Marty Ehrlich – clarinets, Mark Feldman – violin, Erik Friedlander – cello, Alan Jaffe – guitar, Mark Helias – bass.

Marty Ehrlich continues his Dark Woods odyssey, with an expanded edition of his long-running ensemble. The live performances of this group have been called “an object lesson in the limitations of labels.” Come in for the shade, stay for the fire.

Marty Ehrlich is one of the most celebrated artists of his generation, critically acclaimed as both composer and player. Equally fluent on clarinet, saxophone, and flutes, Ehrlich has been hailed as “one of the most formidable multi- instrumentalists since Eric Dolphy…the jazz dream musician” (The Village Voice). The New York Times calls him “one of the premier melodicists of his generation,” and The Nation, “one of his time’s most original thinkers (with) a rare and wonderful talent, a now yearning, now biting attack and a stunningly voice like expressiveness.” Jazz Zeitung states that “If there is a believable poetic sensibility in jazz, you will find it with Marty Ehrlich.” The Jazz Journalist Association honored him as Wind Player of the Year in 2001, and as Clarinetist of the year in 2003.

Since moving to New York in 1978, Ehrlich has performed his compositions throughout America, Europe, and Canada with three ongoing ensembles. The music of The Marty Ehrlich Quartet has been called “sophisticated, rewarding work of a mature artist’s vision, masterfully realized.” (Barnes and Noble.com) Its most recent release is Line on Love (2003). The Traveler’s Tales Group is a quartet of two horns and rhythm section. Its most recent recording, Malinke’s Dance, was chosen as one the ten best recordings of 2001 in the Village Voice. The Dark Woods Ensemble features Ehrlich’s woodwinds with cello and bass. Its most recent release, Sojourn, received an award from Absolute Sound Magazine as one of the three best recordings of the year. Ehrlich has recorded 14 CD’s with these ensembles, on the Palmetto, Enja, New World, Omnitone, and Tzadik labels.

To see full program, click on the attached image.