I’m looking forward to join some of the Bay Area’s most daring improvising musicians for an evening of “percussion++” and rhythmic space exploration of pitch, timbre, and electronics nebulae, shining in electroacoustic colors far beyond the visible spectrum.
And I’m excited to play again with percussion genius Donald Robinson, whose advanced cymbal technique and incredibly refined musical taste make him an inspiring partner for both the freest of jazz and the wildest of electronic space walks.
The scene of this sonic flare will be San Francisco’s focal point for forward-leaning music, Center for New Music (55 Taylor Street, San Francisco, CA – map), 8:30pm, Sun 13 Dec.
Donald Robinson, percussion dervish, performs w Larry Ochs' Sax & Drumming Core
Master drummer Donald Robinson, whom Coda Magazine has described as a “percussion Dervish”, has numbered among his most notable collaborators Alan Silva, Anthony Braxton, Oliver Lake, Glenn Spearman, Larry Ochs, Cecil Taylor, Wadada Leo Smith, George Lewis, Bobby Few, Raphé Malik, Joe McPhee, John Tchicai, Marco Eneidi, Miya Masaoka (正岡みや), Paul Plimley & Matthew Goodheart.
Much of his work has seen him featured in the stellar rhythm section of Donald Robinson and bassist Lisle Ellis, especially including the band What We Live with Larry Ochs on saxophones, a trio that toured in Europe and North America from 1994 – 2002, sometimes with special guests such as Dave Douglas, Wadada Leo Smith or Kazakh vocalist Saadet Türköz (Саадет Туркёз). His longest musical association, dating from the 1970’s, was with the late tenor saxophonist Glenn Spearman; these two appear on something close to a dozen CDs together in sextets, quintets, and quartets with several tours to Europe
After coming up in the hothouse of the Paris free jazz scene, Donald has been a stalwart of both the SF Bay Area and northern and central European avant-garde jazz scenes, frequently touring there with Biggi Vinkeloe and Larry Ochs.
It has been my distinct honor and pleasure to collaborate with Donald on various electroacoustic projects such as the Biggi Vinkeloe Roughtet, IBIM LAB, and the occasional quartet of Bruce Ackley – Lisle Ellis – Joe Lasqo – Donald Robinson, as well as in duo format. Not only is Don’s free jazz style always superbly on, but his sensitivity in using percussion against electronics is unparalleled.
Joe Lasqo & Morgana perform w Jim Ryan's Green Alembic in the sfSoundSalonSeries at Center for New Music, San Francisco, 15 Apr 2014 (Photo by Carly Hoopes)
Pianist / laptopist Joe Lasqo studied classical music in India; computer/electronic music at MIT, Columbia, Berkeley/CNMAT; has been a long-time performing modern & avant jazz musician; & has lived, played and listened in several Asian and European countries (now in San Francisco). He’s keen on the application of artificial intelligence techniques to improvisation and the meeting of traditional Asian musics with the 21st century.
Joe had a weekly residency for 3½ years+ in the piano series at Viracocha, will be resuming a residency at PianoFight in January 2016, and has appeared recently with Bruce Ackley and Steve Adams of ROVA Saxophone Quartet, Aaron Bennett’s Electro-Magnetic Trans-Personal Orchestra, Phillip Greenlief’s Orchesperry, synthesist Thomas Dimuzio, clarinetist/vocalist Beth Custer, pianist Thollem McDonas, percussionist Suki O’Kane, sound artists Joe Snape (UK) & Lucie Vítková (Czech Rep.), technodivas / electronic musicians Pamela Z & Viv Corringham (NYC/London) as well as his own Renga-kai (連歌会), Mukaiji-kai (霧海箎会), & Fushigi Kenkyūkai (不思議研究会) ensembles.
Biggi Vinkeloe (photo M.C. Jones, www.mcjonesphotography.com)
A surprise last-minute bonus is Biggi Vinkeloe, a sorceress of avant / jazz wind energy, and veteran of stellar collaborations with Roberto Bellatalla, Alberto Braida, Chris Brown, Lisle Ellis, Marco Eneidi, Ken Filiano, Gianni Gebbia, Vinny Golia, Giancarlo Locatelli, Miya Masaoka (正岡みや), Barre Phillips, Gino Robair, Cecil Taylor, Peeter Uuskyla, and Marie Wärme, among many others, who will also réprise her long-standing collaboration with Bay Area master drummer Donald Robinson in added duets.
Biggi Vinkeloe's feminist spiritual oratorio JADE
Fresh from Sweden and two brilliant album releases, the feminist spiritual oratorio JADE, and the second album of her trio with bassist Damon Smith and tuba-ist/trombonist Mark Weaver, A Place Meant for Birds, Biggi Vinkeloe will interweave her unique and subtle wind lines with Donald Robinson in additional duets.
au quotidien, a new album with Biggi Vinkeloe, master drummer Donald Robinson, and cello madman Teddy Rankin-Parker, and myself, is in production for release in early 2016.
duo B. (Jason Levis and Lisa Mezzacappa) perform at the Makeout Room, San Francisco
◉ Set 1: duo B. Jason Levis: percussion & Lisa Mezzacappa: bass, 7:30pm
duo B. is an ensemble of acoustic bass + percussion that plays ethereal chamber music wrapped in dense improvised soundscapes. Jason Levis uses gongs, Tibetan singing bowls, bowed cymbals, marimba and drumset to create lush, delicate textures and abstract noise grooves.
Jason Levis performing with Cory Wright and Rob Ewing, 07 Oct 2013, Nebraska Mondays Series, Sacramento
The music of composer, drummer, and percussionist Jason Levis lives in the rich spaces where styles intersect and musical languages merge. Active in jazz, contemporary improvisation, and modern classical composition, his wide-ranging creative efforts are skillfully bound by his innate sense of timbre, sonic space, rhythmic force, and his insatiable interest in discovery. Over the years his passion and curiosity have led him to search out the intersections of musical paths less traveled (spectralist jazz, anyone?), and the resulting unique perspective is reflected in his music. Jason holds a Ph.D. in composition from UC Berkeley. Recently returned from Berlin, he currently teaches at the California Jazz Conservatory.
Lisa & Anti-Lisa Mezzacappa (photo - Peter Gannushkin/downtownmusic.net)
Lisa Mezzacappa draws on a palette of sinister drones, punchy vamps and acoustic bass manipulations to weave storylines through gnarly rhythms, pointillistic shapes and ecstatic melodies.
“…mysterious, complexly textured improvisations that sometimes take shape as the aural equivalent of abstract expressionist paintings, whether the ethereal, mystical canvasses of Mark Rothko or the jittery, splatter techniques of Jackson Pollock.”
— Derk Richardson, KPFA radio host and music critic
Lisa Mezzacappa is a bassist, bandleader, composer, curator and producer. She leads her own groups Bait & Switch, Nightshade, Eartheaters & the Lisa Mezzacappa Trio, and co-leads the ensembles BODABODA, duo B., Cylinder, the Mezzacappa-Phillips Duo, and the Caribbean folk band Les Gwan Jupons. Lisa also performs as a sideperson in original jazz, improv and chamber ensembles led by esteemed bandleaders and West Coast musical visionaries, like Phillip Greenlief, Aaron Novik, Beth Custer, Randy McKean, Marco Eneidi, Vijay Anderson, Aaron Bennett, Myles Boisen, Steve Adams, Graham Connah, Jon Raskin, Cory Wright and Ross Hammond, and as well collaborates frequently with Vinny Golia, Katy Stephan, Aram Shelton, Kjell Nordeson, Murray Campbell, Dina Maccabee, Noah Phillips, Rob Ewing, Kasey Knudsen, Sam Ospovat, John Hanes, and many many others.
Lisa’s most recent triumph was the acclaimed Glorious Ravage, a panoramic free jazz multimedia song cycle based on writings of lady explorers of the 19th century, which toured northern and southern California in fall 2015.
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Experience the all the colors of rhythm in intimate, intense duets — come vibrate with us at Center For New Music!
どうぞ。。。
Joe