Discover Stevan Kovacs Tickmayer (avant)

Recently discovered this composer and multi-instrumentalist by a recommendation from my friend over at Avant Music News (cool website by the way www.avantmusicnews.com).

TICKMAYER, STEVAN KOVACS

Born in 1963 in Novi Sad, Vojvodina (ex-Yugoslavia) as part of the Hungarian minority there, Stevan Kovacs Tickmayer currently lives and works in France (since 1991). He studied piano and double bass and then continued to composition studies in the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad as a student of Rudolf Brucci and went on to The Hague in the Netherlands to complete these studies where he graduated with fellow composers Louis Andriessen and Diderick Wagenaar.
In 1986, during his studies, he established his ensemble called Tickmayer Formatio, where he mingled his classical training with jazz and avant-rock. This group was active until 2001.

His collaborations range between his classical and non-classical activities.
As his websites tells us:
“His compositions have been performed by Gidon Kremer, Martha Argerich, Kremerata Baltica, Keller Quartet, David Geringas, Roman Kofman, Yuri Bashmet (as conductor), Tatiana Vassilieva, Alexei Ogrintchouk,The Moscow Solists, The Netherlands Wind Ensemble, De Volharding, Seattle Chamber Players, Hungarian Symphony Orchestra, Le Concert Impromptu and many others.

As for his non-classical work he worked, recorded and collaborated with:
“Chris Cutler , Fred Frith , Robert Drake , Valentin Clastrier , Peter Kowald , Szabados György , Paul Termos , Grencso Istvan , Dresch Mihaly ; The Science Group (one of the founders and composer) and Thinking Plague . He also wrote numerous arrangements for Iva Bittova , Kremerata Baltica and The Netherlands Wind Ensemble .

For more about his many activities and accomplishments, visit his website and read his CV.


Website:
http://www.tickmayer.com/

Audio samples here:
http://www.tickmayer.com/audio.htm


I have 3 of his releases (including by the Formatio) and would recommend his latest from 2008:

2008
Cold Peace Counterpoints

Hm, never heard of this guy. Sounds interesting! I'll try to listen...

The "avant-proggers" should love this, I think.
It is, as several others in the avant-prog "genre", less rock but not devoid of the rock attitude (and/or instruments).

I'm only really familiar with his work in Science Group, which is highly impressive stuff indeed; challenging, to be sure, but (perhaps) surprisingly catchy and memorable as well, which isn't always the case with this particular strand of contemporary music. I keep meaning to investigate some of his other work, but as always there's so much music and so little time... 

This music is surprisingly catchy as well. There is definitely a case for a rock 'attitude' to be made here.

But most importantly, it's really wonderful music. Thank you Avestin!
 

avestin wrote: Currently I'm focusing on his 2008 release, Cold Peace Counterpoints, and I have two more to go on to afterwards. To me this is very rewarding music, that needs full attention otherwise much is missed.

I see that this is available on emusic.  I'll be obtaining this in short order.

Seyo wrote: . I can see his connection with some notable avant-rock musicians like Cutler, Frith and Thinking Plague