Join us for the fourth annual three-night celebration of the late guitarist Derek Bailey, bringing together master improvisers to perform in rotating combinations. This year Roulette co-founder and former Artistic Director Jim Staley invited three guest curators to put together the lineups: Wendy Eisenberg (1.22), Chris Ryan Williams (1.23), and Chris Cochrane (1.24). 

Improv Nights was originally initiated by John Zorn, to whom Derek Bailey was a dear friend and mentor. Bailey’s passion for pure improvisation inspired generations of musicians from a wide variety of backgrounds. For these three nights we return to the Improv Night tradition that began as benefits for The Stone, and that have been, in many ways, inspired by Derek Bailey’s legendary Company Weeks. Each evening will present a rotating kaleidoscope of musicians, who will then divide into smaller improvisational units—each concert promising a unique experience.

Thursday, January 22 // Curated by Wendy Eisenberg
Eliza Salem drums
Ryan Sawyer drums
Kate Gentile drums
Nora Stanley sax
Emmanuel Michael guitar
Charmaine Lee voice/electronics
Patrick Holmes clarinet
Wendy Eisenberg guitar

Friday, January 23 // Curated by Chris Ryan Williams
Zeena Parkins harp
Booker Stardrum drums
Nate Wooley trumpet
Kwami Winfield electronics
Caroline Davis saxophone
Ryan Sawyer drums
Alexandra Buschman-Román electronics, vocals
Patrick Holmes clarinet
Amir ElSaffar trumpet
Rafiq Batia guitar
Chris Williams trumpet

Saturday, January 24 // Curated by Chris Cochrane
Sam Newsome soprano sax
Dafna Naphtali electronics and voice
James Ilgenfritz upright bass
Mike Pride drums and percussion
Andrew Drury drums and percussion
Theo Woodward electronics, tambura and voice
Ka Baird vocals
Selendis Sebastian Alexander Johnson vibraphone and trombone
Shoko Nagai piano, accordion and other keyboard and electronics
Sarah Bernstein violin and vocals
Chris Cochrane guitar