Full Description:

Downbeat Magazine describes pianist Borah Bergman as "having the hands of an eccentric genius." As a teenager, Bergman saw the one- (left-) handed pianist Paul Wittgenstein perform, and he was inspired to develop his own left hand to make it the complete equal of his right in both strength and independence. Now completely ambidextrous, he improvises horn-like lines with both hands, sometimes crossed, in a contrapuntal and polyphonic, multi-layered dialogue that allows pieces to be turned upside down without loss of rhythmic intensity or aesthetic shape. For his Roulette appearance, Bergman will perform Dimensions in Direction, piano compositions and improvisations, which relate to the above description and which showcase his unique style of playing, which he calls "ambi-ideation."

Full Description:

Pianist Bergman is a kinetic mixture of Bud Powell, Monk, and Charles Ives and one of the most ambidextrous pianist in circulation. His collaborators have included Evan Parker, Peter Brotzman and Thomas Chapin. Staley is a trombonist known for wandering into the Serengeti equipped with just a breakfast bar and a marmon mute. His resume runs through nosebleed serialism into Zorn world. Its volatile mixture to put these two together, freestyle. It won't be pretty.

Full Description:

Borah Bergman, piano; Thomas Buckner, voice; and Roscoe Mitchell, sax; plus a special first time appearance with drummer/percussionist, Thurman Barker. Gentle, centered, transcendent and riveting.

Full Description:

"Duo, a freewheeling and explosive alliance of two venerable composer/performers, pianist Borah Bergman and saxophonist Oliver Lake. Using the blue as both reference and challenge, the two take possession of the free territory between the revealed and the yet-to be"

Full Description:

Pianist-composer, Borah Bergman, dedicates this concert to the memory of the late, great master, Don Cherry. Bergman's own concept of "ambi-ideation" will reflect the influence of Cherry's music. Performing with Bergman will be the brilliant percussionist, Hamid Drake, who played with Cherry since the '70's.

Full Description:

Ritual symbology for improvisors. Trombone and piano.

Full Description:

"Upside Down Bridges 1988" for piano solo, a goodbye to ancient assumptions about fingers and ears.

Full Description:

Upside Down Visions, by one of the most luxuriant of all pianists to wax and wane on the Roulette piano. We pass a hat to fund the inevitable repair bill. NY Times said 'Strikingly original.'

Full Description:

Piano improvisations

Full Description:

Hand to Hand Combat, solo piano