Music

Music has been an integral part of my life for many years. I started playing the drums when in elementary school, and as the years passed my percussive curiosity exposed me to many different types of instruments, music, cultures, and philosophies from around the world. Pursuing a degree in the visual arts at the University of Michigan prevented me from performing as much music as I would have liked, but I still found ways to incorporate music and music making into my work. During my time at the university, it was a struggle to keep music involved in my work, but I managed to complete several interdisciplinary multi-media performances, along with the creation of a few custom musical instruments. Listed below is a small collection of musical projects I have participated in over the past few years.

Katun is a an acoustic sextet based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. We seek to develop an adventurous fusion of traditional Balkan folk and dance melodies with a spectrum of classical, pop, and avant-garde idioms in an intimate string-based ensemble format. The ensemble recently released an EP "Hill Session" which is available for Download here (33.3 MB) or online streaming @ www.KatunMusic.com.

Musicians:

Ants Fujinaga: Vocals. Douglas Lane Allen: Irish Bousouki, Bulgarian Tambura, and Bass. Abby Alwin: Cello and Bass. Jordan Adema: Violin. Nan Nelson: Bulgarian Tambura, Bass, and Vocals. Alex Sobolev: Percussion.

Upcoming Shows:

Fifth Friday Fusion Dance – Date: Friday, January 29, 2010 – Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm – Location: Pittsfield Grange Hall, 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd, Ann Arbor MI 48103 – Facebook Event

Baby Houdini with Katun – Date: Friday, February 05, 2010 – Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm – Location: Canterbury House, Canterbury House, 721 E. Huron, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-5903 – Facebook Event

WCBN Radio / Yalcin Yanikoglu's DROMEDARY EXPRESS – Date: Sunday, March 28, 2010 – Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm – Location: 88.3FM in Ann Arbor or online @ wcbn.org – Facebook Event

Concoures Hall Grand Opening – Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010 – Time: 9:00pm - 11:00pm – Location: 4531 Concourse Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 – Facebook Event

An evening of Balkan Music and Dance with the Ann Arbor Folkdancers – Date: Saturday, April 24, 2010 – Time: 9:00pm - 11:00pm – Location: The Barn at Gretchen's House, 2625 Traver Blvd.,Ann Arbor, MI 48105 – Facebook Event

Fifth Friday Fusion Dance – Date: Friday, April 30, 2010 – Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm – Location: Pittsfield Grange Hall, 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd, Ann Arbor MI 48103

Katun Sells Out For Coffee – Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010 – Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm – Location: Espresso Royale on Main Street, 214 S. Main St., Ann Arbor MI – Facebook Event

Keystone Underground Martini Bar – Date: Friday, June 11, 2010 – Time: 10:00pm - 2:00am – Location: Keystone Underground Martini Bar, 200 W. Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI – Facebook Event

Edible Sweet Lightning is a recording composed by my friend Nate May. I helped out with the project by playing tabla and crash cymbals on two of the tracks. The album can be downloaded for free by visiting the project website or clicking on here (22.3 MB).