Live at New Orleans' Open Ears Series at the Blue Nile

New music for two saxophones (any combination of soprano, alto, tenor or baritone) and electronics under 100 seconds. The entire program was premiered with Dr. Griffin Campbell on November 1st, 2009 at Louisiana State University and subsequently toured throughout Louisiana.

rare degree is an Amsterdam-based duo focused on the performance of new and experimental electroacoustic music. Founded in 2007 and always on the move, the duo has presented concerts at venues throughout the U.S. and Europe, with recent appearances at Chicago's Heaven Gallery of Art, Portugal's Musicbox Club, Amsterdam's De Kazerne, U.K.'s Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and Washington D.C.'s Artomatic Festival. They have performed with a wide variety of experimental artists including turntablist DJ Dubble8, visual artist Sarah Buckius, guitarist Vitor Rua, Quatuor Bozzini and self-proclaimed knife virtuoso Hyaena Reich. Formally educated, they hold graduate degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music, Peabody Conservatory of Music and are both recent recipients of Fulbright Fellowships. Please visit www.mstraus.net and www.danajessen.com for further exploration.


rare degree cruises the Lisbon Botanical Gardens with turntablist DJ Dubble8 in anticipation of their March 2009 European debut at the Musicbox Nightclub in Portugal [left to right: DJ Dubble8, Dana & Mike].

Formed in 2004, quux is a chamber ensemble committed to the quality performance of outstanding music for saxophone quartet. They are avid saxophonists of varied ages who endeavor to bring fresh perspectives to the classical saxophone repertoire. quux recently performed their New York City debut at St. Peter's Church on June 9th, 2009. Past engagements include performances at the International Navy Band Symposium (Fairfax, VA), St. Luke's Church (Annapolis, MD), Artomatic Festival (Washington, D.C.) and a residency at Northwestern State University (Natchitoches, LA).

In addition to quartet playing, the members of quux also perform together as the new music ensemble quux collective and as duo partners. More Information: www.quuxquartet.com

All you need to know at www.multimediasaxophone.com

Amsterdam-based saxophonist and improviser Michael Straus is requesting submissions from composers, musicians, artists and other creative minds for his dam² street performance project. Submitted works will be performed in Amsterdam's town square [dam²] and other locations throughout Holland. Rules? Activities that result in property destruction and/or possibly being arrested are not recommended. Submitted works are encouraged to include pre and post performance rituals with at least one part of the work taking place at the performance location (dam²). With that said, there are no guidelines. Michael will be equipped with a soprano saxophone and any reasonably requested piece of equipment. The performance site is located outdoors. Here in Holland this means a good chance of rain. All pieces of performance art, music, ect... will be accepted on a rolling basis. Performance documentation will include a photograph.