Roulette Members and Patron Circle Members may reserve a limited number of tickets using their member benefits by contacting Eric Umble at eric@roulette.org or (917) 267-2440. Member and Patron Circle reservations must be made in advance.

Yoshiko Chuma, a legend in post-modern dance and close acquaintance of free music, kicks off night 3 of Vision Festival with her multidisciplinary group, The School of Hard Knocks. In Chuma’s words: “What we do is ambiguous. We don’t have a statement. If we had a statement, we would be a writer.” C’est Trois, trumpeter jaimie branch’s new trio with the unstoppable rhythm section of bassist Luke Stewart and drummer Tscher Holmes, come together to make anti-fascist free punk improvised electronic creative moment music. Unnameable Element is the brainchild of vocalist/percussionist Leo Chang, in collaboration with trumpeter Chris Williams, video artist/dancer Miriam Parker, and cellist Lester St. Louis. The powerful horn player and generational voice James Brandon Lewis presents his band Red Lily, featuring cornetist Kirk Knuffke, bassist William Parker, and drummer Chad Taylor. The repertoire is inspired by the life and legacy of African-American musician-painter-writer-scientist George Washington Carver. The evening’s finale features a new electro-acoustic ensemble under the direction of jazz’s premier flutist, Nicole Mitchell.

Set 1, 6:30pm 3×3 “HEAD IN THE SAND ” to Tipping Utopia to Vision Festival
by Yoshiko Chuma and The School of Hard knocks
Yoshiko Chuma / Miriam Parker / Emily Mare Pope
Jason Kao Hwang – violin
Steve Swell – trombone
Christopher Mclntyre – trombone

Set 2, 7:30pm C’est Trois
jaimie branch – trumpet
Luke Stewart – bass
Tcheser Holmes – drums
Scott Kiernan – live video art

Set 3, 8:30pm Unnameable Element
Leo Chang – voice, piri
Chris Williams – trumpet
Lester St. Louis – cello
Miriam Parker – movement

Set 4, 9:30pm Red Lily
James Brandon Lewis – tenor sax
Kirk Knuffke – cornet
William Parker – bass
Chad Taylor – drums

Set 5, 10:30pm Nicole Mitchell Ensemble
Nicole Mitchell – flutes, composition
Joshua White – piano
Ken Filiano – bass
Terri Lyne Carrington – drums
Val Jeanty – electronics, percussion

Founded in 1996, the Vision Festival is New York City’s longest continuously running jazz festival. Now in its 26th year, this festival of music, dance, poetry, and visual art is heralded as “one of New York’s most essential art events” (New York Times). Performances feature legendary and emerging stars representing the free jazz, experimental, and avant-garde communities and include Lifetime Achievement honorees like Amina Claudine Myers, Andrew Cyrille, Dave Burrell, Peter Brötzmann, and Milford Graves. This year, we honor Wadada Leo Smith and Oliver Lake.

Photo Credit: Kristi Sutton Elias, Anna Yatskevich