Instrumentals

Program 1, March 23:
William Basinski, Vivian & Ondine
Tristan Perich, Dual Synthesis

Program 2, March 24:
Arthur Russell, Instrumentals directed by Peter Gordon
Mary Halvorson, Septet nos. 30-33

Curated by Nick Hallett

Co-presented with Carnegie Hall as part of the 2012 American Mavericks Festival

The second evening begins with a new septet convened by Brooklyn-based guitarist Mary Halvorson, who effortlessly connects jazz, pop, and experimental strategies. The septet includes Kirk Knuffke (cornet), Greg Ward (alto saxophone), Ingrid Laubrock (tenor saxophone), Jacob Garchik (trombone), Mary Halvorson (guitar), John Hebert (bass) and Tom Rainey (drums). The weekend culminates with work by Arthur Russell, former Kitchen Music Director and protean composer who set the contemporary standard for fluidity between musical genres as he moved freely among avant-garde composition, traditional songwriting, and commercial disco. His Instrumentals, which played at The Kitchen in 1975, and was described by The New York Times as “full of stirring melody, part Copland and part western movie soundtrack,” will be given a new reading directed by composer Peter Gordon, a friend and collaborator of Russell’s. Musicians appearing on Instrumentals include Ernie Brooks* (bass guitar), Peter Gordon* (saxophones, organ), Zach Layton (guitar), Katie Porter (bass clarinet), Bill Ruyle* (mallets, percussion), Elio Villafranca (piano), Alex Waterman (cello), and Peter Zummo* (trombone).

*member of Instrumentals ensemble (1975-1978)