Tuesday, January 8, 2013

New Music in the New Year

Saxophonist (baritone and alto) and educator Allan Chase (pictured left) joins trumpeter Stephen Haynes and guitarist Joe Morris for their monthly "Improvisations" performance this Thursday (January 10) at 7 p.m. in Real Art Ways, 56 Arbor Street in Hartford.

Mr. Chase, who is Chair of the Ear Training Department at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, is in the midst of a long and varied career.  A native of Willimantic, CT, he grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, and began music career (one of his first jazz gigs was with drummer Lewis Nash.  He first taught at Berklee in the early 1980s, moving on to Tufts University and the New England Conservatory of Music before returning.  He became a charter member of Your Neighborhood Saxophone Quartet, started his own groups (making 2 excellent CDs for  Accurate Records, including "Dark Clouds with Silver Linings" from 1995) and appeared with a slew of fine musicians, including drummer Rashied Ali, composer-arranger Gunther Schuller, drummer Matt Wilson, and trumpeter John McNeil.  He's a longtime member of pianist Steve Lantner's Quartet, a free-music ensemble that also features Joe Morris.

The music begins at 7 p.m.  For more information, call 860-232-1006 or go to www.realartways.org.  Next month (Sunday, February 10), Messrs. Haynes and Morris welcome percussionist Tyshawn Sorey for what should be another fascinating set of "Improvisations."  Go to www.facebook.com and search for "Improvisations" - it should take you here.

Should you find yourself in New York City this Saturday night (1/12), I heartily recommend you head to Zinc Bar (82 West 3rd Street btw Sullivan/Thompson) to catch bassist/composer Alexis Cuadrado and his Quintet as they present "A Lorca Soundscape" at 9:15 p.m.  This new work, described as "original jazz protest songs drawn from Lorca's poetry", features vocalist Claudia Acuna, pianist Dan Tepfer, saxophonist Yosvanny Terry and drummer Mark Ferber.  The same group will be appearing on Sunday January 20 at 3 p.m. in the Westin New York (Times Square) as part of the Chamber Music America Conference.  If you want to hear some of this music, check out this live recording of "A Lorca Soundscape" from WNYC-FM's "Soundcheck."  

This weekend's gig is part of the Winter Jazzfest, scheduled to take place this Friday and Saturday night in 6 separate venues throughout Greenwich Village.  The lineup is amazing (over 70 groups), ranging from Monty Alexander and Don Byron playing separate sets in Le Poisson Rouge on Friday to Mr. Cuadrado's set followed by Omer Avital and His Band of the East in Zinc Bar on Saturday.  Check it all out at www.winterjazzfest.com.   

1 comment:

  1. Thanks, Richard, for banging the drum (again) for our Improvisations series at Real Art Ways. Year II has been a steady delight, and we are excited that Allan will join us tomorrow.

    Next up, Tyshawn Sorey, on February 10. Your readers should also know that we will launch our first annual festival at RAW, May 24 & 25. Two consecutive days of concerts, films, panel discussions and more. Stay tuned for details.

    Visit the Improvisations page on Facebook.

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