Kris Tiner

Epigraph Records Launched

Kris Tiner — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:07:07 +0000

Happy 2012 to you, I hope you are off to a good start.

As many of you know, I have been producing concerts of unusual and experimental music in the Bakersfield area for over a decade. Working with local artists, volunteers, and my colleagues at Bakersfield College and CSU Bakersfield, we have invested vast amounts of time and energy to diversifying the live music scene here, bringing in highly regarded composers, improvisers and sound artists from all over the world. And it turns out that we have become something of a hub for such projects; at this point I have to turn down far more performance requests than I am able to accommodate.

It has long been on my mind to find a way to document these events. People rarely believe me when I try to explain what a supportive audience for new music exists in Bakersfield; our reputation as “California’s Honky Tonk” is hard to shake. And although we have built a solid following, I am always looking for ways to expand the local audience and deepen our community support.

So I started a record label. I’ve partnered with Ronald Ramirez, who runs a record store here as well as an independent punk label called Going Underground Records. We both share an interest in documenting, developing, and showcasing the local music subculture. Ronald’s label has been active for eight years, releasing dozens of records from local bands and groups from around the world, and they sell out of everything they release. Our idea for Epigraph is to create a label that would be focused on releasing LPs of new music, avant-jazz, sound art, improvised and experimental projects that have been recorded and/or performed live in Bakersfield, in limited vinyl editions featuring exclusive designs by local artists.

And now, thanks to a Subito Grant from the American Composers Forum, our first release is now available. RITUAL INSCRIPTION is a blazing live set recorded at a jam-packed midnight concert at Metro Galleries in downtown Bakersfield, featuring internationally renowned percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani, Los Angeles guitarist Jeremy Drake, and myself. This edition is limited to 500 numbered copies, with one of five original designs screen printed on the back of each jacket by local artist Alex Sarad.

I hope you’ll take a listen, and consider buying a copy! All profits from the sale of Epigraph LPs will be directed toward future releases, expanding the roster of artists and the scope of creative music events offered in the Bakersfield community. We have a busy few months ahead, with concerts featuring multi-instrumentalist and Nine Inch Nails collaborator Alessandro Cortini, Bay Area saxophonist Phillip Greenlief, avant-percussionist Gino Robair, ethereal guitarist Jim McAuley, trombonist/composer Michael Vlatkovich with tuba master William Roper, Tatsuya Nakatani with his Nakatani Gong Orchestra, local composer James Sproul, and local jazz-funk ensemble The Invisible Astro Healing Rhythm Quartet. A forthcoming Epigraph compilation LP including recordings from these events is planned.

RITUAL INSCRIPTION is available to listen and purchase at www.epigraphrecords.com.

Ritual Inscription by Nakatani Tiner Drake

Empty Cage at The Blue Whale

Kris Tiner — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:18:09 +0000

At Montalvo

Kris Tiner — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:11:44 +0000

Empty Cage in Berkeley and LA

Kris Tiner — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:08:16 +0000

Empty Cage Quartet returns to the West Coast this week. We’ll be in residency at Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga for three days, followed by performances on Sunday 11-13 at the Berkeley Arts Festival (click here for info) and on Monday 11-14 at the Blue Whale in Los Angeles (click here for info). Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for all the updates…

tenuous refuge

Kris Tiner — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:26:38 +0000

Working out a few new things for Empty Cage Quartet‘s three-day residency at Montalvo Arts Center this week. This will be the first of the third-generation Gravity compositions, utilizing only non-transposing gravity points (the longer pitch sets in the square boxes). These sets indicate two distinct intervallic relationships both above and below the central pitch ‘B’. The pitch and rhythmic material are all based on permutations of the numbers 11-11-11.

This piece is essentially a “tuning element” that will set up a harmonic space to be explored in the next few compositions.

RITUAL INSCRIPTION pre-order now!

Kris Tiner — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:54:49 +0000

Now available for pre-order, the first LP on the brand new Bakersfield-based Epigraph Records label featuring music recorded live by Tatsuya Nakatani (percussion), Jeremy Drake (guitar), and Kris Tiner (trumpet). Limited to 500 numbered copies with an exclusive screen printed design by local artist Alex Sarad. Pre-order your copy now for $12.99 and get an immediate album download in the format of your choice. Take a listen on the player below, and stay tuned for more information as the official release date gets closer…

Ritual Inscription by Nakatani Tiner Drake

KT3 in San Diego, 10/12/08

Kris Tiner — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:59:08 +0000

Thanks to Nathan Hubbard for posting this video from a trio performance at Kava Gallery in San Diego back in 2008. Scott Walton is on bass, Nathan Hubbard on percussion. Video shot by Ellen Weller. We are playing arrangements of two short piano pieces by Morton Feldman, followed by my composition “Only As Evidence”.

Tin/Bag at the Naked Lounge

Kris Tiner — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 05:54:32 +0000

[Sacramento, CA, 10/23/11, photo by Ross Hammond. Video below from the same concert, filmed by Ross Hammond, the piece is "Bridges", title track from our new album.]

Tin/Bag at The Blue Whale

Kris Tiner — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:58:36 +0000

[Los Angeles, CA, 10/20/11, photo by Allen D. Glass]

Tin/Bag California Tour Oct 20-23

Kris Tiner — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:49:11 +0000

Tin/Bag – BRIDGES California CD Release Tour

October 20 – Tin/Bag (Kris Tiner-tpt/Mike Baggetta-gtr) | workshop at Oakwood School | 4pm
October 20 – Tin/Bag + Walsh Set Trio | Blue Whale | Los Angeles | 9pm | fb
October 21 – Tin/Bag | Masterclass at CSU Bakersfield | 4pm | fb
October 21 – Tin/Bag | Guitar Arts Series at CSU Bakersfield | 7:30pm | fb
October 22 – Tin/Bag plays Monk and Country | Vessel Gallery | Oakland, CA | 3-5pm
October 22 – Tin/Bag + Phillip Greenlief/David Boyce Duo | Berkeley Arts Festival | Berkeley, CA | 8pm
October 23 – Tin/Bag + Ross Hammond | Naked Lounge | Sacramento, CA | 8pm