Domino Ensemble impresses with an astonishing new release. The album has a strong focus on unique tones and forward-thinking arrangements, elevating modern jazz music to a status of pure art form.

The sound of this release has really beautiful production, which brings class and smoothness to each cut. The instrumentals are highly dynamic and touching, and in particular, the amazing twist of the lead clarinet really brings a sense of identity to each track. It’s a true joy to hear this amazing ensemble of world-class musicians interact with one another, feeding off of each other’s chemistry and ability to create massively infectious, yet classy and understated melodies.

Whether you are a fan of modern jazz, or you prefer the old guard, you’ll certainly be impressed by Domino Ensemble. This group has got so much to offer, and they bring an unprecedented level of charisma to this genre today.

Read it here

A year after we finished the recording and at the same we started the sessions for the new material, Purple Ego (Centaur) came out, what a fueling surprise! Check it out in Spotify, Amazon and others. All new music with outstanding playing by Mark Boling, Keith Brown, Jon Hamar and Jorge Variego / Un año después de haber terminado de grabarlo y al mismo tiempo que arrancamos con las sesiones para el material nuevo, salió Purple Ego (Centaur). Toda música original, con un excelente laburo de Mark Boling, Keith R Brown, Jon Hamar y Jorge Variego. A por más!
Cover design: Emory Hensley Art

The Cumberland Orchestra of the Sewanee Summer Music Festival under the direction of Gene Moon will premiere my new work “Ritual Andino” for youth orchestra tomorrow Sunday June 23th at 2:30PM in the Guerry Auditorium.
About the conductor

Dr. Gene H. Moon joined the faculty of Stephen F. Austin State University in 2006, as director of orchestras and music director of opera. Previous posts include music director and conductor of the Oklahoma Youth Symphonies; piano faculty and opera conductor at the University of Central Oklahoma; and assistant orchestra director for the Mid-Del Public Schools in Midwest City, OK.
He has led orchestras and performed as soloist and chamber musician with the 2016 Arkansas All- State Orchestra, the 2008 TPSMEA (Texas Private Schools) All-State Orchestra, Lawton Philharmonic (OK), Enid Symphony (OK) and the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra (LA) and internationally with the Gang Nam Symphony Orchestra in Seoul, South Korea and the University of Macau Orchestra.
Dr. Moon is highly sought after as guest clinician with recent engagements including regional orchestras in Texas; the 2012 North Central Honor Orchestra (OK), and the 2011 and 2014 Louisiana All-State Orchestras. He will serve as guest conductor of the Longview Symphony Orchestra (TX) in 2016.
Dr. Moon earned his bachelor in music education and music performance from the University of Central Oklahoma, a master of music education from New York University and doctorate of musical arts in orchestral conducting from the University of Oklahoma.
Born of Korean heritage, Dr. Moon began his piano studies at age six and string studies at age nine. His teachers and mentors include pianists Ms. Jan Pokorny Steele, Dr. Dai Wook Lee, Dr. Deirdre O’Donohue and Dr. Edward Gates, violists Dr. Ralph Morris and Dr. Matthew Dane, and maestros Dr. Roger Strong, Mr. John Jeter and Dr. Jonathan Shames.

About the piece

The piece brings back two expressions of folk music of the Andes: the “carnavalito” and the “baguala”. The “carnavalito” is a dance rhythmically vivid and picaresque, which gives drive and direction to the overall structure of the work. The “baguala” is a melancholic chant with a simple melody built on three notes, opening an endless space for development and experimentation.

The Ensemble was invited to perform at the International Society of Improvised Music in Augsburg in Minneapolis. The even took place during May 16-18 and we had a blast! The group was conformed by Jorge Variego (electronics – also the Founder Director of the group), Dakota Johnson (cello) and Cullen Burke (synthesizer).

Composer, performer, and multimedia artist Jordan Munson comes to Knoxville May 10, 2019 to delight listeners with his signature expansive blending of chamber-esque references with numerous experimental elements. Seth Colter Walls of The New York Times writes “[Munson’s] pieces merge acoustic melody and electronic rhythm with thrilling purpose.” Knoxville Concert Series: Heartless Fools will take place on May 10th in the University of Tennessee School of Music recital hall. The free concert begins at 7pm. Munson will present a series of works from his recent collection Heartless Fools. Referencing new classical, jazz, and industrial electronic musical styles, the concert will highlight the multiplicity of Munson’s influences. The evening will feature members of the new music collective Nief-Norf in performance alongside the composer. Knoxville Concert Series: Heartless Fools celebrates what Nief-Norf loves best: brand new, avant-leaning, contemporary chamber music.

My piece for big band Is it 6:30 yet? was selected for performance at the 2019 SCI National Conference hosted by the University of New Mexico, in Albuquerque. Awesome job by Glenn Kustur and all the performers, here a snippet of it.

On Tuesday 3-26 8PM the UT trumpet studio under the direction of Prof. Cathy Leach premiered Polychromatic resonances for trumpet octet.

Here a blurb of the piece. Polychromatic resonances explores the idea of “composed” reverberations, where simple triadic sonorities intertwine to form complex harmonies alla Bob Brookmeyer.

Super happy to have been part of this year’s Big Ears Festival in the Triptych production at the Tennessee Theater. Music by Bryce Dessner featuring Roomful of Teeth. What a wonderful experience!

Super excited for our performance this upcoming Thursday 7:30 PM at the Organ Hall UNC Greensboro. Among our concert repertoire, we will premiere two works written for us by UNCG composers. “Blanking” by Indira Everett and “Sublimation” by Isaac Ward. On Friday morning we will lead a workshop on original works by Julian Ward, Treya Nash and Yunfei Li. Can’t wait!

Concert program:

Recontextualizations (J. Variego)
Purple ego (J. Variego)
Sublimation (* premiere by Isaac Ward)
Blanking (* premiere by Indira Everett)
Lydia (G. Faure, arr. J Variego)
Lo mismo que no es igual (J. Variego)
Memorias del pago (J. Variego)
Glove assault (J. Variego)
Finale (A. Tansman, arr. J. Variego)

Mark Boling (guitar), Keith Brown (drums), Scott Swanberg (double bass), Jorge Variego (clarinets and compositions)

Domino Ensemble