.

Nuemos December 12th

I will be playing at Nuemos in Seattle on December 12th. I will be playing twice that evening. My own group will be opening the show and will feature songs new and oldish. The group will consist of-
Paris Hurley- Violin
Alex Guy- Viola
Tracy Hagen- Cello
Beth Fleenor Clarinet/Bass Clarinet
Paul Kikuchi- Percussion
Me- A bunch of instruments
I will also be playing with Alex's band Led To Sea with all of the same players and more. Led To Sea is Alex Guy's project and is super great. I produced the last 2 records she put out and am super proud of her and her music.
Hope to see you there!

Kulture shock

Next week I will be recording with the band Kultur Shock. I will be in charge of recording vocals, violin and saxophone (I think). I am excited about this because their music is great and much different than anything else I have ever worked on. The drums, bass and guitar were recorded by Jack Endino. I took the opportunity last week to check out his studio and watch how he works as well as hear what Kultur Shock were up to. It's always fun for me to see how other people work. I tried to get a better picture of Jack, but he was super focused and sat in this position with ears toward the speakers the entire time I was there.

Privilege 3 is done.

All finished. Shut it dooooown.

Congotronics Compilation

I recently contributed to this amazing compilation. Everyone did an awesome job on it and I am truly honored to be a part of it! I highly recommend purchasing it! The track listing is-
Tradi-Mods vs Rockers CD DISC 1:
1. Travel Broadens The Mind - Kasai Allstars/Deerhoof
2. Quick As White - Kasai Allstars/Animal Collective
3. Ohnono/Kiwembo - Sobanza Mimanisa/Andrew Bird/Konono No.1
4. Soft Crush - Tussle/Konono No.1
5. Traducteur De Transmission - Glenn Kotche/Konono No.1
6. Hunting On The Moon - Kasai Allstars/Lonely Drifter Karen
7. Kule Kule [Orchestral Version] - Jherek Bischoff
8. Enter The Chief - Kasai Allstars/Woom
9. Hoy Supe Que Viajas - Kasai Allstars/Juana Molina
10. Masikulu Dub - Mark Ernestus/Konono No.1
11. Kiwembo/Unstuck - Sobanza Mimanisa/The Skeletons
12. Nyeka Nyeka - Kasai Allstars/Joel Hamilton/Jolie Holland
13. Land Dispute - Kasai Allstars/Faustine Hollander/Clement Marion/Aksak Maboul/Marc Hollander
Tradi-Mods vs Rockers Songs DISC 2:
1. Mukuba Special - Kasai Allstars/Shackleton
2. Likembes - McCloud Zicmuse/Maxine Le Hung/Hoquets/General John Stevens/Francois Schulz/Konono No.1
3. NO.K - Micachu/The Shapes/Konono No.1
4. Conjugal Mirage - Kisanzi Congo/Megafaun
5. Two Labors - Masanka Sankayi/Au
6. Mulu(me) - Basokin/Alla/Jorge Ledezma/Angel Ledezma/Lupe Martinez
7. Kuletronics - Lay Low/Ernesto Gonzales/Bear Bones/Konono No.1
8. Rubaczech - Konono No.1/Burnt Friedman
9. Nombre 1! - Oneida/Konono No.1
10. Wumbanzanga - Optimo/Konono No.1
11. Incident At Mbuji-Mayi, The - Kasai Allstars/Bass Clef
12. Konon Wa Wa Wa - EY3/Konono No.1
13. Makembe - Sylvain Chauveau/Konono No.1

Privilege 3

Working on Parenthetical Girls Privilege Pt.3 record right now. I got my new studio set up just in time! I actually have a comfortable place to work for the first time in my life! I am so extremely excited to not have to work in a closet (literally) or have to break into abandoned warehouses (literally) to make music! I will post other pictures soon, but this is where I sit.




For one of the songs for Privilege Pt.3 or maybe Pt. 4, not sure yet, I have composed a piece for this organ. I have a couple other of my own pieces that we will record at the same time. It is not every day you get the organist from a cathedral to play your compositions on a 4000 pipe organ. So I am going to record as much as possible. I should be doing that this week!

Band Camp!!

I have been a bit too busy lately to write. I have been finishing up several projects including a 7" for Parenthetical Girls, mixing 2 different records for Richard Webb, and working on Debora Petrina's orchestral arrangements. I have postponed my L.A. move for a little bit and it has freed up some time to get started on a bunch of business I have been meaning to take care of, most excitingly is this new BAND CAMP thing! Band camp seems to be really really cool. Right now ALL of the money goes directly to the artists and you can listen to entire songs and download at what ever bit rate you want. I put up my records as well as some bonus material for the records. I also put up some unreleased material including past live stuff, soundtrack stuff and a collaboration with an amazing Mexican singer. Check out my Band Camp page to just take a listen or buy some tracks!!
Talk to you soon!
jherekbischoff.bandcamp.com

6-5

Today I worked most of the day on some new orchestral arrangements for a woman named Debora Petrina. We met in about the most insane way possible. David Byrne is a fan of her music and they were in touch around the time that he and I were working on our song and he recommended that we collaborate because he could see see some similarities between our work. So I agreed to work on some of her material. She is from Padova Italy and I have had a chance to hang out with her and her man friend Mirko a couple times when I have been touring through there. They sent me 2 tracks that are Debora playing piano and singing. Her music is much more complex than what I am used to so it has been a real challenge, but it is working out really well! I am planning on recording the arrangements with a real orchestra in the next week or so.
I am also trying to finish up the video and audio from my big Town Hall birthday show. I am a bit bummed because I only had 2 cameras going and unfortunately both of them are mostly doing close ups of certain elements and it never really gives a good overview of the full orchestra. It has kind of kept me from feeling inspired to work on it, but it sounds really good so I figure I might as well get it done. It is totally my fault with the video stuff... I was so flustered around that time that i did not give ANY direction. Oh well. I had to learn some how, and I have always wanted to learn how to use Final Cut Pro, so it's still all fun and good. I should be able to start putting the videos up on this blog real soon! Until then..
Heart

KEXP Tonight!

Zac will be gues DJ-ing Sharlese's show on KEXP (90.3FM, Seattle) tonight/Friday morning at 2AM PST. It also streams.. Word has it that he might be playing a track or 2 from the my new orchestral record. If you are curious, check it.

6-1 and 6-2

6-1
I spent the day working on a new EP for Parenthetical Girls called Privilege Part 2. We recorded most of the tracks for it about 5 months ago but touring and other things have kept us from finishing it. We just about wrapped it up but I have a few more tweaks to make. We also worked on 2 songs for a 7" for Tomlab for their 7" alphabet series. That also needs some work but will be done in a week or so.
I made pasta for dinner for my folks and Zac. I always put peanut butter in my sauce... If you have not tried it, trust me... It is so so so good! It gives it a little bit of like a Thai flavor. That reminds me, I figured out what my new life goal is. Ever since I became Vegan a few years back, I have developed a real love for cooking. I am not very good at it really but I really enjoy it. While I was on tour with Parenthetical Girls in Italy last month I was eating all of this amazing food and every time I would compliment the chef, they would say "oh it's nothing really, it is very simple", but it was so incredibly delicious. I realized that I do a lot of traveling and touring in these places known for their food. So I want to have a day off every few days on tour and on those days off, I would take cooking classes and learn how to cook all of that yummy food. As long as I could bring my lady along with me, I would truly have everything I ever wanted! Music, great food and love (not always in that order of course).
Here is a music video for a song I produced for Parenthetical Girls- Privilege Part 1 called Evelyn McHale.



6-2
Today I finished up mastering a song for a 7" for Casiotone For The Painfully Alone. It is a super awesome track. It sounds a bit like Scattered Pearls from his Etiquette record. The plan is to release it on a 7" comp for OIB records.
I also worked on re editing some tracks that I recorded for my good friend Steven Reker. We finished a full length record recently and I am super pleased with how it turned out. It has a very distinct sound. We only used 1 cymbal on the whole record so it really has an unusual sound. I am not yet sure what the name of his group is going to be yet but I am excited about that record. I was re editing the songs with no vocals in them for a possibility of their inclusion in a VERY EXCITING movie. I can't say what it is yet, but if it comes through then I will let you know what the deal is! So I finished that and now I am just working on putting the final touches on a string quartet for the Degenerate Art Ensemble. So I am BUSY!! This evening I am going to take it easy! Maybe go see this new Robin Hood movie or something!!

5-31-10

Today was spent meeting with the Degenerate Art Ensemble. It is a group that I have been a part of on and off for a very very long time. I am working with them again on a new piece that will be for the Frye Art Museum in Seattle in a few months. I am currently composing a few pieces for string quartet and an amazing vocalist named Dohee Lee. I am excited about how things are turning out. The first real rehearsal is on Thursday. I will keep you posted on when the shows!

From my big birthday show!

Jherek Bischoff's Orchestra with Tomo Nakayama performing "Mood" from the archiver on Vimeo.

Open letter to Italy

Dearest Italy,
I am writing this letter to you because I love you. Your food is so delicious, your land is beautiful, your people are so kind. You have been kind enough to let me visit you about 6 times now so I have a feeling you are possibly interested in some sort of real friendship. I am extremely delighted to feel this from you. I want you to know that I will always be there for you, if you need anything, anything at all from me, please just let me know and I will do anything I can to make you happy. I truly hope to see you very soon.
Your friend and admirer,
Jherek

Very flattering

So I seem to have been nominated for a Stranger Genius Award. Very flattering. People have posted very sweet things about me and also many of my friends/collaborators have been recognized. I am really happy that The Stranger has extended this program to music! There are so many incredible musicians, composers and producers in this city! Here is the article...

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/what-does-genius-sound-like/Content?oid=4083729&show=comments&sort=desc&display=

Back Home!

I am home. The tour was really lovely and it was so nice to hang out with the Parenthetical Girls and Former Ghost people for an extended period of time. Highlights were Venice, rocking a pompadour with Freddy, London, meeting the Duke of Dublinshire and Bernies house. Now that i am home I will be finishing up a new Parenthetical Girls EP, mixing a new record for Richard Webb and trying to finish up my own record. This weekend I am going to go on a Twilight tour in Forks... not a fan of the movies, but I will go pay my respects..

New record almost done!

I am close to finishing up my new record. For the past year I have been recording a record of 10 full orchestral pieces. In the past, I have typically played all of the instruments, wrote the lyrics and sang on all of my music, but for this record I wanted to get people that could execute my ideas much more precisely. I have a ton of collaborators on this project that I am very very excited about, including:

David Byrne
Craig Wedren- Shudder To Think
Carla Bozulich- Evangelista and Geraldine Fibbers
Mirah
Dawn McCarthy- Faun Fables
and many more to come! I am not sure when or how it will be coming out but I hope to know soon!

I promise

i promise i will start to blog freddy and zac.. I am having a hard time blogging when there is so much yummy food and cool stuff to look at...
i promise.

Blogging

I am blogging now. So pro.... So pro