Maverick – An overview of the career and activities of Daniel Kientzy

Website(s) : http://www.kientzy.org/

Biography

Drake Mabry, composer, has lived in France since 1988. His works have been performed around the world and he plays the saxophone, oboe, bamboo clarinet and Turkish ney.
He has taught at several CEFEDEMs and was a member of the Committee of Experts of the Ministry of Culture.
Drake Mabry, born January 20, 1950 in Iowa City, comes from a family of painters but began his artistic career as an oboist in symphony orchestras, before focusing on saxophone , flute and clarinet playing in orchestras and jazz ensembles.

Since the 1980s, he has added activities in painting, photography and poetry.

More information

My presentation (in collaboration with Daniel Kientzy) will focus on the current innovative projects of this legend of contemporary music as well as trace the angular pathway which brought him here. From his early years playing electric bass guitar in a pop band, through his days as a double bass player in an opera orchestra and the viola gamba in early music ensembles and finally to the moment he decides to devote his artistic life to playing the seven members of the saxophone family.

Today, Nova-Musica, in collaboration with Daniel Kientzy, is working towards several projects: the creation of an internet radio station specializing in the over 650 works written for him; preparing for the opening of a museum featuring his instruments (including the tenor saxophone with which he began his studies) and objects that have followed his career; and recording still new pieces being written for him. Some recent recordings have featured Daniel Kientzy playing with the Fender Rhodes piano, the Hohner Clavinet, the Farfisa and Hammond organ as well as with the Turkish ney, kemence and saz.

The talk will also explore how over the years he had communicated his research through books (notably Saxologie), publications, recordings and concerts.

The conference will be joined by moments of recordings and images illustrating his singular approach to the saxophone and music.