Founded in New Mexico in 2003 by conductor/composer/performer Molly Sturges, mJane is a project which brings together a wide range of improvisational and compositional ideas through live conduction systems (comprised of hand and eye signals) to create an ever-changing sonic environment belonging uniquely to each performance. Consisting of both electronic and acoustic instrumentation, mJane works between intimate and ambient, body and space. mJane relies on highly sophisticated forms of musical communication between ensemble members to reach into subtle and expected musical realms. mJane consists of: Molly Jane Sturges conduction/composition/vocals/harmonium, CK Barlow-sampling/live sampling, DJ Ultraviolet (Shawn O'Neal)-turntables, Mustafa Stefan Dill-Oud and Jefferson Voorhees-drums/percussion. As the primary vocalist in the project, Sturges approaches voice as instrument, expressessing herself through vocables with limited use of lyrics. Drawing from vocal resonance in the body, she seeks to get beneath traditional constructs of emotion into less interpretable areas of expression and communication. Prayers from the Underbelly was mJane's first project which led to a publicly acclaimed performance at The Second Annual High Mayhem Festival in New Mexico. The recording of that performance is released on Pax Recordings (October 2004). Their second project, Samea, was performed at The Third Annual High Mayhem Festival, October 2004 and was dedicated to children who have been killed during the US occupation of Iraq. In 2005, mJane will begin touring the western and southwestern United States. mJane also has a track on the new Voices In The Wilderness: Dissenting Soundscapes & Songs of GW'S America Pax Recordings CD. Available on CD Baby, too. http://cdbaby.com/cd/vitwilderness ABOUT PRAYERS FROM THE UNDERBELLY Prayers From The Underbelly is one long performance broken by conducted pauses. It is a piece which abstractly addresses the concept of duality and was inspired by Sturges' near death experience during the birth of her daughter. Joining mJane for the performance was guest vocalist Julie West. BIO Molly Sturges is a composer, performer and director focusing on the intersection of improvisation and composition. She has performed widely as an improvisational vocalist specializing in extended vocal techniques with recent performances with composer/improvisers Anthony Braxton and Malcolm Goldstein. Sturges has received numerous commissions to write and perform original music for a wide array of projects including music for American dance companies, silent films and circuses. Sturges is a member of the improvisational ensemble "Out of Context" (J.A. Deene) and is the co-founder of the ensemble experimental/global/groove/jazz project BING with collaborator Chris Jonas who released their first recording "Galore" in 2003 (QuinnerBinner/BMI). She holds an MA in composition from Wesleyan University. As a director, Sturges leads the Collaborative Performance Projects and will be directing a large-scale intergenerational installation/performance project for the European Union Festival of Culture 2005 in Cork, Ireland. Other projects include sound installations and a long-term video/sound project called NIGHT. For mJane booking and contact information: Web: www.mollysturges.com Email: mollysturges@yahoo.com