February 2011

JV debut at the world famous Bar Next Door this Thursday February 10th, 2011! See events page for details.

A video of the November 2009 performance of Genes and Jazz: The Music of Cell Biology is now available for free online viewing thru PBS Boston affiliate WGBH's Forum Network in conjunction with Boston Museum of Science. Enjoy!

JV and Harold Varmus will be guests on a special Science and Jazz edition of Jazz Connections hosted by Jeff Haas on Interlochen Public Radio. To air on Saturday February 5th at 7PM. Tune in at 91.5FM if you're near or in Interlochen, Michigan, or listen live online

Genes and Jazz Booked for Smithsonian

January 2009- The father-son collaboration Genes and Jazz will take stage again at the Smithsonian's Baird Auditorium in Washington D.C. after having completed two nights at the Guggenheim last November in New York. The program and presentation will be expanded to incorporate more imagery, music, and science play-by-play--especially in the controversial third act about cancer. Jacob's music, reflecting the cell biology, incorporates jazz-based dissections of melodic cells at times interwoven in mechanistic minimalism; with Coltrane-like expressionistic refrains, and bawdy bar-house blues shuffles. Harold Varmus narrates. The performance is scheduled for Friday May 29th at 7PM.

WJFF Feature

January 2009- NPR affiliate WJFF of the Catskills in New York will present a two-hour show combining an interview with selected tracks from Terminal Stillness, All the Things We Still Can Be, and a segment of Genes and Jazz. The show, Monday Afternoon Classics with Gandalf, typically features classical composers and instrumentalists, so will especially focus on Varmus long-form works. Visit our press section soon for an archive recording of the show.

Darwin's Natural Heir Score in Works

December 2008- Jacob has been asked to provide a score for Windfall Productions' biopic on evolutionary biologist E.O. Wilson entitled Darwin's Natural Heir. The documentary originally aired last year on the PBS Nova series (with a different score). The new score for trumpet, flute, clarinet, piano, cello, viola, and bass will be recorded in the Spring and presented at the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation's frequent banquets around the world. Harrison Ford narrates in the film.

Guggenheim to Present Father-Son Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

November 2008- The Guggenheim Museum's Works and Process Series will include two performances of Genes and Jazz on the 16th and 17th of November starting at 7:30PM both nights. The piece combining film, slides, narration by Harold Varmus, and Jacob's score, tells the story of how the work of cells and evolutionary principles affect cancer's growth and remission. With Erica von Kleist (flute, alto and soprano saxophone) , Kristjan Randalu (piano), Kevin Thomas (bass), Brian Woodruff (drums). Check our press page soon for reviews, podcasts and more.

Woodruff CD to be released thru Crows' Kin

October 2008- Drummer Brian Woodruff's recording The Tarrier -as in dawdler, not dog--will be released thru the Crows' Kin label next March. The independent label founded by Varmus in 2006 will now be a cooperative endeavor with long- time collaborator Woodruff. The album showcases Woodruff originals played by a piano-less sextet including Varmus (cornet, trumpet), Lisa Parrott (alto and soprano saxophones), Alan Ferber (trombone), Nate Radley (guitar), Matt Clohesy (bass) and Woodruff (drums). The album was recorded in January 2007 at Park West Studios in Brooklyn.

All the Things We Still Can Be Airplay Updates: April 30th- #40 for CMJ issue 1054; April 24th- #37 for CMJ issue 1053; April 17th- #23 for CMJ issue 1052; April 2nd, All the Things comes in at #38 on the CMJ Jazz Charts for issue 1051; March 23rd- All the Things We Still Can Be Featured on the nationally syndicated show Jazz After Hours with Jim Wilke. All the Things We Still Can Be Makes CMJ Jazz Charts March 18th, 2008- The JV debut album All the Things We Still Can Be came in at number thirty-nine on the CMJ (College Music Journal) Jazz Charts for issue 1049.

JV Receives Grant for 6-Part 2008 Library Series

January 2008- JV was awarded a New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Individal Artist grant thru Queens Council on the Arts to present six concerts, free and accessible to the public, in four different Queens Library branches' auditoriums this year. Each concert will include a different instrumentation and theme. Five of the six will focus on Varmus originals, with one American Songbook concert scheduled for Forest Hills in October. Stay tuned for schedule information.