Petting Zoo this Monday at Funk N Waffles

[New Thing Productions]

Hello everyone,

I know its been a long time, but our good friends Ryan Tebo and Tom
Abbs have put together a project and they are passing though Syracuse
to show it. I would highly recommend coming and seeing our old
friends. This is a wonderful project that touches deeply on Tom's
generosity and how he helped save a friend. All the info is below. I
hope to see you there.

Monday, March 17th
8:00PM
Funk n Waffles
Syracuse, NY

Here's a trailer of the video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prDD2VEknNo

Facebook event page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=11459652958

And here's the info for the Tour:

Musician and filmmaker Tom Abbs tours Northeast and Midwest with a new
multimedia performance
piece "Petting Zoo" and documentary "To Give Is to Receive Is to
Give" (a collaboration between
Abbs, Ryan Tebo, and artist MP Landis)

Video samples, photos and links available at: http://pettingzoo.espdisk.com

A solo tour by versatile musician Tom Abbs premiers a collaborative
multimedia performance piece
"Petting Zoo". In his new live work, using cello, percussion, flute,
djeridoo, and video, Abbs
explores the limits of music and art and freedom of expression from
Friday, March 14 through
Saturday, March 22 at sites throughout the Northeast and Midwest.
(Details below) With a mix of
improvised music, overhead projection, and prepared video
collaborations with painter M.P. Landis,
the multimedia performance keeps audiences surprised and delighted
from beginning to end. Abbs'
performance features a dazzling media-mix unlike any previous
experience.

Also featured on the tour is the new 45 minute documentary video by
Ryan Tebo, Tom Abbs, and M.P.
Landis "To Give is to Receive is to Give". The video tells of the
friendship and emotional journey
of two talented artists as they delve into the depths and ascend the
heights of collaboration. For
nearly a decade jazz musician Tom Abbs and abstract painter M.P.
Landis have collaborated on
everything from films to CD covers and live performance pieces. In
December 2006 they shared in
the ultimate collaboration when Tom donated his left kidney to save
M.P.'s life. Four months after
they became neighbors in the same brownstone in Brooklyn, Landis
suffered kidney failure and began
dialysis. In an act of tremendous generosity, Tom Abbs decided to
donate his kidney and M.P.
accepted. Not only did this organ donation save M.P.'s life, it also
became a beautiful extension
of their previous collaboration as artists and friends.

Painter M.P. Landis had planned to appear live on the tour but has
developed an infection in his
donated kidney. M.P.s prognosis is good but, to keep the kidney from
rejecting, he must have his
blood constantly monitored. He will be joining the "Petting Zoo"
performance with a series of
prepared video collaborations.

The "Petting Zoo" tour is sponsored by the legendary avant-garde jazz
label ESP-Disk
(http://espdisk.com). ESP-Disk's entire catalog will be displayed on
sale at every stop on the
tour, with profits going to the Petting Zoo Tour Fund. Tom Abbs
expresses profound thanks to ESP's
founder Bernard Stollman for his support and guidance.

Friday March 14th in Cambridge, MA
Sunday March 16th in Portland, ME
Monday March 17th in Syracuse, NY
Tuesday March 18th in Buffalo, NY
Wednesday March 19th in Ann Arbor, MI
Thursday March 20th Indianapolis, Indiana
Friday March 21st in Chicago Illinois
Saturday March 22nd in Detroit, MI

Go to http://pettingzoo.espdisk.com for more details