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Update #9: Tour Blog
We are on the rails!
You can read about our adventures through the blogging we are doing for the Willamette Week here.
We'll be back in Portland on April 30th!
Blue Cranes
Update #8: Tour Blog: Hello from Chicago!
For backers only,
Posted on April 3, 2011
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Update #7: whoops! tour kickoff is MARCH 19
In the unedited version of Update (#6) that we just sent out, it mistakenly said that our tour kickoff was April 19. Whoops! It's actually Saturday, MARCH 19 at Tony Starlight's in Portland.
Thank you!
Update #6: And the tour kicks off!!!!
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Hello all!
The time has come! This Saturday, March 19, Blue Cranes will be kicking off our national train tour with a two set show at Tony Starlight's in Portland. Shortly afterwards, we'll begin our month-long trek across our nation's intercity rail network to perform around the perimeter of the U.S. We will be blogging about our experiences via the Willamette Week as well as on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Up to date show information will be posted on our website. If you have friends in any of the cities on our route, please let them know about our tour. If you are in Portland and want to come to our kickoff show, please call Tony Starlight's now to make a reservation: (503) 517-8584.
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Blue Cranes Train Tour Kickoff Show Saturday, March 19 Tony Starlight's (3728 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland) doors 7pm, show 8pm. $15. reservations: (503) 517-8584
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Thank you to all of you for your support. We would not be doing this without you! -Reed, Ji, Keith, Rebecca, Sly Pig
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PDX Jazz @ Tony Starlight's Presents Blue Cranes March 19 Performance Kicks off U.S. Train Tour 
Photo by Jen Downer / She Saw Things Photography
Hailing from the fertile scene of Portland, Oregon, Blue Cranes create music that is as invigorating as it is disarming. The band raised over $6,500 to fund their U.S. train tour this spring, which begins with a hometown performance at the PDX Jazz @ Tony Starlight's concert series in Portland on Saturday, March 19 at 8pm. The indie jazz group's performance is the first in a series of recently announced performers for the PDX Jazz @ Tony Starlight's Spring lineup.
Before paved highways were common, and a vast network of frequent passenger trains served the country, performing ensembles of all stripes toured the country by train. Nowadays, most musical groups pile themselves, their instruments and equipment into a van or truck and go on the road. The Blue Cranes-an indie jazz quintet that has made a name for itself in Portland, Oregon will prove this April that it's still possible to turn a road tour into a rail tour when they tour the East Coast via Amtrak. The Blue Cranes have toured extensively up and down the West Coast, including a recent appearance at the 8th Annual Portland Jazz Festival, where they joined Nik Bartsch's Ronin as a co-headliner at the Alberta Rose Theater. April 2011 marks the band's inaugural national tour and to help fund it, the group launched a successful Kickstarter fundraising campaign, surpassing their goal and raising over $6500 towards tour expenses. Blue Cranes will be performing material from their latest full length release, Observatories (2010), as well as songs from their 2011 EP, Cantus Firmus (featuring covers of Blonde Redhead, Red House Painters and David Bazan). The group will also debut a new work in progress, which focuses on group composition, and is funded by Oregon's Regional Arts and Culture Council. Along with working to develop a greater audience for their music, Blue Cranes will use this tour to immerse themselves in a month-long investigation of the U.S. intercity rail infrastructure. The band will be teaming up with NARP (National Association of Railroad Passengers) to promote funding for passenger rail service, and will be blogging regularly about their experiences via the website of the Portland newspaper Willamette Week.
Blue Cranes' newest album, Observatories, features seven original compositions and a cover of Wayne Horvitz's 'Love, Love, Love.' The quintet, composed of Reed Wallsmith (alto saxophone), Sly Pig (tenor saxophone), Rebecca Sanborn (keyboards), Keith Brush (acoustic bass), and Ji Tanzer (drums), gracefully merges nostalgic homages to old jazz with completely fresh innovations on the genre. The band is joined on this album by the dynamic Los Angeles-based guitarist Timothy Young (Wayne Horvitz, Thruster), Kyleen King on viola, Anna Fritz on cello (Portland Cello Project), Marilee Hord on violin and the Paxselin Horns (Mary Sue Tobin - alto sax, Chad Hensel - bass clarinet).
It takes a minute for a band to hurdle growth spurts and become the eloquent ensemble it hopes to be. But striving for a truly individual sound, one that depends on the contributions of each member is a noble goal. After three years as a quintet with two saxophones up front, Blue Cranes have achieved such a victory.
Blue Cranes Tour Schedule:
3/19 - Tony Starlight's - Portland, OR
4/1 - Carleton College - Northfield, MN (Performance & Workshop)
4/3 - The Hungry Brain - Chicago, IL
4/5 - Club Bart - Detroit (Ferndale), MI
4/7 - Bug Jar - Rochester, NY
4/9 - The Plough and Stars - Cambridge, MA (w/ Rebecca Gates)
4/10 - AS220 - Providence, RI (w/ Rebecca Gates)
4/12 - Maxwell's - Hoboken, NJ (w/ Rebecca Gates)
4/13 - Barbes - Brooklyn, NY
4/14 - Littlefield - Brooklyn, NY (w/ Honey Ear Trio)
4/15 - TBA - Washington, DC
4/16 - TBA - Philadelphia, PA (w/ Aerial Photograph)
4/19 - TBA - New Orleans, LA
4/21 - Fusebox Festival - Austin, TX
4/22 - Fusebox Festival - Austin, TX
4/24 - Town House Basement - Venice, CA (w/ The Youngs)
4/25 - CSU Bakersfield - Bakersfield, CA (Performance & Workshop)
4/26 - TBA - Santa Barbara, CA
4/30 - The Woods - Portland, OR (w/ Wayne Horvitz's Pigpen reunion)
Update #5: Blue Cranes in Bay Area this week
For backers only,
Posted on December 7, 2010
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119
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on September 11, 2010.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
A Blue Cranes 1" train tour button. This button, available to anyone who donates, not only makes a nice addition to any lapel-- it makes you a stock holder in the Blue Cranes train tour. It entitles you to receive special missives (photos, journal entries, videos) via email during our month on the rails.
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The mp3 version of our new album, Observatories. Delivered directly to your inbox. [plus a train tour button]
Pledge $20 or more Pledge $20 or more
A signed copy of our new album, OBSERVATORIES, on CD. (plus a bonus EP...) Recorded and mixed by Jason Powers at Type Foundry Studios in Portland, this album features seven new originals and a cover of Horvitz's Love, Love, Love. Special guests include Timothy Young on guitar and a string trio. Beautiful cover artwork by Dylan McConnell. Mastered by Timothy Stollenwerk. -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- As a special bonus to Kickstarter supporters, people who order OBSERVATORIES will also receive a limited edition pre-release copy of a three song bonus EP. This EP, tracked and mixed by John Wagner at the beautiful SuperGiant Studios in West Linn, features Blue Cranes covering Blonde Redhead, Red House Painters, and David Bazan. Mastered by Gus Elg. [plus a train tour button]
Pledge $40 or more Pledge $40 or more
A limited edition hand screen-printed copy of OVERSEA ORBITS (Blue Cranes' Observatories Remixed). This compilation features songs from OBSERVATORIES that have been remixed, reworked, and re-envisioned by a group of highly talented and generous artists: Ethan Rose (Gus Van Sant collaborator), Jesse Johnson (Gulls / Evolutionary Jass Band), Leb Borgerson (Quiet Countries), Gavin Castleton (Ebu Gogo), Doug Theriault, JP Jenkins, Claudia Meza (Explode Into Colors), Brendan Bell (Jonny Classic and the Classic Johns), Elders, and more. [plus a signed copy of OBSERVATORIES, the 3 song EP, and a button]
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
A limited edition silk-screened train tour poster. Designed and hand screen-printed by Eric Redpath of Papercut Press. [plus a signed copy of OBSERVATORIES, OVERSEA ORBITS, the 3 song EP, and a button]
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A limited edition Blue Cranes train tour t-shirt. Designed and hand screen-printed by Eric Redpath of Papercut Press. [plus a signed copy of OBSERVATORIES, OVERSEA ORBITS, the 3 song EP, and a button]
Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more
An embroidered Blue Cranes trucker hat. Digitized and programmed into the embroidery machine by Keith Brush himself. [plus a signed copy of OBSERVATORIES, OVERSEA ORBITS, the 3 song EP, a train tour poster and a button]
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A limited edition hand-bound photo journal documenting our adventures across the country on the rails. [plus a signed copy of OBSERVATORIES, OVERSEA ORBITS, the 3 song EP, a train tour poster and a button]
Pledge $125 or more Pledge $125 or more
One-of-a-kind: a disposable camera filled with photos from the train tour. [plus a signed copy of OBSERVATORIES, OVERSEA ORBITS, the 3 song EP, the t-shirt, the poster, and a button]
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
A chance to score big with Sly Pig in a BOWLING LESSON. Learn from Joe as he teaches one of his favorite pastimes (besides working on his embouchure). [plus a signed copy of OBSERVATORIES, OVERSEA ORBITS, the 3 song EP, a train tour poster and a button]
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An musical instrument or composition lesson with any member of Blue Cranes. [plus a signed copy of OBSERVATORIES, OVERSEA ORBITS, the 3 song EP, a train tour poster and a button]
Pledge $300 or more Pledge $300 or more
Five origami paper cranes folded in gratitude by every member of the band using sheet music from the new album. [plus a signed copy of OBSERVATORIES, OVERSEA ORBITS, the 3 song EP, a the photo journal, a train tour poster and a button]
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
A duo improvised house concert with Reed Wallsmith and Sly Pig in gratitude for your support. [plus a signed copy of OBSERVATORIES, OVERSEA ORBITS, the 3 song EP, the t-shirt, the poster, the photo journal and a button]]
Pledge $2,000 or more Pledge $2,000 or more
A house concert with Blue Cranes in gratitude for your support. [plus a signed copy of OBSERVATORIES, OVERSEA ORBITS, the 3 song EP, the t-shirt, the poster, the photo journal and a button]
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"Wily, lyrical, evocative and bright " - Josef Woodard (Santa Barbara Independent)
Hailing from the fertile scene of Portland, Oregon, the Blue Cranes create music that is as invigorating as it is disarming. Working a thin line between improvisation and catchiness, Blue Cranes arrive at a unique place. They have found a way to make exploration seem like the most enjoyable process around. The group, composed of Reed Wallsmith (alto saxophone), Sly Pig (tenor saxophone), Rebecca Sanborn (keyboards), Keith Brush (acoustic bass), and Ji Tanzer (drums), began working together as a quintet in 2007 (originally recording as a quartet in 2006). Since then, the band has begun to reap the rewards of collective articulation: an individual sound that depends on the contributions of each member.
