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| Secret Society Strikes Again Secret Society, a new 18-piece band led by composer Darcy James Argue, returns to the scene with a gig at the Bowery Poetry Club on Tuesday, October 25. In their second New York appearance, Secret Society adds some exciting new players — including saxophonists Donny McCaslin (Dave Douglas Quintet) and Will Vinson (Mr. Vivo) — and welcomes the return of many Secret Society veterans, among them trumpeter Ingrid Jensen and pianist Mike Holober. Argue leads the band, which performs exclusively his original compositions. Secret Society is a forward- looking group, influenced by contemporary big band composers such as Maria Schneider and John Hollenbeck, but also by atmospheric post- rock bands like Tortoise and Calexico, and adventurous new music ensembles like Bang on a Can. “As a composer, there’s nothing more rewarding than challenging an improviser and then hearing them rise to the occasion, ” says Argue. “Donny McCaslin and Will Vinson are both have an extraordinary ability to effortlessly navigate even the most treacherous solo sections and make them sound freeing, rather than constraining. They are two of the most exciting soloists in the city, and I’m very glad to welcome them into the fold.” Argue has also just launched the Secret Society blog. “I decided to go with a blog instead of a conventional website because I wanted to build a community around the band, ” says Argue. “I’m trying to start a conversation with our audience —musicians and nonmusicians alike. The blog has all the usual website content — recordings, photographs, gig info, and so on — but it also gives me an outlet to talk about what’s on my mind, musically and otherwise, and I hope by doing that I invite some talkback.” Bob Brookmeyer has hailed Argue’s “experimental yet accessible voice, ” adding, “his gifts are outstanding.” Argue had the opportunity to study with the legendary trombonist and composer for two years at New England Conservatory. He has also studied with composers Lee Hyla and Maria Schneider. Argue was the 2004 winner of the BMI Charlie Parker Composition Prize, awarded to the best new work written by a member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop. He won Best Original Extended Composition in Down Beat’s 2002 Student Music Awards, and in 2000 won the SOCAN Award for Composition at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Argue is also a founding member of the New York composers’ federation Pulse, a group which recently collaborated with soloists John Abercrombie and John McNeil. He has written arrangements for alt- country singer Shelby Lynne, jazz pianist Renee Rosnes, the Klezmer Conservatory Band, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Secret Society is: Erica vonKleist, Will Vinson, Donny McCaslin, Sam Sadigursky, Josh Sinton (reeds); Ingrid Jensen, John Owens, Brian Pareschi, Tom Goehring, Dave Rezek (trumpets); Ryan Keberle, Mark Patterson, Mike Fahie, Darrell Hendricks (trombones); Sebastian Noelle (guitar); Mike Holober (piano); Matt Clohesy (bass); Jon Wikan (drums). write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |