July 24th Listings

Saturday – Frequent duo partners Pianist Connie Crothers and bassist Michael Bisio decided to record one of their frequent sessions at Crothers’ Williamsburg loft last year. The results were magical, and released this year on the Mutable Music label. They will revisit the format at The Stone tonight, in what promises to be a riveting reunion.

Sunday – Saxophonist Michael Blake will debut some new music at the 55 Bar with his new quartet, a group that includes pianist Landon Knoblock, bassist Michael Bates, and drummer Greg Ritchie.

Monday – If you can’t beat the heat, at least hear some beautiful music. The elegant and incisive pianist Armen Donelian will take the stage in Bryant Park at 12:30 PM for a free concert.

Tuesday – While I have never hear the band This Sporting Life, the inclusion of the multireedist Josh Sinton and Myk Freedman — who played lapsteel beautifully when I went to school with him; you’ve got to love him just for that, right? — makes this an easy pick. The show is at Douglass Street Music Collective in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn, so go out and hear some new music at a venue that deserves, and needs, your support. I’ll see you there.

Wednesday – Two women — guitarist Mary Halvorson and multi-instrumentalist Ikue Mori — who are continually redefining and reinvigorating improvisation play back to back at the Whitney Museum. Halvorson is the relative newcomer, but has been a force on the NYC creative music scene for the last 5 years. Mori has been a fixture since the late 1970’s when she emerged with the likes of the seminal downtown group DNA; today, she applies her considerable skills to laptop loops and electronic drones. Catch Halvorson at 1 PM followed by Mori at 4.

Thursday – Pianist Joanne Brackeen is a specialist when it comes to thorny rhythms and group interplay, but she is also a skilled ballad interpreter. Catch her compelling post-bop quartet — featuring bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Johnathan Blake — at the Jazz Standard tonight.

Friday – John Zorn hosts an improv night at The Stone featuring virbraphonist and pianist Karl Berger, multireedist Scott Robinson, pianist Sylvie Courvoisier, multi-instrumentalist Ikue Mori, drummer Greg Cohen and other guests. Not to be missed.

July 3rd Listings

Saturday – Three consummate multi-instrumentalists — Scott Robinson, JD Parran and Vinny Golia — share the spotlight at The Stone. At 8, the trio will take part in what might very well be a first of its kind: each will perform on bass saxophone, the massive, largely obsolete instrument. At 10, the woodwind trio returns with a set of clarinet music. They will be backed during both sets by bassist Julian Thayler and drummer Warren Smith.

Sunday – If your not watching fireworks over the Hudson, head over to The Stone at 8 for Russian pianist Vladimir Tarasov along with violinist Jason Kao Hwang and bassist Mark Dresser. At 10, Dresser will be joined by equally accomplished improvisors, drummer Gerry Hemingway and saxophonist Earl Howard.

Monday – On its website, the downtown bar The Local 269 , proclaims itself “the last bastion of great music in NYC.” Tongue and cheek aside, on a steamy night in early July, the statement just might ring true. The day after the 4th is traditionally dead in NYC, and this year is no exception. Luckily, 269 has booked a multigenerational lineup of downtown stalwarts, among them Ken Filiano, Vinny Golia, Michael TA Thompson, Darius Jones, and Tom Blancarte.

Tuesday – Multi-instrumentalist and general visionary Gunter Hampel makes a rare solo appearance at Rose Live Music, in Williamsburg. At first glance, Rose seems indistinguishable from the countless bars clustered under the BQE, but the intimate venue has developed a reputation in the last five years for presenting a diverse array of left-of-center talent. This is a must-see, in my opinion.

Wednesday – Another stellar line-up at The Stone. At 8, multi-instrumentalist, composer, Andrea Parkins performs solo, and at 10, bassist Mario Pavone leads a powerhouse trio featuring tenorist Tony Malaby and drummer Tyshawn Sorey.

Thursday – I swear, there are other venues in New York besides The Stone, but this had to be my pick. Pianist, vibraphonist, composer Karl Berger makes an infrequent trip to the city from his long-time home-base of Woodstock, New York for two sets. At 8, he’ll join flutist Sylvain Leroux, and at 10, he will be the featured guest in multi-instrumentalist Bohdan Hilash’s sextet.