Thursday, December 08, 2011

Improvisations II: New Music at Real Art Ways


Improvisations II
November 10, 2011
Real Art Ways
Hartford, CT

We recently gathered for the second event in our new music series at Real Art Ways.  The space we used has been dubbed The Ephemeroom, as it is filled to the brim with memorabilia, gathered through an open community call, celebrating RAW's 35th (and Director Will K Wilkins 2oth!) year anniversary.  Reading through the posters of the scores of musical events, featuring artists such as Morton Feldman, Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, Anthony Davis and Julius Hemphill just reinforced our sense that Improvisations has arrived at the right time and is in the right place.

Joe Morris invited two young musicians to join us: Ben Hall and Noah Kaplan. I had never met or worked with either artist.  Ben has made a record, Weight/Counterweight, several years ago with Bill Dixon and is completing an advanced degree in sculpture at Columbia University.  Noah is a composer and improviser of some note and lives in Brooklyn.

We performed in two trios, and then a full quartet.  The music was a delight, and Joe is already talking about recording the quartet.  We will soon set performance dates for the Improvisations series through the summer of 2012.  Stay tuned for details!


Images of Improvisations II by Rob Miller