"The Cold Pane sets five poems by esteemed Kentucky author, farmer, activist, and scholar, Wendell Berry. The cycle alternates between poems that describe the external, natural world—and particularly, the seasons—and poems that describe the internal, human world of grief. This basic opposition between external and internal carries with it other, related oppositions: cyclical versus linear conceptions of time and life, light versus darkness, and objectivity versus subjectivity. I composed the songs dealing with the natural world according to more-or-less strict processes—systems that, once set in motion, operate according to their own internal logic, without adjustment or interference on my part. My aim was to mirror, in a metaphorical way, the physical laws of the natural world. In contrast, for the songs dealing with the internal, human world—“The Cold Pane,” and “The Widower”—I wrote in a much more intuitive, spontaneous, and traditionally lyrical mode. “The Widower,” on a personal level, describes exactly an experience my father had, and it was with this poem that I began to build a cycle. As a whole, the cycle explores how we continually seek meaning in and attempt to draw significance from the qualities and events of the natural world, and asks whether the meaning and significance we find there is revelation, or just an imposition of our human desires, or both. When is nature actually speaking to us, and what can we know? 

Canon and imitation are central to the piece, both as formal constructive devices, and, more abstractly and poetically, as metaphors for one entity following or searching for another. The work’s harmonic structure oscillates between two centers: G-sharp minor and A major. This semitone relationship intentionally references the related tonal structure of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony—a piece that has a very special place in my heart. The final song in The Cold Pane, “Again,” uses the harmonic series and the acoustic principle of sum tones as a sonic metaphor for the rebirth and return to light evoked in the song’s text. 

This piece’s unusual instrumentation grew out of two desires: first, to create an ensemble in which all the performers could stand; and second, to reference, but not explicitly duplicate, the instrumentation of the bluegrass band—a sound world and singing style that has been a major source of inspiration for me. Previous works of mine have drawn inspiration from certain folk singing traditions from Kentucky—particularly, Appalachian ballad singing and Old Regular Baptist hymnody. The influence of these traditions is less prevalent here, though the folk-wisdom quality of the words for Berry’s “The Cold Pane” did briefly invite a hymn-like sound world into the piece. In any case, this piece continues my investigation into the people, places, and cultural practices of my home state." —Shawn Jaeger

Shawn Jaeger - The Cold Pane - Talea Ensemble

composer, drummer, technologist, assistant professor of music at Wheaton College

Mixed Afro/Black He/They Bisexual MAGA Progressive Environmentalist. Yes I am a dichotomy who likes Cuban & Irish booty

NORA McCARTHY Creative Jazz Voice, Composer, Lyricist, Poet, Actor, Visual Artist, Author, and Educator 

Nora McCarthy is indeed a remarkable figure in the New York jazz scene. She possesses the earthiness of an early blues singer, the articulation, phrasing and timbre of a jazz trumpet. Her unique and original style has made her a prominent vocalist, composer, improviser, and poet. McCarthy’s versatility is one of her strong points. She has demonstrated that she is comfortable with both the inside and the outside of musical expression. And whether she gets into free form, abstract improvisations, or performing standards, McCarthy is as expressive as she is unpredictable. Her adept and adventurous improvising is on a high level; she is a musical colorist eager to push the envelope. With a sound 
reminiscent of the great voices and horns in jazz, her burnished alto voice is steeped in the classic jazz and rhythm & blues tradition and is rich with a distinctive style that draws on both the spirituality of post-bop instrumentalists and the spirituality of post-bop vocal jazz. 

Nora’s ever increasing need to expand her own musical consciousness and convey a spiritual awareness through the music is her creative motivation and inspiration. McCarthy performs in every setting from a voice and saxophone duo to a twenty-piece orchestra. Her original compositions and arrangements are stunning works of art and include graphic compositions, soundscapes, and poetic architectures. 

McCarthy currently leads the following groups: The Nora McCarthy Trio; Lyrical Duosity; Nora McCarthy Qu’ART’et; The People of Peace Quintet; The Panama Red Trio; Modern Voice Ensemble, and Manna For Thought Improvising Trio. She has been in collaboration with her husband alto saxophonist Jorge Sylvester for the past 25 years and as a result of this intensive collaboration, craftmanship, and discipline, their hard-won synergy has enabled them to create nine distinct creative new music/poetry projects which include the renowned ConceptualMotion 21-piece Orchestra, A Small Dream In Red Innovative Improvising Duo, Jorge Sylvester ACE (Afro-Caribbean-Experimental) Collective and the Extended Edition with Strings; Quartet Imagination; and an improvising octet, Spontaneous Expressions. Mayhem at Large, this group’s first CD was released in late 2021 is a live performance captured at the Baha’i Center in March 2020. 

Nora is a gifted poet and lyricist who has amassed a large body of prose, poetry, and word art that she’s written for her many musical projects as well as lyrics she’s penned for other well known jazz compositions. Her powerfully moving delivery of the spoken word and interpretation of the lyrics reflect her deep and intense emotional capacity. McCarthy’s living poem, "Today In America" is one such work that began in 2001 and is a time lapsed look at ongoing events written in a collage format and delivered in the passionate poetic style of the great activist poets of the 60’s and 70’s. Written for the composition of the same title composed by alto saxophonist, Jorge Sylvester and performed by their ConceptualMotion Orchestra. 

The importance of Nora’s work as a member of A Chorus of Poets and her affiliation with its founder, the late Conductor Lawrence D. “Butch” Morris from 2005 to 2015 as the Chorus organizer and featured poet, cannot be overstated. 

Nora’s long-term association with the legendary experimental Medicine Show Theatre in New York afforded her the opportunity to hone her acting skills. Inspired and encouraged by its Co-Founder, Actor, and Artistic Director Barbara Vann and working with its Manager, Actor, Poet, Chris Brandt, Nora was a member of the cast in Listen To Me—an Opera (Music by: Rainy Orteca—Text by Gertrude Stein. In addition, Nora played “Aunt Beth” in Moral Support, a drama written by Bill Considine, directed by Félix E. Gardón, and participated in several onstage readings. 

Through her vast experience in the jazz and creative music field, Nora has developed a spiritual and conceptual approach to teaching vocal artistry including unique improvisatory techniques that views singing through the lens of an interdisciplinary art form.  McCarthy published her first book entitled: The Spiritual Path to Finding Your Voice™  in August of 2024. In addition, she is founder of, The Modern Voice Studio © and currently teaches privately, conducts workshops, and master classes.

McCarthy and her groups have performed at the top jazz venues, concert halls, galleries, theaters, performance spaces, concert halls, universities, and music cafes throughout New York City, upstate New York, the Tri-State area, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Ohio, Europe, and Panama. 

DISCOGRAPHY - (RedZenRecords™):  Mayhem at Large - the Last Baha'i, Spontaneous Expressions; Manna For Thought; blesSINGS ; A Time For Love; Spirit Driven; In The Language Of Dreams; Circle Completing; A Small Dream In Red (Sundown Jazz); and,  red&blue. (Blue Unity Music)Toward The Hill of Joy - George Brandon-Blue Unity Ensemble

The music of Jeff Myers has been called “Striking…and harmonically rich” by the New York Times and “…brilliant and powerful…” by The Classical Voice of New England. Myers draws on preexisting musical works, styles and genres, as well as visual art and natural phenomena. Filipino kulintang music, works by M.C. Escher, overtone music, folk music and geographical narratives have been a source for inspiration. His operatic collaboration with writer and filmmaker Royce Vavrek yielded the one-act opera The Hunger Art, based on Kafka’s "The Hunger Artist" and the Adam and Eve story. Currently Myers is working on a new full length opera with Mr. Vavrek (Maren of Vardø) and a new one-act opera with writer Quincy Long (Buried Alive) As part of American Lyric Theater’s “Poe Project”.

His music has been played by Hilary Hahn on her international tour (encores project and forthcoming recording on Deutsche Grammaphon), ensembles such as L’Orchestre National de Lorraine, American Composers Orchestra, Ann Arbor Symphony, New York Youth Symphony, members of New World Symphony, University of Michigan Symphony Band, American Lyric Theater, Center City Opera, Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, Transit, PRISM Saxophone Quartet, and the JACK Quartet. He has received awards from The American Academy of Arts and Letters, BMI, as well as fellowships from the Aspen Festival, Tanglewood, Festival Acanthes, the Atlantic Center for the Arts, and grants from institutions and private funds such as the Jerome Foundation, American Music Center, Puffin Foundation, the Yvar Mikhashoff Trust, the Anna Sosenko Trust, and The Fromm Foundation. His music has been heard at Carnegie Hall, Library of Congress, Kimmel Center, Darmstadt, Gaudeamus, Symphony Space, Arsenal, Le Poisson Rouge, and the Tenri Cultural Institute to name a few. Myers holds degrees from San José State University, the Eastman School of Music and the University of Michigan. He currently resides New York as a freelance composer.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shawn Jaeger - The Cold Pane - Talea Ensemble

Lucy Dhegrae