2014: Deconstruction Orchestra

Joshua Allen: conductor, composer, tenor saxophone
Aaron Bennett: alto saxophone
Sam Flores: tenor saxophone
Vinny Golia: soprano & tenor saxophone
John Ingle: baritone saxophone
Matt Ingalls: alto saxophone, clarinet
Joshua Marshall: tenor saxophone
Dan Plonsey: baritone saxophone
Dave Slusser: tenor saxophone
Rent Romus: alto saxophone
Cory Wright: baritone saxophone
Peter Bonos: trumpet
Collete McCaslin: cornet
Matt Gaspari: flugelhorn
Ron Heglin: tuba
Jeff Hobbs: trumpet
George Moore: trumpet
Matt Streich: trombone
John Finkbeiner: guitar
Henry Kaiser: guitar
Lisa Mezzacappa: bass
Matt Montgomery: bass
Timothy Orr: drums
William Winant: drums

San Francisco-based composer-bandleader Joshua Allen and his high-energy innovative 25-piece Deconstruction Orchestra will perform The Structure of Sound and Space, an original deconstructivist-inspired suite of cell structure game compositions. Melding together post-modern, free jazz, non-idiomatic improvisation, and San Francisco’s vast highly diverse contemporary music scenes, the Deconstruction Orchestra is inspired by the large ensemble works of late 20th century composer/directors such as Marco Enedi, Cecil Taylor, and the works of Butch Morris, and Kim Richmond. Under the direction Joshua Allen, the orchestra creates a powerfully cathartic architecture of sound creating a sonic space around the listener and redefining the purpose of the large ensemble.

Born in Berkeley, California in 1972, Joshua Allen has created his own personal language on the tenor saxophone, with an emphasis on polytonal and asymmetrical phrasing, as well as extending the range and sonic ability of the instrument. He does this with constant emphasis and study of the overtone series, and the generation of multiphonics from the application of this process. Like many of today’s prominent musicians, process. Like many of today’s prominent musicians, Mr. Allen was a product of the Berkeley public school system, studying saxophone starting at the age of nine under Phil Hardymon. He went on to study withsuch prominent Bay Area musicians as Bill Aron, Joe Henderson, and Rory Snyder. With his focus squarely on jazz composition and performance, Mr. Allen moved to Southern California in the early ‘90s to study with Rick Helzer at San Diego State. He became active in the Latin Jazz community, and worked with various musicians such as Dennis Chambers and Eddie Palmieri. Mr. Allen returned to the Bay Area in the mid ‘90s to finish his Bachelors degree at Sonoma State. His association with saxophonist Marco Eneidi led to working relationships with musicians such as Glen Spearmann, Matthew Goodheart, Damon Smith, and eventually, Cecil Taylor.

Artist (photo by Photographer)