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Anat Fort Trio at Philadelphia Art Alliance on February 23

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On Wednesday, February 23, Ars Nova Workshop presents the Anat Fort Trio at Philadelphia Art Alliance. The group dialogue between pianist Fort, bassist Gary Wang, and drummer Roland Schneider has been ongoing for ten years, and this deep relationship is evident on 2010’s spellbinding ECM debut, And If. In a 2007 interview with All About Jazz, Fort made the following comment about the trio: “The music is sometimes so subtle that you really need it to be there with no extra sound—then anything else can just disappear. I think that really demonstrates our concept, because we kind of weave in and out of each other's worlds. It's like the trio has its own universal consciousness, so to speak. We kind of swim in it together.”

Opening and closing with two nods to frequent collaborator Paul Motian, And If is a book of ten introspective compositions that produce lush, graceful and warm worlds of oceanic sound. On pieces like “Clouds Moving” and “Minnesota,” the trio presents vast open spaces that welcome healthy moments of gentle, and at times melancholic, contemplation. This robust conception of space is a vital constituent of Fort’s voice as a composer and musician. In addition to her excellent sense of humor, the following quote from the same interview makes clear that space is something she’s willing to fight for.

“But I never really consciously specify to myself, ‘Here I would like to have the solo continue the form,’ or something like that. I don't really think so consciously about it, but it's definitely my goal in this, and really, in every other tune: to compose in the moment. So whether the composition is very specific or not, I'm really into the moment. I'm not into anything that happens in the moment—I'm really into making a coherent statement. I really try to be clear to myself in what I am trying to say.

And I think that's why, a lot of times, I don't play so much. Because that's just how it works for me. I need the space. I really, really need those rests that you were talking about. That's really something very important to me. And sometimes it's hard to get musicians to understand that. And even if they understand that, it's really hard to get them to do it. I can't even tell you how many conversations I've had— even with Ed Schuller—where I've said, ‘Hey, leave that space alone. Don't play there, okay? I really want that open.’ And then he plays there anyway! He says, ‘Yeah, but I can't just play what's written. I have to make my own statement with it. Well [laughing] make your statement quiet! I need the space.’ And I totally understand where he's coming from. He just wants to somehow play the tune, and sometimes the tune is very sparse—whether it's this tune or some other tune. But it's always an ongoing—not battle, but issue— that I have with some musicians.

And I think the more I grow, the more I need more space. So if, in the beginning, I needed it every once in a while, now I need it even more. And I need the musicians to go with me, or it's just going to be [laughing]—it will be—a battle!”

Anat Fort Trio will perform on Wednesday, February 23 at Philadelphia Art Alliance (251 S. 18th Street).

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