Recent concerts
I enjoyed starting fall 2014 performing 4 gigs with some fantastic bands. The first was to premiere some new compositions by Mark Dresser with his quintet at Cornelia St. Cafe in NYC, along with Rudresh Mahanthappa, Denman Maroney and Michael Sarin. Then back on the west coast I had another chance to play on LA’s excellent Angel City Jazz Festival, … Read more
Downbeat and All About Jazz coverage
I’m grateful to be featured in a “players profile” by Joe Tangari in the current issue of Downbeat magazine. It’s subtitled “Interactive Systems” and he discusses my trio and my work with live electronics, as well as composing for telematic concerts. And my latest trio CD, Resonating Abstractions, was also reviewed this month in All About Jazz magazine by Robert Bush, … Read more
Marty Ehrlich’s “A Trumpet In The Morning”
I’m honored to be on this fantastic new CD on New World Records by Marty Ehrlich, a musician I deeply admire and also a mentor and friend. His Large Ensemble features an incredible group of people, including some veteran master musicians on our scene. The title track is especially powerful, a concerto-like work featuring the beautiful sounds of J.D. Parran, … Read more
New CD: Resonating Abstractions
My new trio CD, titled Resonating Abstractions, is now out on Clean Feed Records. It’s a multi-part composition that was inspired by seven contemporary abstract painters and commissioned through Chamber Music America’s “New Jazz Works” award, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. It also features the phenomenal artistry of my collaborators, Christopher Tordini on bass and Dan Weiss on … Read more
Tour with Jason Robinson’s Janus Ensemble
With the extreme cold weather in the northeast US this year, few things would make me excited about leaving southern California in February for a tour that goes as far north as Montreal… but this is one of them: 5 concerts with a fantastic band led by my longtime friend and collaborator Jason Robinson and featuring Bill Lowe, Marty Ehrlich, Oscar Noriega, Liberty Ellman, Drew … Read more
Concerts with Han Bennink, Mary Oliver and Mark Dresser
I’m thrilled to be performing two concerts in Southern California with drummer Han Bennink, violinist/violist Mary Oliver and bassist Mark Dresser. They’re all phenomenal improvisers and wonderful people, and it’s always a special privilege to play with Han, who has been part of this music’s history since the 1960s and has such a beautiful mix of intense energy and deep … Read more
Yusef Lateef (1920-2013)
Yusef Lateef passed away today, at the age of 93. Yusef will always be an inspiration for me. He was the first teacher who helped me develop a practice of creating my own music as a composer-improviser, and he provided a profound model for what that could mean. He was one of the most exceptionally dedicated, imaginative and curious musicians … Read more
Northeast concerts, Dec. 2013
I’m looking forward ending 2013 by playing music with some fantastic people in New York City, New Haven (CT) and Northampton (MA), including two gigs with the Mark Dresser Quintet (Firehouse 12 and Cornelia St. Cafe), one with my own trio (Seeds in Brooklyn) and one with some friends in Northampton. Details are on the events page – hope to … Read more
Jazz Composers Orchestra Institute
I had a fantastic experience in September 2013, hearing a reading of my orchestral composition, Slippages, by the La Jolla Symphony and conductor Steve Schick. They were a pleasure to work with and I’m so grateful to Steve and all the musicians and organizers for this opportunity. It was made possible through the Jazz Composers Orchestra Institute, a program sponsored … Read more
Nourishments, from the Mark Dresser Quintet
I’m thrilled to be a member of the Mark Dresser Quintet, which recently released a new album called Nourishments on Clean Feed Records. Mark’s music is always profoundly inspiring for me, so it’s been a privilege and pleasure to collaborate with him closely in this band and many other projects during the past decade. The quintet also includes alto saxophonist … Read more
Projected presence
The Virtual Tour concerts in April were very inspiring and well worth the long year of work we put in to make them happen. We got some nice press, and we’re now mixing and editing the recordings, with plans to release everything on DVD in the future. In the meantime, I have to share this picture of the stage in … Read more
Orchestra Reading: Slippages
I’m thrilled to have been selected by the Jazz Composers Orchestra Institute, a program run through the American Composers Orchestra, for a September 2013 reading of a new work I’m composing for orchestra. The La Jolla Symphony, conducted by Steven Schick, will play my piece Slippages. Steve is a fantastic musician, and I’m looking forward to this opportunity to explore … Read more
Virtual Tour concerts
I’m excited to announce a major telematic concert series we’re producing this April (2013). Titled Virtual Tour: A Reduced Carbon Footprint Concert Series, it will be a series of 3 concerts, each involving a core ensemble in San Diego, CA, performing together with a different remote ensemble each night: Amherst, MA (April 5); Zurich, Switzerland (April 6); and Stony Brook, … Read more
Resonating Abstractions premieres
I had a fantastic time this past week on my trio tour with Christopher Tordini and Dan Weiss, performing 5 concerts to premiere a new composition, Resonating Abstractions, that was commissioned through Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works award. Thanks to everyone who came out and listened! Not only was it amazing (as always) to play with Chris and Dan, … Read more
Fromm Commission
I’m thrilled to have been awarded a 2012 Fromm Foundation Commission, and honored to be in the company of this year’s diverse array of recipients. The piece I’ll compose will be a scorestream (algorithmic, computer-displayed score) for trombone, bass and percussion with live electronics. It’ll involve some improvisation, but it’s not meant only for my own trio. Instead, I’m planning … Read more
Bi-coastal MD Trio tour
11/26-12/1, 2012: This fall I’m finishing a new composition for my trio titled Resonating Abstractions, which is based on work by seven contemporary abstract painters, and was commissioned through Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works program, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. We’ll premiere it in late November and early December on a tour with 5 concerts split across the … Read more
Generations
I’m grateful to have started October with two rewarding sideperson concerts, inspired by bandmates who range in age from 27 to 78. The first was in San Diego with the fantastic Joshua White and his quintet, and was reviewed in the SD Reader by Robert Bush. I then had the privilege of performing the following night on the Angel City Jazz Festival with … Read more
Hammer Museum Concert
Looking forward to a concert with my trio at the Hammer Museum in LA on Friday, Sept. 7, with free admission. Although Dan Weiss couldn’t make this date, I’m always excited for a chance to play with Jason Nazary, another fantastic drummer, along with the stupendous Chris Tordini on bass.