Saturday – The first-annual Albert Ayler Festival is taking over a park on Roosevelt Island from 2-10pm today. Featuring the likes of Marshall Allen, Gunter Hampel, Charles Gayle, William Hooker and Sabir Mateen, the rain-or-shine tribute festival seems poised to become one the most important avant-garde jazz events of the year.
Sunday – Multi-reedist Andy Laster brings his Sounds Of Cairo band to Barbes in Park Slope, Brooklyn. With Sounds Of Cairo, the free-minded Laster has focused on the 1920’s Cairo cafe scene for compositional inspiration. He’ll be joined by Curtis Hasselbring on trombone, Erik Friedlander on cello and Kermit Driscoll on bass.
If you’re in the city, legendary multi-instrumentalist, AACM founding member, and member of the revolutionary Art Ensemble of Chicago, Joseph Jarman will join guitarist — and the bandleader for this gig — John Ehlis and pianist John Smart at the 5C Cultural Center on the Lower East Side.
Monday – Well into his ninth decade, saxophonist Marshall Allen continues to tour the world to spread the interstellar gospel of his longtime employer, the pianist Sun Ra. Allan will be at Alice Tully Hall tonight, leading the Sun Ra Horns.
Also, if you can stand the less-than-ideal setting of an Irish bar on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, head to Spike Hill for a night of music from some up-and-coming Brooklyn improvisers. Guitarist, composer Bruce Holmberg leads off, followed by pianst Landon Knoblock’s Realistic Band — featuring saxophonists Oscar Noriega and Noah Preminger — and the Matt Snow Group.
Tuesday – Jenny Sheinman brings a welcome modernist flair to the violin in the groups of Bill Frisell and bassist Ben Allison. Recently, she has toured and recorded as a leader with compelling results. Her quartet, with guitarist Nels Cline, bassist Todd Sickafoose and drummer Jim Black, begin a three-night run at the Village Vanguard.
Wednesday – Innovative saxophonists Jane Ira Bloom and Matana Roberts lead a sextet called s/p(l)ace with the sympathetic, but dynamic backing by Dave Taylor, Jin Hi Kim, Mark Helias, and Gerry Hemingway.
Thursday – Creative Music Studio cofounders and husband and wife team Karl Berger and Ingrid Sertso are curating at The Stone this month. Tonight, Berger’s serene, but searching vibes and piano will be supported by long-time musical partners, bassist Joe Fonda and drummer Barry Altschul.
Friday – If you ever had the chance to be two places at once, tonight would be the night. At 8pm, saxophonist Ellery Eskelin plays duo with long-time compatriot Gerry Hemingway. At the same time, across the East River, the brilliant British saxophonist John Butcher begins a solo set at Issue Project Room.
tuneOUToptIN 