World Peace Through World Music
There has been so much activity recently that I haven't had time to connect with an update. I'd like to welcome new subscribers from Europe, The Middle East, China and of course the USA. Here are some of the highlights of the past couple of months.
New CD "All the World's a Stage" is Out!
I'm so excited to announce that my new CD is now available. It is a compilation of several of my live and recorded music I created for various theater projects over the past few years with Constellation Theatre Company. It also reflects my collaborations with various musicians in the Middle East as a cultural envoy for the US State Department. These trips have been to Bahrain, Jerusalem, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. I had the opportunity to make some wonderful friends and learn about the rich music and culture of that region. It is my pleasure to share that with you on this CD.
If you would like to see some creative footage while I was recording the CD view this video.
As this project is a reflection of developments in my music, theater collaborations and work as a cultural ambassador I was fortunate to have three distinguished writers create liner notes from their expertise. Willard Jenkins, music writer extraordinaire, Martin Quinn, US cultural minister during my time in Baghdad and Nelson Pressley, theater critic for the Washington Post all contributed very thoughtful notes on my work and I'm very grateful to all three. Willard Jenkins was so impressed with the variety of work I do that he requested an interview with me.
Metamorphoses Continues Run with Constellation Theatre
New York City based theater magazine TheatreMania published an interview with me in advance of the opening of Metamorphoses. We discussed my creative process in performing live music and sound design as well as how my travel as a cultural envoy has impacted my theater work.
Running through June 3 I'm performing with Constellation Theatre at The Source Theatre in Washington, DC. Eight shows a week is a big step forward for this theatre company and I'm delighted to say that we have had full houses every night! One of the most amazing aspects of this show is that the set is a swimming pool of various depths. A.J. Guban, the set designer really outdid himself on the Helen Hayes Nomination worthy set design. Please come see this show while tickets are available. The show closes on June 3.
To purchase tickets for Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphoses go here for more info: TICKETS
If you would like to buy one of my CDs and support Constellation Theatre I am donating $5.00 of every CD sale to this worthy company. Click the above link and choose "Buy CD"
Reviews that speak to this amazing show and the music:
With live music by Helen Hayes Award winner Tom Teasley this show molds life into ancient stories, twisting them with a modern hand, bending them with imaginative quirks, and sends audiences plunging to the depths of their minds to reckon with the Gods. Combined with the vibrant original score - provided by Tom Teasley - Metamorphoses is a sensational 'Must See' production.--DC Metro Theater Arts
Providing an atmospheric boost to this production is the original music written and performed by locally based composer-percussionist Tom Teasley. Rich with Greek-sounding scales, figures, and motifs and accentuated by occasional wordless vocals. Drawing on his electronic and acoustic instruments and one or two of his own devising, Mr. Teasley's score seeks to create the kind of non-western, microtonal notation that once fascinated American avant-garde composer Harry Partch in the early to mid-twentieth century. Mr. Teasley's evocative performance contributes significantly to the play's atmosphere and sense of timelessness.--Washington Times
What Constellation did add was an original score by award-winning composer/world percussionist/one-man soundtrack Tom Teasley. Teasley is as exuberant as any of the actors onstage as he accompanies the show with a cadre of instruments.--examiner.com
Other pleasures are aural in nature, supplied by Tom Teasley's evocative music. --DC Theater Scene
Tom Teasley's live music score, which he composed and plays, effectively complements the feeling of various scenes--Show Biz Radio
..a lively original soundtrack courtesy of percussionist Tom Teasley. Teasley's sometimes haunting score, performed live from a prominently featured on-stage perch, adds another layer of distinction to the show. The Fulbright-Hayes grant recipient and State Department Cultural Envoy incorporates unusual international instruments such as a West African Balafon and a Bansari Whistle. --Washingtonian Magazine
Music and Film
I had three sold out performances of "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" sponsored by Constellation Theatre in April. I'm really very excited about this new direction in my music and career. This is an article from "We love DC" it reflects the enthusiasm of the audiences regarding this project.
Please stay tuned for more performances of this amazing film as well as other films I will be adding in the near future.
Free Download this month "Fouska and Varuna"
To celebrate my new CD I'm offering the track, "Fouska and Varuna". It's based on a seven beat cycle that is recited at three speeds as in South Indian music. As on all the tracks on this CD I'm performing all instruments. On this track you will hear konnakol, Korg WaveDrum, soprano and bass melodica, mallet kat, cajon, and cymbals. Get it here.
Please be on the lookout for it soon at iTunes, CD Baby and other outlets.
"Fusions between American and Eastern schools are old news, yet seldom has any percussionist drawn so deeply from both wells and come up with a blend as bewitching and original as this." --Drum! Magazine
"The evening's dazzler..." --The Washington Post
"No Instrument has a limitation for him" --Modern Drummer Magazine
" ... a highly imaginative conceptualist... a colorful, intellectual musician, employing his talents in the orchestration of sound... ingeniously deploys unusual uses of unusual percussion... unlimited talents. " --Allaboutjazz.com
"Washington D.C.-based percussion wizard Tom Teasley deserves his own slot in the CD bins. Maybe his own store." --Jazz Improv Magazine
Please visit (and like) my Facebook page to preview new works and more information on my activities. Also feel free to follow me on Twitter for more up to the minute updates!
Until next time, Peace, Salam, Shalom, Om Shanti,
Tom