Alan Lechusza Aquallo
Alan Lechusza Short Bio (175 words):
Native scholar, performer, composer Alan Lechusza Aquallo, PhD (Luiseno/Maidu) is quickly becoming one of the countries top advocates for Native youth and scholarship. Alan Lechusza is currently the Native representative for the National Associate of Independent Schools (NAIS), Scholar-in-Residence for Young Native Scholars and Inter-Tribal Youth (YNS/ITY) and the Faculty Advisor for the Native American Student Alliance at Palomar College in addition to sitting on many Advisory Boards for Native youth and education. Alan Lechusza's interdisciplinary research has been received around the globe including: The American Technology and Music Instruction (ATMI), Queen’s College (London), Southwest Popular Culture Conference, and The Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM) just to name a few. His groundbreaking work on Native Hip Hop has been followed up by numerous publications and guest lectures at universities/colleges throughout Canada, Europe and the U.S. Alan Lechusza is an active performer/composer who can be heard on such major recording labels as Tzadik, 9Winds, pFmentum Lira Productions. More information can be found about Alan Lechusza Aquallo at:
http://web.mac.com/blackphonerecords
Current CV:
EDUCATION SUMMARY
B.M. Commercial Music/Woodwind Performance: Calif. State Univ. Long Beach, 1996
M.F.A. Composition/Woodwind Performance: Univ. of Calif., Irvine, 1998
Ph.D. Critical Studies/Experimental Practices: Univ. of Calif., San Diego, 2002/09
TRIBAL AFFILIATION
‘Ata’axum (Luiseno)/Maidu
La Jolla Indian Reservation; Riverside County, CA
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY (Performance and Lecture)
Performance/Individual Instrument and Conducting:
Direct/conduct, instruct (traditional pedagogy through contemporary technique, organize ensembles, compose/arrange for ensembles and individual instruments from beginning - advanced level in different genres/styles.
Instrumental Instruction: All Flutes, Oboe/English Horn, All Clarinets, All Saxophones, Bassoons, Global Ethnic Aerophones
Conducting (Repertoire range from Standard/Traditional Literature through Contemporary/20-21st Century Music): Full Orchestra, Chamber Ensembles (traditional ensembles and various instrumentation ensembles), Jazz Ensembles (traditional Big Band, chamber ensembles, various instrumentation ensembles, etc.), Choral (mixed/specific choirs), World Music Ensembles, Percussion Ensembles, Guitar Ensembles, Cello Quartets, Saxophone Quartets/Trios/Orchestras, Numerous Mixed Ensembles
Lecture:
Lectured, researched, developed curriculum and conducted workshops/seminars, managed/produced outreach programs in the following areas:
History and Theory of Popular Music: Jazz, Rock, Blues, Swing, Hip-Hop, Punk, Reggae, Contemporary Music
Music in Film, Television and Theatre: History, Theory, Philosophy, Critical and Cultural Inquiry,
Music Theory and Composition: Jazz, Commercial Music, Western European Classical, Arranging for all genres/styles/ensembles (Western European Traditional through Commercial Music), Recording/Engineering/Production Techniques (Analog and Digital), Film Composing (Compositions/re-scoring: Silent Films, Theatre Productions, Trailers and Television shorts)
Native American Studies: Powwow Culture, History, Cultural Studies, Music and Dance, California Native History, Contemporary Native Music (Rock, Jazz, Blues, Hip Hop, Film Scores, New Age/Native Flute, Punk, Reggae, Western Classical Music), Traditional Music (Northern and Southern Traditions), Contemporary Native Art
Klezmer Music: History, Theory, Critical Practice and Pedagogy (Traditional through Avant-garde), Identity Construction through Avant-Klezmer
African-American Critical and Diasporic Studies: The Music of Africa, History/Diaspora, Critical Literature Studies, Ethnic and Urban Studies
Asian Music: History, Theory, Critical Practice, Contemporary Cross-Cultural Collaborations, specialties: North/South Indian instrumental styles, Tuvan vocal/instrumental styles, Popular North/South Indian Music, Noh Theatre, Javanese/Bali Gamelan Music
TEACHING EXPERIENCE (Taught and/or conducted seminars, lectures and workshops at the following educational institutions)
Sage Hill School, Newport Coast
Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego
Torrey Pines High School, San Diego
California State University, Long Beach
Janacek Conservatory of Music, Brno, Czech. Republic
Chopin Conservatory of Music, Warsaw, Poland
San Diego City College
San Jacinto Junior College
Palomar College
Grossmont College
University of California, Irvine
University of California, Riverside
University of California, San Diego
University of California, Berkeley
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Contemporary Center for the Arts, Santa Fe New Mexico
College of Santa Fe, New Mexico
California Institute for the Arts (CalArts), Los Angeles
University of San Diego (USD), San Diego
Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Ohio
University of Akron, Ohio
Young Native Scholars Program (Education Outreach Program; UCSD, Palomar College)
The New School (School for New Immigrants to the U.S.), New York
Occidental College, Los Angeles
APPOINTMENTS
Palomar College Native American Student Alliance/AISES, Faculty Advisor (2009 - present)
The Music Factory, Chair; Advisory Board, (2007/08 – present)
Young Native Scholars Board of Directors; Scholar-in-Residence (2000 – present)
Open Sky Productions, Director of Musical Affairs/Advisory Board, (2006 – present)
IT (“Inclusion Tank”) Founding Faculty Coordinator, Sage Hill School (2006 – present)
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) “Call To Action Committee” Native American Representative; Member 2007/08
San Diego City College Music Society, Faculty Advisor 2004 - 05
Black Phone Records and Coffee & Eagle Feathers Productions, Executive Director, (1998 – present)
PUBLICATIONS (articles, essays, publications and papers)
This is NOT L.A. – A Critical Look at Punk in Musical Theatre
Rock n’ roll adopted a baby and called him Geronimo – Pan-Indian Identity in Rock N’ Roll
The Good, The Bad, The Born At 18 – Deconstruction of Native American Identity in Hip-Hop
The Early Compositional Developments of Anthony Braxton
The Music of John Carter
Side A/ Side B – A Detailed Investigation of a Large Ensemble Project
Raps to Remember, Raps to Represent; The Construction of Contemporary Native Identity in Hip Hop
The Music of Contemporary Native America
Music and Communication; Contemporary Native American perspectives on DJ-ing, Television/Media, Radio and the Internet
Powwow: Culture and Music
Hip Hop in Post-Modern (Native) Nations
Without Rezervations: Hip Hop in the Native American Experience
Faces in the Rocks: Multi-generational Constructions in Contemporary California Native Music
The Signifyin’ Frybread
All that and Frybread Too?!: The history of Native Popular Musics
How the Native was Won; A critical inquiry of the contemporary Native Arts Movement (post-1960s)
TRAPA: A Multi-media Art Experience
How Much is that Indian in the Window?: Contemporary Native Music and the internet
We are Not Machines: Youth Culture and the Music Industry
Blues and the Abstract Native: A Critical History of Native Americans and the Blues
Talk about It!, The historical trauma of Native men in higher education
You Call that Indian Music?, post-colonial resistance in California Native Bird Songs
Natives say “how?”, the global economics of Native Hip Hop
You Call that Indian Music?, California Bird Songs
INSTRUCTORS
Flutes – Dr. John Barcellona, James Newton
Oboe/English Horn/Bassoon – Greg Donovetsky
Clarinets – Robert Zelickman
Saxophones – Lawrence McCoy, Leo Potts
All Woodwinds/Ethnic Aerophones – Vinny Golia
Music Theory/Composition – Dr. Martin Herman, Dr. Bruce Miller, Dr. Justice Matthews, James Newton, Dr. Christopher Dobrian, Vinny Golia
Jazz Theory/Composition – John Prince, James Newton, Dr. Christopher Dorian, Kai Akagi, Charles Owens, Vinny Golia, Anthony Davis
Music Technology – John Prince, Dr Martin Herman, Marty Brenner, Dr. Christopher Dobrian, Dr. Christopher Adler, George Lewis, Phil Curtis, Joe Cusera, Miller Puckett
Music Buisness – John Prince, Kai Akagi, Charles Owens, James Newton, Vinny Golia, Anthony Davis, George Lewis
ENSEMBLES
ARCANUM 1995 – 2000; 2005 – current (all woodwinds/compositions)
Alan Lechusza Ensemble, 2005 – current (all woodwinds/compositions)
Arch-I-Tech, 2006 – current (all woodwinds/compositions)
IGUANA, 2004 – current (all woodwinds/compositions)
Gornish Helfin Trio, 2004 - 2006 (Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Oboe)
SoNu, 2002 - 2005 (all woodwinds)
The Earl Howard Trio, 2002 – current (all woodwinds)
San Diego Clarinet Quartet, 2002 - current (Bass Clarinet)
Get Libre Collective, 2002 - 2005 (all woodwinds)
The San Diego Wind Ensemble, 2001 - 2004 (Bass Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone, Oboe)
Jaagritti, 2000 - 2005 (Shani, Oboe, Ethnic Aerophones)
La Jolla Symphony Orchestra, 2000 - current (Alto, Baritone Saxophone Soloist)
Forward Funk, 2000 - 2005 (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone Saxophones, Bass Clarinet, Flutes)
AMH Trio, 2000 – 2004 (Baritone Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Bb Clarinet, Flutes)
Radius, 2000 - 2005 (Piccolo, Alto Flute, C-Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone)
MAD Quartet/Trio, 2000 - current (Alto Saxophone, C-Flute, Bb Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone)
The Michael Vlatkovich Ensembles, 1999 - current (Tenor Saxophone, Clarinets, Piccolo, Flutes)
Christopher Adler Trio, 1999 - current (Baritone, Tenor, Soprano Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute)
Quartetto Nuevo, 1999 - 2007 (Oboe, Soprano Saxophone, Clarinets, Indigenous Flutes of the Americas)
Vinny Golia Large Ensemble, 1999 - current (All Woodwinds)
SONOR, 1999 - current (Oboe, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, ContraAlto Bass Clarinet, Alto, Baritone Saxophone)
Adler/Lechusza Duo, 1999 - current (All Woodwinds, Compositions)
The Yellow Chair Ensemble, 1998 - current (All Woodwinds)
Charles Owens Saxophone Summit, 1997 - current (Baritone Saxophone)
Not Wet Paint, 1995 - 2000 (Clarinet, Bass Clarinet)
The Aulos Saxophone Quartet, 1995 - 2001 (Baritone Saxophone)
Leo Potts Saxophone Quartet, 1998 - 1999 (Baritone Saxophone)
Ark Ensemble, 1995 - 1999 (All Woodwinds)
U.C. Irvine Orchestra and Opera, 1995 - 1999 (Principal Oboe, English Horn)
The James Newton New Music Ensemble, 1995 - 1998 (All Woodwinds)
10th & 12th World Saxophone Congress, 1994, 2000 (Alto, Baritone Saxophone)
Long Beach State Woodwind Quintet, 1991 - 1995 (Oboe, English Horn)
Long Beach Orchestra and Opera Company, 1990 - 1996 (Principal Oboe, English Horn)
Long Beach Wind Ensemble, 1990 - 1996 (Principal Oboe, Principal Alto Saxophone)
Leo Potts Saxophone Ensemble, 1989 - 1999 (Soprano, Alto, Baritone, Bass Saxophone)
PERFORMED/WORKED WITH
Bertrum TuretskyGeorge LewisBenny Maupin
Vinny GoliaAnthony DavisJ.D. Parron
Robert ZelickmanJohn Fonville I.W.Leo Smith
Harvey SollbergerMichael VlatkovichGreg Donovetsky
Leo PottsJack RiedlingHamiet Bluiett
Jacquline BobeckDr. Martin HermanEd Harkins
Charles OwensPeter KowaldOliver Lake
James NewtonDr. Art DavisBilly Higgins
Sherman FergusonGeorge HarperKai Akagi
Anthony Braxton Earl Howard David Wessel
Jimmy Cheatum Ken Rosser Kim Richmond
William Roper George Harper G. E. Stinson
Anne LeBaron Anne Le Berge Ellen Burr
Bill Plake Don Byron G. Aguilar
Lisle Ellis John Purcell Steve Coleman
Alex Cline Stewart Liebig Hamied Drake
Rob Blakeslee Mark Dresser Anthony Burr
William Houston Rand Steiger Steve Adams
Phillip Greenleaf John Raskin Philip Gelb
Susan Allen Michael Dessen Jeff Kaiser
Liz Phillips Rent Ramos Matt Davignon
COMPOSITIONS COMMISSIONED BY
Christopher Garcia Percussion Ensemble (Los Angeles, Ca.)
Arizona State University Percussion Ensemble (Tempe, Az.)
Santa Barbara New Music Ensemble (Santa Barbara, Ca.)
NOISE (San Diego, Ca.)
Sage Hill School (Newport Coast, Ca.)
GroundWorks Dance Theatre (Cleveland, Ohio)
Dr. Christopher Adler (San Diego, Ca.)
SoNu (San Diego/Los Angeles, Ca.)
Diane Green/San Diego Dance Theatre (San Diego, Ca.)
C.S.U.L.B. Saxophone Ensemble (Long Beach, Ca.)
Deborah Lhouse Dance Company (San Diego/San Francisco, Ca. New York, NY)
San Diego Clarinet Quartet (San Diego, Ca.)
Rebecca Romero Dance Company (Los Angeles, Ca.)
China Clippers (San Diego, Ca.)
Pugs 4 Peace Saxophone Quartet (Long Beach/Los Angeles/Orange County, Ca.)
Aulos Saxophone Quartet (Long Beach/Orange County, Ca.)
MAD Quartet/Trio (Albuquerque, NM/Los Angeles, Ca.)
Leo Potts (Orange County, Ca.)
Charles Owens Jazz Orchestra (Irvine/Los Angeles, Ca.)
Arcanum (Irvine/Long Beach, Ca.)
Slippers (Long Beach/Orange County, Ca.)
Better Yeti (Long Beach, Ca.)
C.S.U.L.B. Brass Quintet (Long Beach, Ca.)
Yellow Chair Ensemble (San Diego/Los Angeles, Ca.)
Pocket Sized Planet (San Diego/Los Angeles, Ca.)
Derek Keller/Colin McCallister Guitar Duo (San Diego, Ca.)
Torrey Pines High School Mixed Choir (Del Mar, Ca.)
Torrey Pines High School Jazz Band (Del Mar, Ca.)
Tany Ling (Ventura, Ca.)
Christopher Charbenneau (Long Beach, Ca.)
San Diego Wind Ensemble (San Diego, Ca.)
DISCOGRAPHY
Arcanum – Self-Titled Debut recording, Black Phone Records 2007
Christopher Adler – Compositions, Ars Nova 2007/2008
Alan Lechusza Ensemble – Trapa (excerpt), Black Phone Records 2007
Alan Lechusza – Electro-acoustic Solo Flute, Black Phone Records 2007 (limited edition)
Derek Keller Ensemble – Impositions and Consequences, Tzadik 2007
Martin Torres Big Band – Poetry, 2005/06
Adler/Lechusza Duo – Mineralia, pfMentum, 2006
Ryland Couchard - Carousel Waltz (arrangements, orchestrations, all woodwinds), Swim Slowly Records 2004
The Alan Lechusza Quartet – Live in L.A., Black Phone Records 2005/06
The Earl Howard Trio – Live at the Stone (NYC): limited release
Alan Lechusza/Christopher Adler – Mineralia, pFMentum 2005
Alan Lechusza/IGUANA – loose in l.a., Black Phone Records 2004
Robert Jacobson, Bill Barrett, Alan Lechusza – The music of Gornish Helfin, Banana Bread Records 2004
MAD Trio – Live in New Mexico vlm. 2, Plutonium Records 2004 (limited edition)
Alan Lechusza – side a/ side b #5 (vlm. I and II), Black Phone Records 2004
Adler/Aguilar/Lechusza – First Meeting, Black Phone Records 2002/04 (limited edition)
SoNu – Sounds from the Source, 9Winds Records 2003/04
The Earl Howard Trio – Now Hear This, Black Phone Records 2003 (limited edition)
Pocket Sized Planet – Hear the New Planet! (EP) PSP Records 2003/04
Alan Lechusza - Clarinets, Black Phone Records 2003 (limited edition)
Alan Lechusza - Saxophones, Black Phone Records 2003 (limited edition)
Alan Lechusza - side a/ side b #4, Black Phone Records 2003
China Clippers - China Clippers (arrangements, orchestrations, all woodwinds), ir Records 2003
MAD Quartet - New Mexico Live!, Plutonium Records 2003
The Yellow Chair Ensemble - Live at Lira, Black Phone Records 2003
Alan Lechusza - Solo selections, Zerx Records 2002/03
Burt Turetzky, Ed Harkins, Alan Lechusza - Imporivsations One, Black Phone Records 2002
Quartetto Nuevo - El Musico, Lira Productions Records 2002
Christopher Adler Trio - Transcontinental, 9Winds Records 2002
Vinny Golia Large Ensemble - Live at CalArts 2002, 9Winds 2002
Christopher Adler Trio with Michael Vlatkovich - Doctor! Doctor!, Black Phone Records 2002
Christopher Adler Trio with Michael Dessen - Get Out of My Movie!, Black Phone Records 2002
Forward Funk - LIVE at Galoka!, Roots First Productions 2002
Alan Lechusza - Solo (Baritone Saxophone), Artship Productions 2002
Alan Lechusza - side a/side b #3, Black Phone Records 2002
Alan Lechusza - Solo, Zerx Records 2002
AMH Trio - Live at the Field & Frame, Plutonium Records 2001
AMH Trio - Live earshot, Zerx Records 2001
Christopher Adler Trio - Midnight Sessions, Black Phone Records 2001
Christopher Adler Trio - Live at Galoka, Black Phone Records 2001
MAD Trio - Live at Plan B, Plutonium Records 2001
MAD Quartet - Witches of Ignesi, Plutonium Records 2001
Alan Lechusza - side a/ side b #2, Black Phone Records 2001
Del Bybee Big Band - With Guest, Bybee Productions 2001
Alan Lechusza - Pictures from a Homeless Man, Black Phone Records 2001
ir - Hunting Dragons, Metamorph Productions 2001
Michael Vlatkovich Ensemble – Live in L.A., Happy Music Productions 2001
Modern Yak Love - this is my foot, Roots First Productions 2001
Pat Shaw Ensemble - Times Two, Black Phone Records 2001
Christopher Adler/Alan Lechusza -Pleistocene, Black Phone Records 2000
Alan Lechusza - …at any hour…, Black Phone Records 2000
Aulos Saxophone Quartet - the sky is always beautiful, Black Phone Records 2000
Not Wet Paint - Not Wet Paint, Black Phone Records 2000
Arcanum - live…., Black Phone Records 2000
Vinny Golia Large Ensemble - Live in Oakland 1999, 9Winds 1999
