Jay C. Batzner is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida where he teaches theory, composition, and technology courses as well as coordinates the composition program. He holds degrees in composition and/or theory from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, the University of Louisville, and the University of Kansas.
Jay's music is primarily focused around instrumental chamber works as well as electroacoustic composition. His music has been recorded on the Capstone, Vox Novus, and Beauport Classical labels and is published by Unsafe Bull Music.
Jay is a sci-fi geek, an amateur banjoist, a home brewer, and juggler.
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7/18/2008
Plugs
There are a few discs out there which I think should be on your radar. I present them for the following reasons:
1. They are great recordings
2. They are self-released works (mostly available on iTunes)
3. They are friends of mine (therefore I'd feel scummy putting these in the CD Reviews on this site)
Torrid Mix by Mike McFerron
Mike McFerron's electroacoustic music gets featured on this disc (can we call them "discs" when they come out on iTunes? Isn't that like talking about "tape" pieces these days?). Most of the stuff is groove-oriented, especially the title track Torrid Mix for piano and tape (there I go again). McFerron is a great composer and these pieces are creative and well crafted works. Definitely worth getting.
In lake'ch by Paul Rudy
This is a thirteen-track, hour long electroacoustic piece which is simply brain-alteringly awesome. The sounds are stunning and the organic growth is crazy-awesome. Some of you might shudder at the thought of an "hour long electroacoustic piece" but you gotta trust me on this. This piece needs to be as long as it is. Excerpts and individual tracks just don't do the piece justice. Put it on and soak in it for a while. You'll be glad you did.
60x60 2006-2007 by Robert Voisey (and 119 others, including yours truly)
The third CD release of the Vox Novus 60x60 is out and in effect. As a "bang for the buck" recording project, you are never going to do better than buying 120 pieces by 120 composers. There are great tracks, there are funny tracks, there are tracks that are just weird. The best thing is, if you dislike a track, you only have about 45 seconds until you hear something else.
60x365 Selections by David Morneau
The 60x60 project on steroids, David Morneau's 60x365 podcast concluded recently. It turns out he has made a limited number of discs containing 72 tracks from the podcast. I got one and it is really, really cool. David's choices are smart and represent the best aspects of the project. The collection is artistic, funny, cathartic, quirky, and well worth owning. If you are interested in the disc, and you should be, David told me that individuals should contact him directly.
posted by Jay C. Batzner
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