Avant-rock guitarist Ava Mendoza meets Matt Nelson, Hamid Drake, and Adam Lane for an unpredictable and wide variety of musical textures and temperaments. Marty Ehrlich’s Trio Exaltation with John Hébert and Nasheet Waits, Ehrlich’s first trio in many years, draws upon a shared musical history as members of Andrew Hill’s sextet. NYC free jazz mainstay Rob Brown presents a new quartet with Chris Lightcap, Steve Swell, and Chad Taylor, in support of a forthcoming record on Rogue Art. Matthew Shipp and William Parker reconnect in a duo format for the first time in many years in the US. Rising star pianist Kris Davis continues her streak of adventurous collaborations, inviting two luminary musicians, drummer Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, and bassist William Parker for a special trio performance.
Mendoza/Nelson/Lane/Drake
Ava Mendoza: guitar
Matt Nelson: tenor sax
Adam Lane: bass
Hamid Drake: drums
Marty Ehrlich Trio Exaltation
Marty Ehrlich: alto sax
John Hébert: bass
Nasheet Waits: drums
Matthew Shipp / William Parker Duo
Matthew Shipp: piano / William Parker: bass
Rob Brown Quartet
Rob Brown: alto sax
Chris Lightcap: bass
Steve Swell: trombone
Chad Taylor: drums
Kris Davis Trio – January Painters
Kris Davis: piano
Jeff “Tain” Watts: drums
William Parker: bass
The Vision Festival is a celebration of boundless improvised art. Now in its 24th 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). Legendary and emerging stars representing the free jazz, experimental, and avant-garde communities will perform 30 sets over six nights.
Founded in 1996, festival presenter Arts For Art (AFA) is a New York City-based tax exempt organization dedicated to the promotion and advancement of free jazz — an American indigenous art form in which improvisation is principle.
The Vision Festival is a co-production between Arts for Art and Roulette. The festival is made possible in part thanks to public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the city council. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Support through New Music USA’s NYC New Music Impact Fund is made possible with funding from The Scherman Foundation’s Katharine S. and Axel G. Rosin Fund. This program is made possible in part thanks to the Howard Gilman Foundation and the Jacob and Ruth Epstein Foundation.
Photo: Kris Davis by Caroline Murdok, Tain Watts by Vincent Lebrun, Rob Brown Quartet
