Fay Victor at Firehouse 12

Firehouse 12, 45 Crown Street in New Haven, hosts the Fay Victor Ensemble for 2 shows this Friday, May 28.

Ms. Victor and her trio - Anders Nilsson (guitar), Ken Filiano (acoustic bass) and Michael "TA" Thompson (drums) - created one of the most original CDs of 2009.  "The Freesong Suite" (Greene Avenue Music) is a collection of 3 "suites", each with a room number, and the music is a often cerebral mix of "free" improvisation and word plays - yet, when one pays close attention, you hear how the pieces fit, how the band and vocalist weave around each other, breathe together, support and prod each other.  There are blues, rock, country, jazz and more influence throughout the program.  Bassist Filiano is, often, the heart of this music, allowing Thompson to "color" the procedings and Nilsson's unique guitar sounds to move in and out of the mix.  Victor is the soul and the fire of the band, her poetry/stories growing out of the music.  She interacts naturally with the band, nothing is forced and nothing is static.  To find out more, go to www.fayvictor.com.

The first set begins at 8:30 p.m., the second at 10 p.m. - for more information, go to www.firehouse12.com or call 203-785-0468.

Here's the Ensemble in action: