Another exciting weekend of live music coming with 2 of the best events happening around the same time on Friday November 13.
Late last year, I picked up a DownBeat magazine and saw a listing of 2008 grants winners. On that list was Noah Baerman, pianist/composer/teacher/author and Middletown resident. He'd received a “New Works" grant from from Chamber Music America/The Doris Duke Foundation to write an extended work for a large ensemble. The fruits of that grant will have its first public airing Friday at 8 p.m. in Wesleyan's Crowell Concert Hall. “Know Thyself“ is a personal exploration that blends many different musical (and non-musical) influences into a through-composed work for 7 instrumentalists. Baerman brings in his Trio mates, bassist Henry Lugo and drummer Vinnie Sperazza and adds his long-time friends saxophonists Wayne Escoffery and Erica von Kleist, guitarist Amanda Monaco and vibraphonist Chris Dingman. Escoffery, Monaco and Baerman attended New Haven's Educational Center for the Arts at the same time and have worked together in different aggregations including Playdate, a quintet with a new release on Posi-Tone Records. Escoffery is currently working with the Mingus Dynasty orchestra as well as being a member of trumpeter Tom Harrell's Quintet. He's also been touring and recording with his own Quartet. Monaco, a native of Wallingford and former member of the Lascivious Biddies, has her own quartet (a review of her new CD will appear shortly on this blog.
Von Kleist, a West Hartford native, has worked with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, DIVA Jazz Orchestra, Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Chris Potter's 10-piece Band and others and is beginning to make a name as a bandleader. Dingman, a Wesleyan graduate, earned his Master's Degree from the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at USC. He's worked and recorded with fellow Wes alum Steve Lehman (saxophones) and Harris Eisenstadt (drums.)
None of this music has been recorded yet and there's only date scheduled after the premiere. But, knowing Noah and hearing how his music has developed over the past decade, I trust that “Know Thyself“ will be a emotional and satisfying experience. For tickets, call 860-685-3355 or go to wesleyan.edu/cfa.
The Firehouse 12 Fall 2009 Concert Series continues with an appearance featuring the Peter Evans Quartet for 2 sets, 8:30 and 10 p.m. The young trumpeter, a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory, has worked with a number of ensembles, including Mostly Other People Do The Killing, the New York Trumpet Ensemble, Alarm Will Sound, and many others. The Firehouse 12 record label released the Quartet's debut CD in November of 2007. It features the same rhythm section that will be playing the gig, Tom Blancarte (bass) and Kevin Shea (drums.) Guitarist Brandon Seabrook appears on the CD but pianist Ricardo Gallo is now a member of the band. The group's music, at times, moves abruptly with surprising shifts in dynamics and great tension. Evans is a facile player but technique is not as important n the group setting as is melodic invention and creative interplay.
For ticket information (and more), go to firehouse12.com or call 203-785-0468.
Late last year, I picked up a DownBeat magazine and saw a listing of 2008 grants winners. On that list was Noah Baerman, pianist/composer/teacher/author and Middletown resident. He'd received a “New Works" grant from from Chamber Music America/The Doris Duke Foundation to write an extended work for a large ensemble. The fruits of that grant will have its first public airing Friday at 8 p.m. in Wesleyan's Crowell Concert Hall. “Know Thyself“ is a personal exploration that blends many different musical (and non-musical) influences into a through-composed work for 7 instrumentalists. Baerman brings in his Trio mates, bassist Henry Lugo and drummer Vinnie Sperazza and adds his long-time friends saxophonists Wayne Escoffery and Erica von Kleist, guitarist Amanda Monaco and vibraphonist Chris Dingman. Escoffery, Monaco and Baerman attended New Haven's Educational Center for the Arts at the same time and have worked together in different aggregations including Playdate, a quintet with a new release on Posi-Tone Records. Escoffery is currently working with the Mingus Dynasty orchestra as well as being a member of trumpeter Tom Harrell's Quintet. He's also been touring and recording with his own Quartet. Monaco, a native of Wallingford and former member of the Lascivious Biddies, has her own quartet (a review of her new CD will appear shortly on this blog.
Von Kleist, a West Hartford native, has worked with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, DIVA Jazz Orchestra, Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Chris Potter's 10-piece Band and others and is beginning to make a name as a bandleader. Dingman, a Wesleyan graduate, earned his Master's Degree from the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at USC. He's worked and recorded with fellow Wes alum Steve Lehman (saxophones) and Harris Eisenstadt (drums.)
None of this music has been recorded yet and there's only date scheduled after the premiere. But, knowing Noah and hearing how his music has developed over the past decade, I trust that “Know Thyself“ will be a emotional and satisfying experience. For tickets, call 860-685-3355 or go to wesleyan.edu/cfa.
The Firehouse 12 Fall 2009 Concert Series continues with an appearance featuring the Peter Evans Quartet for 2 sets, 8:30 and 10 p.m. The young trumpeter, a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory, has worked with a number of ensembles, including Mostly Other People Do The Killing, the New York Trumpet Ensemble, Alarm Will Sound, and many others. The Firehouse 12 record label released the Quartet's debut CD in November of 2007. It features the same rhythm section that will be playing the gig, Tom Blancarte (bass) and Kevin Shea (drums.) Guitarist Brandon Seabrook appears on the CD but pianist Ricardo Gallo is now a member of the band. The group's music, at times, moves abruptly with surprising shifts in dynamics and great tension. Evans is a facile player but technique is not as important n the group setting as is melodic invention and creative interplay.
For ticket information (and more), go to firehouse12.com or call 203-785-0468.
