ALPINE CLARITYErica von Kleist
featuring Gerald Clayton
This project and the interpretations of the
pieces therein is a reflection of the peace
of mind and artistic clarity Erica von
Kleist gained after moving to Montana
from New York two years ago.
Armed with over a decade of experience
touring and recording with some of the
world’s most notable musicians, Erica
made the decision to take her creative
energies to a place where she felt free to
explore.
Over the past six years, Erica has been called upon to play
flute in several ensembles, including Chris
Potter’s Tentet, Darcy Jame’s Argue’s Secret Society, the Jazz
at Lincoln Center Orchestra and several
broadway shows. This experience helped her gain notoriety as one
of most unique flautists in the jazz
and new music scene. “Alpine Clarity” is Erica’s statement as a
classically trained flautist coming directly
out of the NYC jazz world.
In March of 2014, Erica launched a non-profit initiative called
Groovetrail in her home of Whitefish, Montana. Groovetrail provides
live music and music education for local schools, hospitals,
shelters,
veterans homes, and other places in the
community where there is a lack of access
to live music. The mission is to bring the joy
and healing nature of music to everyone, and
to create a source of regular employment for
local musiciains as well. To launch her
initiative, Erica hosted a concert that featured
her friend and colleague Gerald Clayton. The
pair performed for the community, worked
with local students onstage, and premiered
“Deke”, a piece written by Darcy James
Argue specifically for Alpine Clarity.
“Alpine Clarity is a reflection of who I am, not as a jazz or
classical musician, but as an interpreter of music”
Erica and Gerald then recorded four tracks at Snowghost
Studios in Whitefish, engeneered by Brett Allen. Also
featured on the album is Richie Barshay on cajon,
Rebecca Nelson on wood flute, and Don Caverly on
acoustic bass. Alpine Clarity was released in June, and
twenty percent of the proceeds from record sales are going
directly to benefit Groovetrail.
The album features selections by Maurice Ravel, Ralph
Vaughan Williams, studies by Ernesto Kohler and originals
by Darcy James Argue and Erica von Kleist. Although
much of the repertoire on Alpine Clarity is usually tauted
as “classical”, Erica approached the performance from a
non-traditional perspective.
Erica will be embarking on a CD release tour in 2015, and is
hoping to perform this music at venues
where the audience will appreciate the music for what it is,
whether they are drawn to classical or
jazz genres. Alpine Clarity is a reflection of the space,
breath, and peace that has influenced Erica’s
creative prowess, and she hopes to share it with audiences far
and wide.
For Booking contact the Northwest Artist Syndicate:
[email protected] (406) 250-2233
Also visit www.ericavonkleist.com
About Erica von Kleist
Saxophonist and flautist Erica von Kleist
honed her skills at the Juilliard School and
recived the first Bachelor’s Degree in jazz in
the school’s history. She then went on to
perform and record with Wynton Marsalis,
the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Chris Potter,
Sean Jones, Darcy James Argue’s Secret
Society, release three albums as a
bandleader, and write a music theory book
for beginning improvisers. A recipient of
several awards from ASCAP, the Martin Segal
Award from Lincoln Center, and several
mentions in the Downbeat Magazine Critics
and Readers polls, Erica now lives in
Montana where she runs two successful
businesses, travels the world giving lectures
on jazz theory, and tours regularly with
several east coast ensembles, including Rufus
Reid’s Quiet Pride, and Secret Society.
“All music is at the mercy of an artist’s interpretation, and
this record is a reflection of how these pieces resonated with me,
in the purest way.”
