Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic

CRASHarts PRESENTS
BIRDSONGS OF THE MESOZOIC
20th Anniversary Concert
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Saturday, May 5, 8pm, Somerville Theatre

BOSTON, MA -- CRASHarts presents the 20th Anniversary Concert of Birdsongs of the Mesozoic on Saturday, May 5, 8pm at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville. Tickets are $20 and are available at the
Somerville Theatre and all TicketMaster outlets. To charge tickets call World Music (617) 876-4275 or TicketMaster (617) 931-2787. For information call World Music (617) 876-4275.

Birdsongs of the Mesozoic celebrate their 20th anniversary and the release of their first new recording in five years in this very special concert. With piano, synthesizer, guitar, saxophone, flute and occasional percussion and computer sequencing, Birdsongs' internationally acclaimed sound mixes elements of classical, rock, minimalism, jazz and free-form improvisations to create mesmerizing and evocative soundscapes. This rare live Birdsongs appearance will feature a retrospective of the music that the group has created over the past two decades, and will include guest musicians, one of which will be the world-renowned Alloy Orchestra, and other surprises.

Established in 1980 as a side-project of Boston's now legendary Mission of Burma, Birdsongs of the Mesozoic is a four-piece electrified modern music ensemble. Comprised of founding members Erik Lindgren and Rick Scott, along with Ken Field and Michael Bierylo, the group produces a sound "...as meditative as it is physical, as rooted in classical structure and jazz improvisation as it is in rock 'n' roll," according to The Boston Globe.

Over the past 20 years, Birdsongs has generated ten recordings, a number of tours and concert appearances, and consistent international acclaim. They have shared stages with Fred Frith, Ran Blake, the Lounge Lizards, Sonny Sharrock, Siouxsi & the Banshees, and others. Their performances and residencies have taken them from the surreal (Salvador Dali Museum) to the even more surreal (Disney Institute), and from the East Coast to the West Coast and beyond.

In 2000, Birdsongs of the Mesozoic released Petrophonics (Cuneiform Records), their first album in five years. The recording features guest appearances by turntable artist Pacey Foster, All Things Considered commentator David Greenberger, former DJ Logic drummer Eric Paull, Chandler Travis Philharmonic bassist John Styklunas, and Alloy Orchestra members Terry Donahue and Ken Winokur. Petrophonics has quickly become Birdsongs strongest selling CD, and is being called the group's best release ever.

For this special anniversary concert, Birdsongs of the Mesozoic will be joined in concert by several special guests including members of the world-renowned Alloy Orchestra. Alloy founding members Ken Winokur and Terry Donohue were guest musicians on the most recent Birdsongs CD Petrophonics, and will play live percussion on several selections. Roger Miller, now Alloy's keyboardist, was a founder of Birdsongs in the early 1980's, and left the group to pursue his solo career in 1987. He will perform several pieces with Birdsongs from the group's early repertoire.

CRASHarts is a division of World Music, Inc.

World Music is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency which also received support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic