Clavius Productions -- along with Fourth Wall Productions -- is extremely proud to present the first DC appearance by legendary free-jazz vibraphonist Khan Jamal in years. Bringing Khan to DC is particularly important to me, as he is one of my favorite improv percussionists, especially in the realm of the vibraphone. Not only is he responsible for one of the most psychedelic, expansive albums of all-time (1972's
Drum Dance to the Motherland), he contributed mightily to many of Sunny Murray's loft sessions in the '70s and Ronald Shannon Jackson and Billy Bang albums in the '80s, as well as appearances on albums by Jemeel Moondoc, Joe Bonner, Roy Campbell, Monette Sudler, Ted Daniel, and even DJ Spooky and Antipop Consortium. Certainly an underrated figure in avant-jazz over the past 40 years, Khan is more than deserving of a wider audience. Unfortunately, he has fallen upon some hard times recently, though he still possesses the desire to share his wonderful talent for new, appreciative listeners. More info below...
Wednesday, December 2
Bossa
2463 18th St NW WDC
$10, 21+
Doors at 7:30, show at 8 sharp!
Kohoutek Dashin Gassoudan (100% percussion, featuring Nathan Bowles of Pelt/Black Twigs/Black History Moth and John Howard of Hat City Intuitive/Plums/Foreign Press)
Khan Jamal (Philly free-jazz vibraphone legend!)
Vattel Cherry (solo upright bass, from Baltimore)
Chromatic Mysteries (free-jazz ensemble featuring members of Kohoutek/PRV Trio/Sonic Suicide Squad/Matta Gawa)
Kohoutek Dashin Gassoudanhttp://www.claviusproductions.org/kohoutekThe standard Kohoutek bio is thrown out the window for this performance, which will be the 6th all-percussion set. Joining me -- for the second time -- will be John Howard (Hat City Intuitive/Plums/Spaceships Panic Orbit/Foreign Press/Cheniers), and southwest Virginia's amazing Nathan Bowles (Pelt/Spiral Joy Band/Black Twigs/Black History Moth/Jack Rose). Howard is one of my favorite percussionists in the DC area and Bowles' work with Jack Rose and the Black Twigs is never less than tasteful, and I am pleased to have us all onstage simultaneously. Think Milford Graves' ESP record, Tony Oxley, Han Bennink, and Bruford/Muir circa 1973 Crimson and you're on the right track.
Khan JamalA rare DC appearance from the vibraphone legend... Khan Jamal has been playing the vibraphone and marimbas in the Philadelphia and NYC area as well as touring extensively in Europe for going on 4 decades. Having studied at Granoff School of Music and Combs College as well as with Bill Lewis, the Philadelphia vibraphonist, he began an association with the renowned improvisational drummer, Sunny Murray back in the 60's that has lasted to this day. His appetite for all ranges of music and a distaste for marketing himself not uncommon among gifted performers has led to a lack of notoriety, except among fellow artists who acknowledge his skill and musical leadership. Uncomfortable with the label jazz, as are many of his fellow muscians, Khan prefers the term creative improvised music. Some of his explorations with David Murray, Frank Wright and Sunny Murray led him to be tagged as an avant garde musician, playing primarily abstract 'out' music. The label illustrates formal jazz criticism's tendency to use sophisticated analysis as a mask for pigeonholing and consequently rendering an incomplete perspective. And, coincidentally, perpetuating the same old thing. As Sun Ra said, 'they're on the right road all the time, they're going the wrong direction'. In fact, recordings such as 'Thinking of You' reveal more of Khan's sensibility and accessibility even to inexperienced music listeners, playing with a warmth and joy that would surprise his avant garde labelists. Check out any of Khan's wonderful records for Eremite, Steeplechase, and Gazell for a demonstration of his boundless talents and beautiful tone!
Chromatic MysteriesScott Verrastro + Ed Ricart, augmented by very special guests -- ecstatic free jazz! Looks like this evening will be a very special quintet set with Khan Jamal, Vattel Cherry, and percussionist Nathan Bowles...or maybe not! You never know what we're gonna do, cuz we don't know either!
Vattel CherryF. Vattel Cherry is the founder of Vattel Cherry's bassrespanse, a collective of four improvising double bassist/composers. Formed on the Web in 1999, the members are some 450 miles apart on the East Coast. Their first recorded effort was an interpretation of "Strange Fruit" for a Billie Holiday tribute CD produced by the Baltimore CityPaper.
Vattel has studied with bassists Linda McKnight, Keter Betts and Fred Hopkins. He has worked with many brilliant musicians including Charles Gayle, Brother Ah (Robert Northern), John Tchicai, William Parker, David Murray's Big Band, Cecil Taylor's PTHONGOS and Charlie Persip's Superband. On over a dozen CDs as a sideman, Vattel has two CDs as a leader, "is it because i'm black" and "For Those Who Heal," both on Commercial Free Jazz.
Mr. Cherry earned a BA from the Manhattan School of Music. He is the bass instructor at Morgan State University and the Development Assistant at the Children's Chorus of Maryland.
