One of the most rewarding projects we've been involved with lately involves a pair of new CDs and a release event spotlighting multifaceted composer/percussionist John Hollenbeck. The CDs: Eternal Interlude, featuring the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble, and Rainbow Jimmies, including chamber works played by Todd Reynolds, Matt Moran, Claudia Quintet, Ethos Percussion Group, and the composer himself. The event: a virtually unprecedented triple bill at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC, with sets by three of John's ensembles. Exciting, yet potentially challenging from a PR perspective, given that John's music exists in a zone where jazz, contemporary classical composition, and world music intersect...sounds beyond genre. Our larger goal, of course, was to help create that indefinable "buzz" the helps raise awareness of an artist's accomplishments across a wide range of media.

For this project, we partnered with the excellent Ann Braithwaite of Braithwaite & Katz Communications, who was charged with securing coverage for Eternal Interlude in the jazz press, where John is best known. Our brief was to promote the LPR show to NYC media across the board, and gain visibility for John among classical/new music writers in general. Happily, we were successful on all counts. Eternal Interlude has been widely (and glowingly) reviewed, landing on several "Best of 2009" lists. For our part, John was profiled in the NY Observer, the concert was previewed in the Village Voice (a Voice Choice), Time Out New York, New York and The New Yorker (both in the classical sections) and The New York Times, which then ran a stunning review of the show. A few days later, the announcement came that Eternal Interlude has been nominated for a Grammy -- a bold choice, according to the LA Times. Here's hoping for a win, John!!