Photo credit: Nicholas Karlin (https://www.instagram.com/nicholaskarlin/)
In finite geometry, the Fano plane (after Gino Fano) is the finite projective plane of order 2. It is the finite projective plane with the smallest possible number of points and lines: 7 points and 7 lines, with 3 points on every line and 3 lines through every point. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fano_plane)
In this musical context, Fanoplane is an improvisational project focused on projecting the infinite gifts of the Muse.
Fanoplane’s seed was planted in a duo performance by Bob Boilen and Ted Zook (https://soundcloud.com/uberepic-productions/cd-cellar-boilen-zook). Following that, Bob sat in for a couple of performances with the Lost Civilizations experimental music project (http://lost-civilizations.tumblr.com/), then several performances with Heterodyne (https://the-heterodyne-project.tumblr.com/).
Fanoplane’s performances are unscored, unrehearsed and improvised extemporaneously on the spot.
Past performances
March 31, 2019 debut at the Corcoran: in addition to Bob Boilen and Ted Zook, Fanoplane’s debut at the Corcoran included Jerry Busher (percussion), Doug Kallmeyer (bass; electronics), Maggie Gilmore (vocalizations; flute) and Sonia Maria (violin). The performance was unscored, unrehearsed and improvised extemporaneously on the spot; it was the first time that all of these musicians performed together.
May 25, 2019 at Baltimore’s Function Coworking Community: on May 25, Fanoplane shared the bill with JOY ON FIRE (http://www.joyonfire.com/) and Sonic Eddy (https://soniceddy.bandcamp.com) at Baltimore’s Function Coworking Community (https://befunction.al/). Fanoplane’s lineup for this performance: Patrick Whitehead (Baltimore School for the Arts; quarter-tone Flügelhorn and trumpet), Ted Zook (NS Design Omnibass strung as a basscello), NPR’s Bob Boilen (“All Songs Considered”)(ARP synth) & Sonia Maria (violin). . Unscored, unrehearsed and improvised extemporaneously on the spot – and it was the first time that these four musicians had all performed together!
June 28, 2019 at RhizomeDC: JOY ON FIRE invited Fanoplane to share the bill on June 28 at RhizomeDC (http://www.rhizomedc.org/). Also performing: Love Trio (featuring the divine Sarah Hughes (https://www.sarahmariehughes.com/) Joy on Fire () punk-jazz quartet (featurng Dan Gutstein), and Corey Thuro ((https://coreythuro.bandcamp.com) and SoundCloud page (https://soundcloud.com/coreythuro).) solo mandolin. Together, these musicians combine to overthrow the tepid tendencies of contemporary music.
August 1, 2019 at Dew Drop Inn DC: GREX (https://www.grexsounds.com/) invited Fanoplane and Sonic Eddy (https://soniceddy.bandcamp.com) to perform at Dew Drop Inn DC; details: https://august-1-at-dew-drop-inn-dc.tumblr.com/
September 14, 2019 at Hyattsville Porchfest
Fanoplane performed as part of Hyattsville’s PorchFest (https://www.facebook.com/events/487607338708313/). PorchFest was a family-friendly community performance event, appropriate for all ages. The focal points were a variety of musical performers ranging from acoustic to electric, jazz and Celtic harp as well as poetry and story telling. In its entirety, Porchfest included 30 Performers on 10 porches.
November 25, 2019: Loop 2.4.3. and Fanoplane at Galaxy Hut!
On November 25, Brooklyn-based Loop 2.4.3 and DMV’s Fanoplane performed at Arlington’s iconic Galaxy Hut (https://galaxyhut.com/), located at 2711 Wilson Blvd. Loop 2.4.3 (https://www.loop243.com/) is a Brooklyn-based “open format”, collaborative ensemble, led by composer/performer Thomas Kozumplik. The group has a bent for exploring the vast musical possibilities of percussion instruments, inspired by an artistic coming-of-age in room 243.
Anders Thueson’s SongPo Radio program about the November 25, 2019 performance is available here: http://bit.ly/35gUhMP ; it starts with opener Loop 2.4.3; Fanoplane’s segment starts at ~27:00 (I was unable to “rewind” this MixCloud posting to zero in on the exact start … ).