In this episode, the ICEcast interviews Eckardt about poet Laura Mullen’s influence on Undersong, how one sets a poem without a strict structure to music, and why he continues to make music in trying times.

• —James Delancey, Sr. was a chief justice and later Lieutenant Governor of colonial New York, and a staunch British loyalist. The Delancey is a gorgeous downtown lounge, spread over three floors, including a rooftop garden.
• —James Delancey presideded over the trial of journalist Peter Zenger, who was tried for libel against New York’s infamously corrupt governor William Cosby. ICE will preside over the hottest party of the summer at The Delancey on Tuesday, June 28.
• —Zenger’s lawyer, Alexander Hamilton, made a passionate argument that it was the jury’s duty to oppose New York’s harsh and oppressive libel law at the time; Hamilton won a not guilty verdict, over Delancey’s objections. You won’t have to fight hard to get libations at our party, because there’ll be four open bars. We’ll also have empanadas.
• —The case set important precedents in U.S. law for the freedom of the press we enjoy today. ICE’s roof party will help support the ICElab program, which premiered this spring with three free concerts.

Thus ends your history lesson for today. Come celebrate freedom of the press (and ICElab, of course) at The Delancey with drinks, empanadas, a set from DJ Phil Moffa, a silent auction, and more on Tuesday, June 28. Tickets are going fast, so get yours now.

Take a listen to this episode of the ICEcast below for a preview of the music (and the empanadas) we’ll share on Tuesday. See you there!

We recently sat down with ICElab composer Nathan Davis to discuss his writing process, on the eve of the release of his new album on New Focus Recordings, The Bright and Hollow Sky.

In this episode of the ICEcast, Nathan tells us about composing for his friends in ICE, pulling inspiration from author Italo Calvino, dadaist Hugo Ball, and Polish poet Zbigniew Herbert, in addition to what it’s like for a professional percussionist & composer to try to make notes on a bassoon.

Hear selections from the new record, as well as New York and World Premiere compositions by Davis, performed live at our next free ICElab concert at (le) Poisson Rouge on May 31, 2011. To make reservations, e-mail ice@lprnyc.com.

photo by Ken Micallef

Our friend, composer Rafiq Bhatia, recently interviewed saxophonist and ICElab composer Steve Lehman (you may have heard of him recently). On this episode of the ICEcast, we feature selections from their conversation about rhythm, time, playing what you write, and writing what you want to play.

Be sure to catch ICE as we perform the world premiere of Steve’s Impossible Flow at (le) Poisson Rouge on April 19, 2011 — tickets are free, send an e-mail to reserve yours!

ICElab: Prism Path | Music of Mario Diaz de León
(le) Poisson Rouge
158 Bleecker Street
New York, NY
Free admission; reservations strongly encouraged

In this edition of the ICEcast, Adams & Schick discuss ideas of time and place in these two beautiful compositions.

ICE/John Luther Adams:
In the White Silence + The Mathematics of Resonant Bodies

Steven Schick, conductor & percussionist

Saturday, February 26, 7:30pm and 9:30pm
The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL
Purchase Tickets

The ICEcast recently sat down with Mario in a small room at Columbia University (sorry ’bout the reverb…) for an interview covering how he describes his music at cocktail parties, his transition from metal & punk music to writing for classical instruments, and tension between the spirit and the body. The music you hear is from his album Enter Houses Of on Tzadik, performed by ICE.

Prism Path: Mario Diaz de León
Friday, November 19, 2010 at 9:30pm
The Velvet Lounge
67 East Cermak Road
Chicago, IL

Mario Diaz de León (b. 1979):
Prism Path for two alto flutes and percussion (2009)
Mansion for two alto flutes, percussion, and electronics (2009)
The Flesh Needs Fire for flute, clarinet, and electronics (2007)
The Soul is the Arena for bass clarinet and electronics (2010) WORLD PREMIERE
Armory Duo for electric guitar, drums, and tape (2010) CHICAGO PREMIERE

In this edition of the ICEcast we share some of Omar’s brilliant playing, as well as reflections from his long-time friend and collaborator, flutist Wilfrido Terrazas.

La Frontera
Museum of Contemporary Photography
Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 7:30pm
600 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL
Tickets: $10, available via Brown Paper Tickets

Edgar Guzmán (b. 1981): Death and Time (2010) for amplified violin or viola with live manipulated stereo tape WORLD PREMIERE
Ivan Naranjo (b. 1977): Máquina Esquiza III (2010) for viola, flute and clarinet WORLD PREMIERE
Samuel Cedillo (b. 1981): Trío n.1: Canto fúnebre (2010) for violin, flute and clarinet WORLD PREMIERE

Dai talks about developing ICE with ICE, why he can take risks with the band, and why he didn’t use tremolos in his music for the longest time.

Roots & Return
Saturday, September 11, 2010 at 7:30pm
220 E. Chicago Avenue
Chicago
For tickets: mcachicago.org

The ICEcast spoke to pianists Jacob Greenberg and Amy Williams about the recent discovery of Varèse’s arrangement, and what we can expect to hear on Wednesday night.

Program:

Density 21.5 (1936)
with Claire Chase, flute

Un Grand Sommeil Noir (1906)
with Samantha Malk, soprano

Amériques (NEW YORK PREMIERE of 8-hand piano version) (1929; ed. Helena Bugallo 2005)
with Jacob Greenberg, Amy Williams, Amy Briggs and Thomas Rosenkranz

Listen live on WQXR’s Q2 program, Wednesday, July 7 at 7pm; and get more Varèse on our blog, Edgar(d).