As I reflect on the 10th anniversary season of the free Sudden Sound Concert Series, I have looked back to the music and locales from which I started my journey in and appreciation of improvised music and the jazz avant-garde.
With the March 19th concert featuring Elliott Levin, Rick Iannacone, and Avreeayl Ra, I wanted to not only celebrate the Philadelphia musicians that introduced me to this music, but also provide a new opportunity for them to collaborate with a long-time Chicago based artist performing in their arena.
This week's Sudden Sound Concert features Gerald Cleaver's Black Host. As I look forward to experiencing this incredible group of jazz musicians, I hope to bring to Champaign-Urbana the music and energy of New York City, the city I arrived here from in 2000.
I'm thrilled to be presenting one of New York's most exciting projects, an improvising "super" quintet featuring Cooper-Moore (keyboards, synthesizer), Brandon Seabrook (guitar), Darius Jones (alto saxophone), Pascal Niggenkemper (bass), and Gerald Cleaver (drums). This surely will be one of the most memorable concerts to date.
I will look forward to seeing you there this Thursday, April 23 at 7:30 pm.
- Jason