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2009Theo's Back With The Friction!
New CD "Ye Shanghai" Now Available World-Wide
Latest Press
Alec and Willow - Double Sax Attack!
Alec at Cabaret with the Iron Legion!
2008'More Than Jazz'Video Posted
Erica Lee with Friction Five...Special guest vocalist Erica Lee will sing with Friction Five on Thur Oct 16, 10:30pm (first set only). Don't miss this special event! Oriental Art Center show postponed...Originally scheduled for Sunday, October 12, the performance at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center has been postponed until Sunday, January 11, 2009, due to a problem with the venue. Those who bought tickets already will be able to exchange them for January's performance. This will be a special event, and well worth waiting for. The show is called "Life, Death, and Everything Else", and will explore the musical and spiritual themes of Messiaen, Schoenberg, and Bach, transforming them into improvisational music. JZ Festival is here!!! Friday - Sunday, Sept 19 - 21, at |
Theo Croker, phenomenon and "enfant terrible" of the trumpet, is back in Shanghai! Alec is very pleased to welcome Theo back into the Universe of Friction, for three special shows... July 30, August 6, and 13. Alec and Theo and the band of Friction are also celebrating he VINYL RELEASE (yes, you read that correctly - this is a vinyl LP record, folks!!!) Of a recording they made last summer, "Eye Opener". Currently available only in Vienna, Austria. More information coming soon about how you can get your own copy.
You can now purchase "Ye Shanghai" online at 
There has been lots of press recently covering our new CD "Ye Shanghai" -- check out this article from the August issue of That's Shanghai magazine, a beautiful nice long interview for 
The Alec Haavik Friction Seven is pleased to welcome special guest saxophonist Willow Neilson for Thursday at JZ: June 25, July 2 and July 9. Come witness two of Shanghai's fiercest saxophonists teaming up for a double-saxophone extravaganza! We will feature some brand new works by Willow which utilize the diverse talents of Alec's top-notch band, such as "Recycling Man", an experimental piece combining jazzy chords with a recording of the infamous bicycle-riding loudspeaker-blaring presence in Shanghai, which calls out "Kong tiao, dian nao, bing xiang, xiyi ji!" ("Air conditioners, computers, refridgerators, washing machines!") We will also premiere a new tune of Willow's in the Afro-Peruvian musical style known as Festejo, a mesmerizing rhythm which is simultaneously in 3 beats AND in 4 beats (and sometimes 6 beats, too!) And of course, Alec and Willow have both picked some favorites from their own repertoires for this double sax attack!
Thanks to everyone who came out last Thursday July 24 to celebrate the new Friction Five CD, "Ye Shanghai"! It was an absolutely packed house at JZ Club, and great fun. If you were there you'll recognize the "thermometer" pictured at left, which was updated in real time to show CD sales. If you weren't there, fear not, you get your copy of "Ye Shanghai" from JZ Club, or Graceland store on Wulumuqi Rd., or Music Pavilion on Taikang Rd. in Shanghai.
"Ye Shanghai", the long-awaited CD from Alec Haavik Friction Five, will be in your hands July 24! There will be a big party that night at JZ Club to celebrate the launch. Mark your calendars!