1. Wieland Möller
Date: Monday, November 4, 2013
Time: 9pm
Venue: Spectrum (121 Ludlow, Second Floor, New York, NY, 650-400-5100)
Ticket: $10-20 dollar floating donation
Genre: jazz/improv
Wieland Möller is a drummer, sound artist and performer in the field of jazz, improvised music and dance. Environmental strains and the evolutionary process of the pieces of music stimulated by them are especially important for his work.
Wieland works as a drummer with international bands of different stylistics, e.g. the jazz trio ATOS and his own trio which recently released the debut album Akvariet. He has been a guest at the Buenos Aires Jazz Festival, Jazz International Rotterdam and North Sea Jazz Festival, among others, and has toured the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Island. Being a composer and performing musician, Wieland Möller has been involved in dance theater projects e.g. the Reykjavik Dance Festival, Danceworks Rotterdam and Perform(d)ance Stralsund and has worked together with the dancer Konrad Szymanski. What does fascinate him when taking part in dance projects is to be able to make sounds visually real and motion audible.
Wieland Möller, drums; Robert Boston, piano and Nicolas Letman-Burtinovic, bass
2. The Moon w. Daniel Carter
Date: Monday, November 4, 2013
Time: 9pm
Venue: Quinn’s Beacon (330 Main St, Beacon, NY 12508, 845-831-8065)
Ticket: t.b.a.
Genre: jazz/improv
“The music of The Moon can surge like molten lava or flow like a quiet stream. It’s a purist form of improvisation — noise-attuned but rooted in jazz fundamentals, abstract but built on the unusually sturdy bond between guitarist Adam Caine and drummer Federico Ughi. These two play free, while operating like an old-school working band.” — Hank Shteamer, Time Out New York
Joining the performers in The Moon will be multi-instrumentalist and downtown music icon Daniel Carter.
3. Joe Fiedler and Big Sackbut
Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Time: 7pm
Venue: Hunter College (695 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10065)
Ticket: free
Genre: jazz/improv
Joe Fiedler and Big Sackbut, featuring Steve Swell, and Ryan Keberle on trombone and the one and only Marcus Rojas on Tuba.
At 5pm, prior to the performance, a jazz and low brass masterclass will be given by members of Big Sackbut.
Both the masterclass and performance will take place in Lang Recital Hall, located in the North building of Hunter College, on the north side of 68th street btn. Park and Lex, on the 4th floor. Enter through the Kaye Playhouse entrance and take the elevators to the 4th floor.
A visitors pass is needed for all non-CUNY students which can be obtained across the street in the visitor’s center.
4. SoSaLa
Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Time: 9pm – 11pm
Venue: Nublu (62 Avenue C, bet. E. 4th and 5th st., New York, NY 10009)
Ticket: $10
Genre: nu world trash
SoSaLa performing “nu world trashy” music based on desert-Persian-Spanish blues styles and jazzy improvs.
The members are: Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi on sax and vocals, Alessio Romano on drums, Greg Zweigen on electric bass, Kaveh Haghtalab on kemancheh and Marko Pankovich on electric guitar.
Marko Pankovich, Kaveh Haghtalab and Alessio Romano will join SoSaLa for the first time. And Kaveh will be the first “real” Iranian musician contributing authentic music culture.
5. NY Gypsy All Stars
Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Time: 10:30pm
Venue: Drom (85 Avenue A, NY, NY 10009, 212- 777-1157)
Ticket: $1o
Genre: Balkan Beat/Gypsy music/Turkish roots
New York Gypsy All-Stars jump the turnstiles of Balkanalia, Turkish Roots, and Gypsy Soul with funky refinement
Ismail Lumanovski / Clarinet
Tamer Pinarbasi / Kanun
Panagiotis Andreou / Bass
Jason Lindner/ Keys
Engin Kaan Gunaydin / Drums
“Frontman clarinetist Ismail Lumanovski is an extraordinary player in his own right, leading the group through a blistering series of haunting dance numbers and a couple of one or two-chord jams that the players used to show off their sizzling chops.” – Alan Young, Lucid Culture Blog
6. Justice for Jazz Artists & St. Peter’s Church Present: “Battle of the Saxes!”
Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Time: 6:30pm
Venue: St. Peter’s Church (619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street, New York, NY 10022, Telephone 212 935 2200)
Ticket: to reserve tickets, please call (212) 245-4802, ext. 185.
Genre: jazz
Justice for Jazz Artists will gather at St. Peter’s Church Wednesday evening for great music and a talk about obtaining basic security for musicians who are needlessly struggling in New York City.
J4JA attempts to work with the most successful, affluent clubs around the City to find common sense solutions for musicians who are often forced to retire into poverty or near poverty after long productive careers.
The evening will feature a performance by master musicians Patience Higgins and Bill Saxton, with an appearance by vocal stylist Keisha St. Joan.
The event will also feature a talk, “Justice for Jazz Artists!” by staunch supporter and J4JA advocate NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Owens and guest speaker, activist/artist Maluwa. Mr. Owens has spoken forthrightly and with clarity on behalf of J4JA’s cause on multiple occasions, so this will be a great opportunity to get more acquainted with the campaign and its aims, as well as how to achieve them, and to hear some great tunes!
Other musicians will also be lending their talents to the program, including: Mabel Lee, Dotti Fox, Bob Stewart, George Gray, Steve Elmer, Marcus McLaurine.
7. William Hooker Quartet/Welf Dorr Unit/On Ka’a Davis & the Original Djuke Music Players
Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Time: 7pm
Venue: ShapeShifter Lab (18 Whitwell Pl, between Carroll St & 1st St, Brooklyn, NY 11215, 646-820-9452)
Ticket: $10
Genre: jazz
OLD & NEW DOWNTOWN MUSIC AESTHETICS
7pm – William Hooker Quartet: William Hooker (drums), Matt Lavelle (trumpet), Mark Hennen (piano), Larry Roland (bass)
8:15pm – Welf Dorr Unit: Welf Dorr (alto sax, bass clarinet) Dave Ross (guitar), Dmitry Ishenko (bass), Joe Hertenstein (drums)
9:30pm – On Ka’a Davis and the Famous Original Djuke Music Players: On Ka’a Davis (guitar, vocals), Welf Dorr (alto sax), Nick Gianni (baritone sax), Cavassa Nickens (bass) and Peter Barr (drums)
Drummer William Hooker is a stalwart of the downtown music scene since the 70’s when he played with David Murray and David Ware. In the 90’s he performed with Thurston Moore and Zeena Parkins.
The San Francisco Chronicle described him as the “the kingpin of the free jazz world, Hooker’s limits have been boundless.” He has numerous releases, some of them on the Knitting Factory Label and is also an organizer of the ‘Rhythm in the Kitchen’ music festival.
In tonight’s performance he will be accompanied by Matt Lavelle on trumpet, Mark Hennen on piano and Larry Roland on bass.
Djuke music, a term branded by guitarist On Ka’a Davis himself, is a highly personal mix of Afrobeat, free jazz, funk and cosmic voodoo blues – “another world never imagined possible from the undying, ever growing counter culture crucible of downtown NY” (John Zorn).
Davis, a Ohio native, was a member of the Sun Ra Arkestra in the 80’s, has played with Matthew Shipp, Luther Thomas and Andrew Lamb and has recent releases on Tzadik and LiveWired.
Tonight’s line up of the Djuke Players is the band he has been working with for the last several years: Welf Dorr on alto sax, Nick Gianni on baritone sax, Cavassa Nickens on bass and Peter Barr on drums.
The Welf Dorr Unit was initiated last year with a performance at Arts for Arts/Evolving Music Series and features next to Dorr on alto sax Dave Ross on guitar, Dmitry Ishenko on bass and Joe Hertenstein on drums.
The music of the WDU combines improvised music with funk and rock. Dorr cites James Blood Ulmer in his No Wave period as a major influence. “Jazz is the teacher, Funk is the preacher.”
Dorr, originally from Munich (Germany), lives since 1995 in NY where he has played/recorded with Sonny Simmons, Sabir Mateen and Frank Lacy. He is a member of Karl Berger’s Improvisers Orchestra, Kenny Wollesen’s Himalayas, the Nublu Orchestra conducted by the late Butch Morris and works mostly with his brass band Underground Horns.
8. Alidu
Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Time: 7:15pm
Venue: Drom (85 Avenue A, NY, NY 10009, 212- 777-1157)
Ticket: $15
Genre: modern, electric Afro-soul from West Africa and beyond….
The Playing for Change project has been the music industry’s feel-good movement of the past decade. Part of the PFC touring band, Mohammed Alidu adds his vibrant talking drum to that inspiring musical tapestry and he is proud of his work with the organization. Yet Alidu (as his friends call him) is quickly establishing himself as an important new singer, songwriter and performer on the international music scene with two albums out and another on the way.
Originally from the town of Tamale in Northern Ghana and now based in Los Angeles, Alidu’s music has one foot in his 1000-year family legacy of earthy and pulsing Bizung rhythms and another in the modern studio sounds heard in the clubs and lounges of New York, London and Paris.
This versatility made him a natural for PFC and he has also played with such diverse artists as Peter Gabriel (on OVO), Baaba Maal, Tinariwen, Michael Franti, Ziggy Marley, Keb Mo’ and countless others in the U.S. and around the world. Recently he’s even hooked up with Benjamin LeBrave of the tastemaker label Akwaaba for a set of remixes. One thing that’s consistent throughout, however, is that he connects with musicians and audiences wherever he goes.
“I think if you open yourself up to others, they will open themselves up to you,” Alidu explains. “What I do I do from my heart, and so far everywhere I’ve traveled people seem to embrace that.”
9. Nashaz
Date: Saturday, November 9, 2013
Time: 8pm
Location: Alwan for the Arts (16 Beaver Street, 4 FL, New York)
Ticket: $20
Genre: Arabic/oud music
Arresting and compelling, Nashaz engages listeners of Arabic music, jazz, and oud (Arabic lute). Led by composer and oudist Brian Prunka, the music ranges from dance-like, contemplative, energetic and fiery, revealing a depth of understanding of the Arabic maqam, and the ornamentation and phrasing that characterize the ‘oud tradition. As a composer, Prunka successfully blurs the lines between two sonic worlds – jazz and Arab music – creating a style that showcases the best of both while striking out in stirring new directions.
Nashaz literally means “dissonance” in Arabic, and in this context, relays the idea that expansive and innovative music will challenge listeners’ preconceived notions of both traditions, taking them out of their comfort zone, though in reality the resultant sound is compelling, alluring, and always powerful. Nashaz’s music reflects the best of both worlds and fans of jazz, Arabic music, and great instrumental playing and composing will find much to enjoy in this concert celebrating the ensemble’s new CD release Nashaz.
10. Mala Waldron Project
Date: Saturday, November 9, 2013
Time: 9pm
Venue: BAM Cafe (30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217)
Tickets: free
Genre: soul/piano jazz/R&B
Soul chanteuse Mala Waldron marries a mastery of jazz piano with a smoky, powerhouse voice. The daughter of legendary jazz pianist Mal Waldron (and goddaughter of Billie Holiday), she follows in her father’s footsteps with original compositions that reflect a range of influences, from classical to calypso. Backed by her ultra-tight three-piece band, she comes to BAMcafé for an evening of smoldering ballads, old school scatting, and up-tempo R&B.
11. Tarana with MRC Riddims
Date: Saturday, November 9, 2013
Time: 10pm to midnight
Venue: Silvana (300 West 116th St (between Manhattan & 8th Ave) New York, New York 10026)
Ticket: t.b.a.
Genre: jazz/improv/electronica/club
TARANA is a ground-breaking trombone/synth (Rick Parker) & drums/electronics (Ravish Momin) duo that blurs the boundaries between the electronic and the acoustic, while blending a vast array of influences, ranging from jazz to Disco to Bollywood. Using digital and analog electronics, they layer live loops, melodies, textures and sounds on top of their tight-knit acoustic instruments to create a symphonic sound that also explores deep-grooving rhythms from across the world.
12. Kretzmer/Ughi and Maoz/Elisha/Davidovsky
Date: Sunday, November 10, 2013
Time: 2pm to 6pm
Venue: Goodbye Blue Monday (1087 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York 11221)
Ticket: t.b.a.
Genre: jazz/improv
