Jazz at National Sawdust
Fall programming
Magos Herrera Presents: 1st Thursdays feat. Ivan Melon Lewis
Mar 3th - 9:30pm Ivan “Melon” Lewis quartet is a cuban band that combine the very traditional and most contemporary cuban music. Performing well-known songs as well as original compositions, the group travel through different sounds and harmonies while keep a strong link with their cuban roots. Boleroes, cha-cha-chá or danzones are some of the genres that we can hear from the group, being its very fine performing one of the most remarkable aspects of the quartet.
Magos Herrera Presents: 1st Thursdays feat. Chico Pinheiro Quartet
Apr 7th - 7:00pm At this special evening, Pinheiro presents some of the brand new Music specially composed for his upcoming album, along with an extrardinary Quartet that features Helio Alves on Piano, Edward Perez on Bass and Alex Kautz on Drums. The Concert will be pretty much as an "Avant Prèmiere" of Chico's New Album, to be released in 2016.
Jill Newman Productions & The Blue Note Jazz Festival Present: BILAL, acoustic Produced By Jill Newman Productions
June 24, 2016 - 8:00pm "Philadelphia born, Soul Singer, Bilal is one of the most dynamic artist of our time. Bilal is an eclectic--drawing from gospel, jazz, soul, blues, and hip-hop. Bilal made his major label debut with 2001’s First Born Second. The cd sold over 300,000 copies and announced that Bilal was an artist to watch. Bilal’s sophomore recording Love For Sale leaked to the internet before its official release and would enjoy over half a million downloads. 2010 saw Air Tight’s Revenge, which yielded the Grammy nominated “Little Ones”. In Feb 2013 Bilal released A Love Surreal, which has already garnered critical acclaim being named as one of “People Magazines” top ten albums of the year.” And in 2015 he released his most celebrated project of his career, “In Another Life” produced entirely by retro soul producer Adrian Young.
Jazztopad Festival Presents: Lutosławski Quartet & Uri Caine
June 26, 2016 - 8:00pm Tonight’s concert creates an opportunity for the audience to meet the extraordinary musical persona of Uri Caine, an American classical/jazz pianist and composer.
Magos Herrera Presents: 1st Thursdays with Sergio Krakowski
June 02, 2016 - 7:00pm Groundbreaking Brazilian percussionist and composer Sergio Krakowski celebrates the release of his second CD as a leader, “Pássaros – The Foundation of the Island,” with his trio featuring guitarist Todd Neufeld and pianist Vitor Gonçalves.
Nikara Warren Presents: Black Wall Street
June 18, 2016 - 10:00pm In the early 1900s America’s most affluent Black neighborhood boasted over 600 Black owned businesses, including schools, markets and hospitals. Although Greenwood, Oklahoma’s population was destroyed by local rioting Whites (including the KKK, police force and National Guard) in one of this country’s largest and most unspoken massacres of our history, Nikara Warren pays tribute to Black Wall Street in attempt to create an open discussion for all people about supporting people of color in business, education and the arts. “Black music is a treasure to be uplifted, not destroyed” Nikara Warren
In Situ: Joel Harrison & Infinite Possibility
July 6, 2016 - 7:00pm This new work takes up and expands upon where my first large ensemble cd (Infinite Possibility, 2013) left off, a mixture of jazz, funk, new music, gospel, keening ballads, and corkscrew meters.
In Situ: Joanna Wallfisch Album Release
July 31, 2016 - 7:00pm Critically acclaimed singer and composer Joanna Wallfisch celebrates the release of Gardens In My Mind, her newest recording for Sunnyside Records.
Axel Tosca: Live Performance and Album Debut
July 28, 2016 - 7:00pm Axel Tosca has been playing Cuban-inspired piano since childhood. He has performed with Quest Love and the Roots, and his band, (U)nity, has produced two critically acclaimed albums during their 7 years together.
Jeff McErlain Presents: A Night Of The Delta Blues With CeDell Davis And His Band
October 20, 2016 - 7:00pm The blues is one of the great American contributions to world. It reaches down to the heart of the human condition in the most direct way and transcends all boundaries. It is the truth and we know it when we hear it. We are lucky enough to have some of these original blues artist still with us to share the music in it’s purest form. CeDell Davis is one of those artists. At 90 years old he is living history. I am very excited to bring CeDell Davis to National Sawdust for this very special performance.
ECM Records: Sun of Goldfinger
December 3, 2016 - 7:00pm The mercurial trio comprising saxophonist Tim Berne, drummer Ches Smith and guitarist David Torn explores the edges of the genre, infusing it with perspectives ranging from the minimalist to the cinematic to the metallic. The improvisation-based group effortlessly, seamlessly shifts from atmospheres into shattering mayhem to thrilling effect.
Theo Bleckmann & Shai Maestro: All Souls in the Dark
November 03, 2016 - 7:00pm Vocalist Theo Bleckmann and pianist Shai Maestro are performing “All Souls in the Dark”: turn off your cell phones, lay down, close your eyes and immerse yourself in the sounds, melodies and landscapes of these two master musicians in complete darkness. This is a refuge from the hectic and overstimulation we live in daily; a musical meditation of sorts. Pillows will be provided.
Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society
October 2, 2016 - 7:00pm For a wholly original take on big band’s past, present and future, look to Darcy James Argue” — so says Newsweek’s Seth Colter Walls. The Vancouver-born, Brooklyn-based composer and bandleader has toured nationally and internationally with his 18-piece ensemble, Secret Society, garnering countless awards and nominations and reimagining what a 21st-century big band can sound like.
NS Jazz For Kids: Timbalooloo Duo Workshop
June 17, 2017 - 11:00am Oran Etkin is a critically acclaimed clarinetist and composer who can be heard on major concert stages throughout the world and numerous recordings including a recent Grammy Award Winning compilation. Yet Etkin feels equally at home when he is in New York, surrounded by a gaggle of spellbound children, presenting a riveting story about Herbie Hancock, Tito Puente, or Etkin's musical travels in Indonesia.
Stone Commissioning Series: Ambrose Akinmusire & Mary Halvorson
Aug 30, 2017 - 7:00pm A long time in the works, tonight's performance will be the debut of brand new music by Mary Halvorson (guitar) and Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet)
Theo Bleckmann Presents: Ambrose Akinmusire, Shai Maestro, and Theo Bleckmann
May 21, 2017 - 7:00pm Theo Bleckmann, Ambrose Akinmusire and Shai Maestro are performing in trio for the first time ever in an evening of original material. All three, boundary-crossing musicians will fuse jazz with modern art song, improvisation with extended techniques and ambient choral spaces in a set of hitherto unheard music.
Magos Herrera Presents Brazil Afora with Alex Kautz
Nov 4, 2017 - 7:00pm Magos Herrera curates Brazilian Jazz: Brazil Afora and the Alex Kautz Trio. Saxophonist John Ellis joins as a special guest.
Theo Bleckmann Presents: Shai Maestro and Ambrose Akinmusire
May 21, 2017 - 7:00pm Theo Bleckmann, Ambrose Akinmusire and Shai Maestro are performing in trio for the first time ever in an evening of original material. All three, boundary-crossing musicians will fuse jazz with modern art song, improvisation with extended techniques and ambient choral spaces in a set of hitherto unheard music.
Petros Klampanis: Chroma Album Release
June 15, 2017 - 7:00pm Petros Klampanis celebrates the release of his new album 'CHROMA.' On 'CHROMA' , his third album as a leader and Motéma Music debut, Klampanis explores the colors of human character, inspired by world events and personal experience. 'CHROMA,' the Greek word for “color,” masterfully employs a full spectrum of sonic colors to paint an introspective and emotionally daring artistic statement.
The Revolution Vol. 16
June 24, 2017 - 10:00pm THE REVOLUTION is an emerging musical series that highlights artists and musicians that not only represent the core of independent pop culture in 2016 but who are standing in the breeding ground of an evolution within their genre.
Jean John & The Port Of Life (Album Release Show)
June 16, 2017 - 7:00pm "The Port of Life" is an award winning retrospective compositional work (ASCAP 2017 Johnny Mandel Prize) and a debut album (released by ZKP Ljubljana) by a Slovenian drummer and composer Jean John (Žan Tetičkovič).
Stone Commissioning Series: Julian Lage’s Studies For One Electric Guitar
June 28, 2017 - 7:00pm At age 27, Julian Lage already boasts a resume that an artist twice his age would be proud to claim. A former child prodigy—he was the subject of the 1997 documentary Jules at Eight—the California- born, now New York–based guitarist has collaborated with such giants as Gary Burton, Jim Hall, David Grisman, Béla Fleck, and Charles Lloyd.
Burnt Sugar Arkestra
August 23, 2017 - 7:00pm “We Insist! Freedom Now” Suite ~ where BSA will "caramelize" the pivotal and still timely 1960's social-justice-seeking songs of Abby Lincoln, Max Roach and Oscar Brown Jr.
Jazztopad Festival Presents: Lutoslawski Quartet with Mark Feldman & Sylvie Courvoisier
June 25, 2017 - 4:00pm The American edition of the Jazztopad Festival is presented by the National Forum of Music, the Polish Cultural Institute New York, in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, National Sawdust, Jazz Gallery, Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center, Victoria Jazz Festival and TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival.
Make Music New York Community Day
June 21, 2017 - 4:00pm In partnership with Make Music New York, National Sawdust offers a full evening of workshops and music discovery open free to the public!
The Revolution Vol. 18 | Valerie Orth, The Odd Hawk Orchestra, Khemestry
August 26, 2017 - 10:00pm THE REVOLUTION is an emerging performance series, highlighting Brooklyn & Harlem based artists and musicians that not only represent the core of independent pop culture in 2017 but who currently stand in the breeding ground of evolution within their genre. This volume features Valerie Orth, The Odd Hawk Orchestra, and Khemestry.
Burnt Sugar Arkestra
August 23, 2017 - 10:00pm “BSA's Groiddest Schizznits” or for those unfamiliar with Greg Tate speak BSA’s Greatest Hits (1999-2017) will include tunes from their latest release "All You Zombies Dig The Luminosity" which in the current issue of The Wire Michael A. Gonzales writes " the multiracial group sound like the big poppas and mommas of baby boogie Childish Gambino as they cosmic slop bop across musical high wires."
Stone Commissioning Series: Kris Davis
Sept 27, 2017 - 7:00pm John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series premieres a new work or set of works on the last Wednesday of every month by composers who push the envelope of possibility.
David Krakauer’s Ancestral Groove
Nov 2, 2017 - 7:00pm For over two decades, world-renowned clarinetist David Krakauer has been reinventing and remixing the Jewish music of his ancestry with the sensibility of a contemporary musician strongly informed by funk, jazz and hip-hop.
Jog Blues
October 6, 2017 - 7:00pm Jog Blues brings together Jazz, Blues and Indian Classical music in a 21st century mix, ranging from deep introspection to joyous romps.
Nels Cline, Larry Ochs and Gerald Cleaver
Dec 13, 2017 - 7:00pm Within the universe of sound lies the interstellar sound-space called improvised music. And from within this interstellar space comes the interplanetary space where the sonic energies of Cleaver, Cline and Ochs mind-meld for each unique concert by these three unpredictable music-makers. The National Sawdust concert marks the end of a six-city tour. Expect the music to be focused and energized. Know that these sound explorers - veterans of decades of improvised music - will be doing their utmost to raise the bandstand, and you with it.
Stone Commissioning Series: Brian Marsella
Oct 25, 2017 - 7:00pm Gatos do Sul features premieres of compositions by Brian Marsella inspired by classical, jazz, and folkloric Brazilian music. Influenced by composers from Ernesto Nazareth, Heitor Villa-Lobos and Pixinguinha to Baden Powell and Egberto Gismonti, Marsella combines samba, bossa-nova, choro and more and turns it all on its ear.
The Stone Commissioning Series: Jad Atoui
Nov 29, 2017 - 7:00pm Besides formal musical language and practices, the usage of biological data and behavior analysis as tools to compose, allows not only human beings but also lower life forms, such as plants, to be sonically expressive. In 2015, electronic musician Jad Atoui joined molecular biologist Ivan Marazzi and together, they conceived “Biosonics”, which bestowed plants with the ability to generate compositions performed by musicians on stage in order to monitor biological response and translate it into a performance experience.
Nels Cline and Julian Lage
October 20, 2017 - 7:00pm Beyond Wilco, Cline performs in a duo project with jazz guitar prodigy Julian Lage in addition to a quartet The Nels Cline Four (that includes Lage plus bassist Scott Colley and drummer Tom Rainey).
John Zorn Presents: The Stone Commissioning Series: Vicky Chow
December 27, 2017 - 7:00pm Pianist Vicky Chow performs in trio with longtime John Zorn associates Shanir Blumenkranz and recent MacArthur winner Tyshawn Sorey.
Interstellar Regions: The Late Music of John Coltrane
Dec. 1, 2017 - 7:00pm Celebrate the 50-Year Anniversary of Coltrane’s final album.
Interstellar Regions: The Late Music of John Coltrane
Dec 1, 2017 - 10:00pm Celebrate the 50-Year Anniversary of Coltrane’s final album.
Fred Hersch’s Pocket Orchestra
Dec. 16th, 2017 — 7pmThe Fred Hersch Pocket Orchestra comes to National Sawdust to feature the compositions of 10-time Grammy® nominee Fred Hersch, one of jazz's master pianists and composers.
Jazz for Kids: Timbalooloo
Jan. 20th, 2017 - 11:00am In the Timbalooloo concept, all the instruments come to life and talk through their music so that the children conceive of making music as the magical act of making their instrument come to life.
Jazz for Kids: Timbalooloo
February 17th - 11:00am In the Timbalooloo concept, all the instruments come to life and talk through their music so that the children conceive of making music as the magical act of making their instrument come to life.
Jazz for Kids: Timbalooloo
March 10th - 11:00am In the Timbalooloo concept, all the instruments come to life and talk through their music so that the children conceive of making music as the magical act of making their instrument come to life.
Jazz for Kids: Timbalooloo
April 7th - 11:00am In the Timbalooloo concept, all the instruments come to life and talk through their music so that the children conceive of making music as the magical act of making their instrument come to life.
Jazz for Kids: Timbalooloo
May 26th - 11:00am In the Timbalooloo concept, all the instruments come to life and talk through their music so that the children conceive of making music as the magical act of making their instrument come to life.
Jazz for Kids: Timbalooloo
June 16th - 11:00am In the Timbalooloo concept, all the instruments come to life and talk through their music so that the children conceive of making music as the magical act of making their instrument come to life.
John Zorn Presents: The Stone Commissioning Series: Pamelia Stickney
March 28th, 2018 - 7:00pm For March, Zorn presents theremin maven Pamelia Stickney, whose playing has been described as “haunting” by People’s World.
John Zorn Presents: The Stone Commissioning Series: Craig Taborn
February 28th, 2018 - 7:00pm Listen to Taborn premiere a brand new work on the stage for the first time, along with other repertoire that Taborn personally curates for the evening.
John Zorn Presents: The Stone Commissioning Series: Tyshawn Sorey
January 31st, 2018 - 7:00pm As the first of the new year, this special edition of the Stone Series features Tyshawn Sorey front and center
Spring Revolution: CuCu Diamantes – Sins of Picasso
March 8th, 2018 - 7pm The Sins of Picasso is a hybrid of music, performance art, cabaret and theater centered around 8-10 music themes written by CuCu Diamantes and performed in collaboration with musicians and artists, led by musical director Alain Perez, to express the vitality of Latin-American and Caribbean-American culture.
Spring Revolution: Du Yun + Ok Miss
March 9th, 2018 - 10pm Pulitzer Prize winning composer and “indie pop diva” Du Yun (New York Times) takes the stage with OK Miss, her own experimental band, who will debut a slew of new material.
Spring Revolution: Aakash Mittal’s Awaz Trio
March 11th, 2018 - 7:30pm The Awaz Trio sculpts sonic landscapes, pointillistic textures, and angular melodies from Indian and American improvised music. The trio has performed across the Northeast, New York, Denver, and Kolkata, India.
Rafiq Bhatia
April 9th - 8:00pm New York composer and guitarist Rafiq Bhatia seeks to shatter preconceptions about how much can be said without a word—and, for that matter, who can say it. Bhatia’s audacious first album as a producer sets out to challenge existing musical vocabulary with a language of its own.
John Zorn Presents: Uzupis
April 25th, 2018 - 7:00pm For April, Zorn presents Uzupis, a band led by revolutionary musician Kenny Wollesen. An eclectic, shimmering trio of 2 vibraphones and electric drums, Uzupis will create a spectacular experience using with the help of Wollesonics, newly created instruments by Wollesen.
MaJid
April 14th - 7:00pm Three time Downbeat Rising Jazz violinist Ma*JiD ecstatically celebrates the release of his newest album, Sound of a Flower.
Stephanie Richards – Fullmoon
May 19th, 2018 - 9pm doors • 10pm show “Envelope-shredding” trumpeter and composer Stephanie Richards joins forces with Dawn of Midi’s drummer/composer Qasim Naqvi and pioneering live-sampler J.A. Dino Deane for a sonic exploration of supernatural groove.
Sinkane presents Underground System
June 16th, 2018 - 6pm doors • 7pm show Fresh off a sensational appearance at Snarky Puppy’s Ground Up Festival, Underground System brings their female-fronted brand of global dance music to National Sawdust.
John Zorn Presents: Annie Gosfield
May 30th, 2018 - 6pm doors • 7pm show This month’s featured artist is Annie Gosfield, a composer who the BBC calls “a one-woman Hadron collider.” A expert walker of the tightrope between electronic and acoustic music, Gosfield specializes in using found sounds such as machines, destroyed pianos, warped records, and jammed radio signals, which led the New York Times to call her a “master of musical feedback.”
Alan Braufman featuring Cooper-Moore & James Brandon Lewis
August 3rd, 2018 - 7pm doors • 8pm show Alan and his band will perform his free jazz album Valley of Search live for the first time in over 40 years. Originally released in 1975 by India Navigation, Valley of Search has enjoyed a cult status and captures a unique and very alive historical slice of New York’s creative improvised jazz underground. This show commemorates the first ever reissue of the album on June 29.
John Zorn Presents: Jon Irabagon
June 27th, 2018 - 6pm doors • 7pm show Composer and revolutionary saxophonist Jon Irabagon premieres After Talk, a new song cycle for classical voice, piano and improvising saxophone. Irabagon's intergenerational collaborations have garnered worldwide rave reviews, and he combines both worlds tonight in a brand new long-form work that depicts a relationship from start to finish and all the love, anger and anguish in between.
Bill Frisell + Ikue Mori Duet
KHORIKOS, Vanguard Reed Quintet, and Jeff Siegfried
Sylvie Courvoisier & Andrew Cyrille: Duo & Solos
John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: Zeena Parkins with Jeff Kolar
John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: Sara Serpa
John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: Ned Rothenberg & John Zorn
CANCELED – John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: John Medeski
John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: Peter Evans
BLACK STRING
Planned Parenthood benefit with Banda Magda, Bria Skonberg, & r.O.T.i.
Brooklyn-based multicultural R&B music collective Lady Moon & The Eclipse make “spiritual music in the truest sense: They make pop, R&B, and Afrobeat that feels like a window into a more tranquil, ethereal dimension” (Vents).
John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: Ingrid Laubrock, Marc Hannaford, Sam Pluta, & Josh Modney
John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: Malika Zarra
John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: Ava Mendoza – solos and duos with Nels Cline
Petra Haden, Julian Lage, Jorge Roeder, Kenny Wollesen, and Jesse Harris
Magos Herrera with Brooklyn Rider: Dreamers
Adam O’Farrill Nonet & Aaron Burnett and the Big Machine featuring Peter Evans
Ma*JiD
April 11th
John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: Simon Hanes & Tredici Bacci
Beat Circus
April 11th
Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Hornsby
John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: Brian Chase
Guy Mintus Trio
Linda May Han Oh
May 16th
AdHoc presents: Vagabon
October 15th
John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: Patricia Brennan’s MOCH
December 26th
John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: Wendy Eisenberg
September 25th
John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: Ben Goldberg
November 27th
John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: Jen Shyu
October 30th
Miho Hazama and m_unit
November 13th
John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: Fred Frith and Heike Liss
August 28th
Winter Jazzfest
January 17th
Rafiq Bhatia: Standards Vol. 1 (EP Release)
February 5th
John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: Anna Webber – Idiom VI
January 29th
John Zorn’s Stone Commissioning Series presents: Miles Okazaki and Dan Weiss
February 26th
Ramy Essam “Tahrir and Beyond” with special guest Ganzeer
January 25th
Samora Pinderhughes: Sounds of Saving’s Feedback Sessions
February 7th
