2011

December
The Silk Road Project - Interview with Glenn Kotche
Read the interview in advance of the Silk Road Ensemble developing new music by Glenn as part of their commissions workshop in January 2012.

October
Performance of "Clapping Music Variations" on December 4
The University of Michigan Percussion Ensemble will be performing Clapping Music Variations on Dec. 4th at the Rackham Auditorium in Ann Arbor, MI. More info.

Kotche's Next Solo Album is Taking Shape
Glenn is currently putting the finishing touches on the final composition for his as-yet-to-be-titled next solo album, which will feature compositions for, and performed by, the Kronos Quartet, Eighth Blackbird, and Gamelan Galak Tika. More news on the new record soon.

June
Glenn on Radiolab
Listen to Glenn's appearance on the WNYC program Radiolab, here.

Glenn at the 2011 Solid Sound Festival
From June 24-26, 2011, Glenn participated in Wilco's second self-curated Solid Sound Festival, at MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA. Along with playing 2 shows with Wilco, Glenn performed a solo set (including a performance of "Monkey Chant" along with its accompanying animation), an improvised set with his duo On Fillmore (featuring Darin Gray), and as a guest of both Liam Finn and Pajama Club (Neil Finn's latest project).

In addition, Glenn presented a series of instrument/sculptures called InGlenntions. Click the photo to the left to see one example.

Also at Solid Sound, Glenn presented two installations: "Individual Trains," a video installation that will remain in the gallery through this Fall; and "Spy on the Wall," featuring audio covertly recordings made during Wilco's recording of their new record The Whole Love (which will remain in place through next year).

2010

November
Introducing the Meet the Composer Studio
On November 15, 2010, Glenn will participate in the event "TAKE PART: Introducing the Meet the Composer Studio" at 92Y Tribeca in NYC. Kotche will join other rising composers from around the country to help launch the Meet The Composer Studio, a new website that provides a virtual window into their creative lives. For more information on the event, visit 92y.org.

October
Zildjian Day Chicago
On Saturday, October 9, Glenn will be appearing at the Drum Pad in Palatine, IL, as part of Zildjian Day in Chicago. He'll be on hand to meet fans and sign autographs from 11:00AM - 4:00PM. For more information, visit thedrumpad.com.

Glenn pays tribute to Congotronics
Glenn recently contributed to a compilation of remixes, covers and homages to Congotronics, the Congolese street music that has been cited as influencial to numerous alternative and electronic artists. The compilation, entitled Tradi-Mods Vs. Rockers: Alternative Takes on Congotronics, will be released on November 9 on Crammed Discs, and features music from other artists such as Deerhoof, Andrew Bird and the Animal Collective. Look for Glenn's take on the Konono N°1 piece "Traducteur de Transmission" on disc 1.

Kotche on Andrew Bird's "Useless Creatures"
Last year, Glenn added drums and percussion to Andrew Bird's self-proclaimed "ambient experimental record" Useless Creatures, a 9-track companion piece to his 2009 album Noble Beast. On October 25, Useless Creatures will be released on its own on Fat Possum Records (and Bella Union in the U.K.). Visit Fat Possum to purchase a CD or LP.

On Fillmore Scores Indie Film "S&MAN"
In 2006, On Fillmore (Glenn Kotche & Darin Gray) scored the independent film S&MAN. Directed by J.T. Petty, S&MAN explores the relationship between voyeurism & filmmaking, particularly as they relate to the horror genre. It premiered at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival & the SXSW Film Festival. The film will be released on DVD & Blu-Ray on October 2, 2010. More info about S&MAN on IMDb. Watch the trailer.

In C Update
As we mentioned previously, Glenn recently contributed to a collection of new remixes of Terry Riley's piece "In C" as performed by the Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble. "In C Remixed" (which came out on November 17, 2009) boasts an impressive line-up, featuring remixes by Jad Abumrad, Masonic (Mason Bates), Jack Dangers, Dennis DeSantis, R. Luke DuBois, Mikael Karlsson/Rob Stephenson, Zoë Keating, Phil Kline, Kleerup, David Lang, Michael Lowenstern, DJ Spooky, That Subliminal Kid, Nico Muhly, Todd Reynolds, and Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR). It's no surprise then, that the album continues to garner noteworthy praise, including a place on the list of top classical releases for the year from the Washington Post and Time Out Chicago. Venerable WNYC show, Radiolab, devoted an entire show to the project, which you can check out here. You can also visit the official "In C Remixed" page to read more press and to learn more about the contributors.

Fall Update
In the midst of touring the world with Wilco for most of 2009, Glenn's found time for a number of other projects. Extended Vacation, the first release by On Fillmore (Glenn's duo with bassist Darin Gray) since 2004 and their first on the Dead Oceans label, will be released in Japan on October 26, in the UK on November 2 and in North America on November 3. For the time being, you can stream "Master Moon" here: http://onfillmore.com. Watch that space for more information about Extended Vacation and potential tour dates.

Inspired by their collaboration on the 7 Worlds Collide record, Glenn spent a few weeks in September contributing to the forthcoming solo album by Phil Selway (Radiohead) in Oxford, England. To tide you over for that album, you can check out Phil and Glenn's first song, "3 Worlds Collide," a percussion piece performed with Neil Baldock that was recorded as part of the 7 Worlds Collide project

Glenn will make his remixer debut on "In C Remixed," a collection of new remixes of Terry Riley's minimalist landmark as performed by the Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble. Other remixers include David Lang, DJ Spooky, Zoe Keating, Jack Dangers, and Nico Muhly. It will be released digitally October 27 and physically on November 17. Find out more about the project at www.in-c-remixed.com.

Glenn hits the road again through November with Wilco in Europe, click here for the tour dates. The band's new album Wilco (The Album) received a 4 start review written by Patrick Berkery in Modern Drummer:

GLENN KOTCHE, underrated? When it comes to his abilities as a player of the song, absolutely. So much is made of Kotche's inventive concepts that his skilled way with a backbeat goes somewhat unheralded. Some of Kotche's best song-oriented work within Wilco is featured on Wilco (The Album). Though in some ways this is the least daring album of his tenure with the band, the songs are strong and Kotche serves them well. He plays the squared-off patterns and fills with conviction (the simple stomp of "You Never Know" is simply beautiful), and when the mood calls for something more dynamic, like in "Everlasting," he's right there with syncopated snare work and a sweet swing.

Compositions & Cookbooks
We're happy to announce that respected music publishers, Alfred, have released two of Glenn's compositions: Clapping Music Variations for percussion ensemble and Fantasy on a Shona Theme for solo vibraphone.
In other print news, Glenn is contributing an essay to "THE DRUM AND PERCUSSION COOKBOOK: CREATIVE RECIPES FOR PLAYERS AND TEACHERS" (edited by Rick Mattingly). This educational text includes "recipes" from 57 respected percussionists on a wide variety of topics from drumset playing to symphonic techniques. Glenn's contribution is titled " Multiple Percussion." The book will be released by Meredith Music Publications.

Otherwise, please continue to check the shows page for dates with Bang on a Can, Eighth Blackbird, Kronos Quartet and this week, a special evening with Jim Baker, Nels Cline and Fred Lonberg-Holm in Chicago. Wilco's just headed into the studio to start recording their seventh studio album...more info on that in the coming months.

New Albums, New Shows, New Kotches
Glenn's had a busy summer. First of all, On Fillmore's newest record has finished the mixing stage and Glenn describes the album as "7 songs taking the band to beautiful, odd and very interesting places that they've never been to before." He also spent time in the studio with Andrew Bird and Todd Sickafoose for an upcoming Bird record (read more about the recording process here). As if that weren't enough, Glenn's also been recording with Wilco, hashing out ideas for LP7. In the midst of all this, Glenn and his wife, Miiri, welcomed their first child, Vivian Rosina, on June 21!

After all the studio time, Glenn is stretching his legs, hitting the road with Wilco in late July and August, followed by a few dates in September with Kronos Quartet and the Bang on a Can Allstars (which will include the Chicago premier of Anomaly). As always, more info and ticket links are on the Shows page.

New Composition and Upcoming On Fillmore Album
Don't forget to check the Shows page for more info on Glenn's April gigs with Bang on a Can, including a show at UNC-Chapel Hill where he'll debut a new piece SNAP. There's also another date with Kronos Quartet in September.

In other GK news, his band On Fillmore (with bassist Darin Gray) will release a new album later this year. The as-yet-untitled album has been recorded and will soon be mixed.