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Iconoclast

Iconoclast is a duo from New York City comprised of Julie Joslyn (alto saxophone, live electronics, violin, vocals) and Leo Ciesa (drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals). Ciesa and Joslyn have been composing and performing together since 1987 and have developed a bold and distinctive sound. Iconoclast's music and performance is known for its intensity, physicality and "larger than duo" impact. Acoustic and electronic sounds exist side by side as the music moves between improvisation and composition without stylistic limitation.As a review in "Culture Catch" states "Falling in the cracks between genres, sounding like nobody else on the scene, Joslyn and Ciesa have carved out a brave nich for themselves as Iconoclast."

Iconoclast has performed extensively throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Ciesa and Joslyn have also performed at numerous renowned festivals, including the Jazz Od Nowa Festival in Torun, Poland; Avantgarde Jazz Festival in Imola, Italy; Audio Art Festival in Krakow, Poland; Sziget Festival in Budapest, Hungary; International Ring Ring Festival in Belgrade, Serbia; Pohyb-Zvuk-Prostor Festival in the Czech Republic; II Festiwal Muzyka z Mozgu in Bydgoszcz, Poland; Interzone International Festival in Novi Sad, Serbia; The Humanisticni Maraton in Slovenia; The DUMBO Arts Festival, Festival of Women Improvisers and NYU Independent Music Fest, in New York City. Iconoclast has been featured on various radio and television programs worldwide. Joslyn and Ciesa have done numerous radio and television interviews as well as live on-the-air concerts including WFMU, WBAI and TV Metropolis (Belgrade). ICONOCLAST is one of the artists featured in William Hooker’s groundbreaking film “The Lost Generation: Outside the Mainstream.”  The film premiered at The Vision Festival 2022 in NYC. Iconoclast composed and performed the title theme music for the cable television series "Labor at the Crossroads," and has been featured on the TV series "Welcome to Nocturnia (The Art World)." The duo composed and performed the music for the documentary film "Savage Acts: Wars, Fairs and Empire" and the website “The Lost Museum” (American Social History Productions, Inc.). Iconoclast’s music provides the soundtrack for the short films “The Bench” (Poland, 2010) and “Con gli occhi di domain”/“With Tomorrow’s Eyes” (Italy, 2006). Iconoclast contributed compositions to the compilation CDs “The NYFA Collection: 25 Years of New York New Music” (Innova, 2010) and "Transforms: The Nerve Events Project" (Cuneiform, 1993). The duo has collaborated and performed with noted Polish poet Andrzej Dorobek. Ciesa and Joslyn have received grants from Meet the Composer and from Arts International: The Fund for U.S. Artists at International Festivals and Exhibitions and are recipients of Artist's Fellowships in Music Composition from the New York Foundation for the Arts.

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1
Album Review

Iconoclast: Naked Rapture

Read "Naked Rapture" reviewed by Claudio Bonomi


Se state per partire per le vacanze e volete portarvi dietro qualcosa di veramente forte e amate Frank Zappa, John Zorn e i Lounge Lizards allora gli Iconoclast fanno per voi. Questo bizzarro e folle duo newyorchese formato da Julie Joslyn (sax alto, violino, voce, elettronica) e da Leo Ciesa (batteria, percussioni, tastiere e voce) ha appena dato alle stampe per la gloriosa e coraggiosa Fang Records il suo nono album, incluso il primo lavoro autoprodotto Sins ...

509
Multiple Reviews

Iconoclast: The Body Never Lies/The Dreadful Dance

Read "Iconoclast: The Body Never Lies/The Dreadful Dance" reviewed by Florence Wetzel


Iconoclast The Body Never Lies Fang Records 2006 Iconoclast The Dreadful Dance Fang Records 2006

If your ears have been begging for something different, it's time to check out Iconoclast. A vibrant duo consisting of Julie Joslyn and Leo Ciesa, Iconoclast has been playing and recording together almost 20 years. With their film ...

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2

Book / Magazine

"Joe Meek's Bold Techniques” Details The Iconoclastic British Producer’s Recording Secrets

Source: Barry Cleveland

Veteran music journalist Barry Cleveland (currently an editor at Guitar Player magazine) has published v.2 of the eBook Second Edition of his now cult classic, Joe Meek’s Bold Techniques. The eBook is available via Apple iTunes, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble for $9.99. Joe Meek’s Bold Techniques updates the 2001 print edition and features a new Introduction, an additional chapter, and a newly restored and remastered version of Meek’s legendary 1959 stereo album about life on the Moon, I Hear ...

67

Recording

Otis Taylor's 'Contraband' is Iconoclastic Trance Bluesman's New CD

Otis Taylor's 'Contraband' is Iconoclastic Trance Bluesman's New CD

Source: conqueroo

Otis Taylor's Contraband features Cassie Taylor, Larry Thompson, Anne Harris, Jon Paul Johnson, Chuck Campbell, Ron Miles, The Sheryl Renee Choir and more BOULDER, Colo.—Otis Taylor isn't defined by any single category. A musical alchemist and a true innovator, Taylor has never been afraid to experiment beyond the blues tradition. He's a master craftsman who has created his own signature “trance blues" style by melding haunting guitar and banjo work, syncopated rhythms and a combination of gruff vocals, shouts and ...

94

Performance / Tour

Jazz Iconoclast performing at Turtle Bay Music School

Jazz Iconoclast performing at Turtle Bay Music School

Source: Jillian MacNamara

The Music of Bobby Avey: A Solo Concert New York, NY—Bobby Avey, pianist & composer will be the first to present at Turtle Bay Music School's innaugural Jazz Series featuring some of New York's premier Jazz “up-and-comers." Bobby will present a first-rate concerts followed by a Q&A session. The Jazz Series is Thursday, April 14th at 9pm, free-of-charge and open to the public. This year's Jazz Series include: Bobby Avey, Piano, Thursday, April 14th, 9pm, The Richmond Room Pianist and ...

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Interview

Jazz Pianist Guillermo Klein Tackles Iconoclast 'Cuchi' Leguizamón

Jazz Pianist Guillermo Klein Tackles Iconoclast 'Cuchi' Leguizamón

Source: All About Jazz @ Spinner

There is a select list of musicians in jazz who are far from being a household name, but they have the respect if not outright adoration of their peers. Argentine composer/arranger/pianist Guillermo Klein is such an artist. He's released a handful of CDs under his own name since attending Boston's Berkelee College of Music from 1990 through 1992. His canvas has always been bigger bands, and he has undeniable knack for matching beautiful melodies to brilliant but unconventional arrangements. At ...

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Recording

Iconoclasts Random Touch Find "A Way from the Heard" with New CD Release

Iconoclasts Random Touch Find "A Way from the Heard" with New CD Release

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Algonquin, IL - Random Touch's Scott Hamill (guitars), James Day (keyboards) and Christopher Brown (drums/vocals) first collaborated in the 1970's. Pure improvisation was one among many sound experiments. Over time it became the preferred mode for music making. With the music of A Way From the Heard (Token Boy Records, 2009) Random Touch has arrived at a new level of expression. Rock and symphonic music are more fully merged on much of the album, and their long developed technique of ...

AllAboutJazz-New York: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=22980

AllAboutJazz-Italia:
http://italia.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=1186
http://italia.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=5576

Additional Reviews:

Dirty Jazz Selected:
Best CDs of 2010 —Matthew Marshall, Jazz Journalists Association
Recommended New Releases, October 2010 Andrey Henkin, All About Jazz-New York

“Iconoclast at Bowery Poetry Club -sometimes band names seem random but other times they don’t even tell half of the story.” —All About Jazz- New York (Twitter, October 16, 2010)

"If your ears have been begging for something different, it's time to check out Iconoclast

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Demolition of Wisdom

Fang Records
2022

buy

Driven to Defiance

Fang Records
2017

buy

Naked Rapture

Fang Records
2014

buy

Dirty Jazz

Fang Records
2010

buy

The Body Never Lies

Fang Records
2006

buy

The Dreadful Dance

Fang Records
2005

buy

Videos

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