Although he is best known for his sideman work, Sorey is quickly establishing a reputation as a bandleader and composer in his own right. In a January 4th live review of a concert by Sorey's group Oblique, The New York Times' Ben Ratliff called him “a technically competent and powerfully rhythmic drummer," noting, “this performance was hot with its own life force." Time Out New York recent declared, “Tyshawn Sorey's drumming mixes ferocity and grace, while his pen is equally schooled in mathematics and poetry."
Sorey first earned critical notice as the drummer in groups such as Steve Coleman & Five Elements, Dave Douglas' NOMAD, Fieldwork, and Pete Robbins & Centric. He has also performed with Muhal Richard Abrams, Anthony Braxton, George Garzone, Vijay Iyer, Misha Mengelberg and Wadada Leo Smith among many others. In addition to his work as an in-demand drummer and leader of his own small bands, he is also an active composer who has premiered his own works as a solo pianist at such high-profile venues as The Stone and the annual Vision Festival in New York. Multiple works for larger ensembles are scheduled to have their premieres in 2008.
About Firehouse 12:
Firehouse 12 is an award-winning bar, state of the art recording studio and unusually intimate music venue located in New Haven's historic Ninth Square District. Its distinctive 75-seat performance space, located inside the recording studio, offers world-class acoustics and unprecedented technical possibilities to both listeners and performers. Many of the most respected names in jazz and creative improvised music have performed at Firehouse 12 since it opened its doors in April 2005.
The local media has called it “one of the region's prime centers for new and improvised music" (Owen McNally, Hartford Courant), noting both its “astutely stylish, updated-classic aesthetic" (Hugh Elton, New Haven Advocate) and its dedicated fan base of “people who bring near-religious reverence to the music, producing an exchange of energy that often fires great performances" (Regina DeAngelo, New Haven Independent).
The Arts Council of Greater New Haven recognized owner/producer/recording engineer Nick Lloyd with a 2006 Arts Award for his “visionary restoration" of this landmark firehouse building, which also earned the architects, Gray Organschi Architecture, a 2006 Design Award in the preservation category from Connecticut's chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
In 2007, Firehouse 12 founded its own label, Firehouse 12 Records, with the intention of releasing a mix of physical and digital-only recordings, including music recorded live during recent performances. Its first new releases, the Anthony Braxton 12+1tet's 9 Compositions (Iridium) 2006 and the Taylor Ho Bynum Sextet's The Middle Picture, will be released April 3rd.
Spring 2007 Spring Jazz Series schedule:
03/16 :: Steve Davis Quintet featuring Mike DiRubbo
03/23 :: Frank Kimbrough Trio
03/30 :: Ullmann/Swell 4tet featuring Barry Altschul
04/06 :: Wallace Roney Sextet
04/13 :: Step In: Joe Fonda/Carlo Morena/George Schuller
04/20 :: Taylor Ho Bynum Trio
04/27 :: Matt Wilson's Arts & Crafts
05/04 :: Tyshawn Sorey Quartet
05/11 :: David Weiss and Point of Departure
05/18 :: Rudresh Mahanthappa Quartet
05/25 :: Kris Davis Quartet
06/02 :: Andy Milne & Dapp Theory
06/08 :: Adam Birnbaum Trio
For more information contact Improvised Communications.
