Mark Weaver’s UFO Ensemble Invades the Complex

Take a trip with the UFO Ensemble, the latest project of Albuquerque tuba player and composer Mark Weaver, whose startling and tuneful music places the group in nether regions beyond category. This acoustic quartet features Bill Clark on flugelhorn and trumpet, Christian Pincock on trombone, and Jason Aspeslet on drums, along with Mark on tuba.

Friday, Feb. 12 at 8:00pm
Tickets $10
Contact:
Mark Weaver
505.255.8046
mw@toast.net

Press quotes:

some descriptions of Mark’s writing for ensemble:

“funny stories unfold through twisted melody lines and sudden bursts of free improvisation” (All Music)

“though not overly complex, Weaver’s tunes are replete with unexpected twists and turns, space for extended improvisations, and opportunities for all sorts of musical zingers” (Jazz Weekly)

“(Weaver’s) music is fresh, without pretension and devilishly efficient… a medicine against jazz taken too seriously.” (Delire Actuel)

“impulsive sketches and memorable themes” (Touching Extremes)

“Weaver’s fantastic compositions dart in and out of odd meters and improvised spaces, often mixing a funky, New Orleans sensibility with modern compositional techniques”  (Kris Tiner)

Artist Bios

Mark Weaver has recorded and performed across the Southwest and West Coast in ensembles led by Dan Clucas, Harris Eisenstadt, Lisa Gill, Chris Jonas, Jeff Kaiser, Alan Lechusza, Patti Littlefield, David Parlato, Damon Smith, Biggi Vinkeloe, Michael Vlatkovich, in addition to leading his own unique groups.  His playing appears on Balance Point Acoustics, Black Phone, Leaf, Carrot Top, Newsonic, Nine Winds, pfMENTUM, Plutonium, Snowdonia, Zerx record labels.  “Weaver delivers bass lines with a buoyant feeling and deep tone”  (Steve Vickery, Coda Magazine)

Bill Clark relocated to Albuquerque in the summer of 2007 from Vancouver British Columbia where he spent 25 years as a professional jazz musician, improviser and composer for film, dance and theater. He has performed, recorded, toured and composed for many of Western Canada’s most prestigious creative ensembles, including The Hard Rubber Orchestra, The Banff National Jazz Orchestra, The New Orchestra Workshop, Grupo Jazz Tumbao, The Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation and the quartet Talking Pictures. In 2003 Bill graduated with a Masters Degree in Improvisational Music from the California Institute of the Arts, where he studied with bassist Charlie Haden and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith.  Since moving to Albuquerque, Bill has composed and performed sound design projects for UNM Dept. of Theater and Dance and Tricklock Theater Company.

Christian Pincock is a trombonist and composer with experience in many styles of music. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from New England Conservatory where he studied with Bob Brookmeyer, Scott Hartmann, and John McNeil, and a Masters of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Steve Turre and David Taylor. Christian has attended the Banff Center Workshop for Jazz and Creative Music in Alberta, Canada (2005) and has been a Fellow at the Music Omi International Arts Residency (2007). He currently directs the two High School Honors Jazz Ensembles for the New Mexico Jazz Workshop, as well as their Adult Big Band.

Jason Aspeslet continues to pursue a passion for music that has remained undimmed since he began playing with a polka band in his native Wisconsin when he was 10.  Studies at the University of Wisconsin followed, after which Jason spent some years traveling and playing music across North America and in Scotland and France, before arriving in New Mexico in 2005, where he is currently engaged with a number of different creative music groups in the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area.