Head–improv–headVerse/chorus–verse/chorus–bridge–verse/chorusA–B–A These are some of the “normal” ways of getting music done. But for adventurous musicians, such everyday forms—even everyday instruments—don’t always serve their artistic impulses. These musical explorers search for new ways to communicate. They also need an audience with whom to share their discoveries.Enter Mark Weaver, architect, tuba player, and adventurous musician and listener, who wondered how he could help out. His answer: The Roost, a series of “emergent creative music,” says the statement of purpose, “curated with an eye to originality, freshness of approach, and artistic vision.”The series—named in honor of the Royal Roost, a bygone jazz club in New York—provides a place for musical explorers to hang out and enjoy the process of discovery.“I think it’s important for people to be coming up with new approaches to playing music and new approaches to composition or ensemble playing,” says Weaver. “[The Roost] enables people to try out new ideas, and some of them are going to work better than others, but they all kind of need a place to try it out in performance. The audience is presumably open-minded, so it’s a way for them to try it on.”The series runs for nine consecutive Monday nights, beginning Aug. 3, at The Filling Station, an intimate theater space. It could return in the future if the stars align properly.The scheduled performers [see box] were selected from solicited proposals and offer a wide cross-section of music. Computers, simple acoustic and prepared instruments; solos and small ensembles; original jazz, conducted and composed pieces—the musical experiments come in all shapes, sizes and genres. It’s a tasty musical smorgasbord for the adventurous ear.
The Roost
Aug. 3 Shawn Woodyard “The World We Dream”Original odd-meter compositions for small ensemble, with Joseph Salack (double bass and piano), Sean Buckley (guitar and percussion), Woodyard (flute, saxophones and percussion), Eliza Woodyard (voice) and Phil Scollard (drums and percussion). Aug. 10 Dan Clucas / Brian Christopherson Duo Improvised music for trumpet, cornet, ocarinas, flutes and percussion. Aug. 17 Janet Feder Denver-based composer/performer explores unusual techniques on acoustic guitar and dobro. Al Faaet / J.A. “Dino” Deane Santa Fe percussionist Faaet plays with live computer manipulations and New Mexico sampling artist Deane. Aug. 24 Mark Weaver’s UFO Ensemble Original compositions for a new jazz quartet, with Bill Clark (trumpet, flugelhorn), Christian Pincock (trombone), Mark Weaver (tuba) and Jason Aspeslet (drums). Aug. 31 Dottie Grossman / Michael Vlatkovich “Call and Response”Spoken word artist Grossman and acclaimed trombonist Vlatkovich collaborate. Sept. 7 Christian Pincock Solo trombone and electronics. New Mexico Soundpainting Ensemble, a motley crew of improvising musicians concocting live compositions under Pincock’s gestural conduction. Sept. 14 Alan Lechusza/Carolyn Lechusza “The Carolyn Duo”New music for woodwinds, cello and electronics. Sept. 21 Phil Mantione “The Transducers” Improvisational music involving environmental and audience interactivity, with Mantione (computer, guitar), Martin Back (computer, percussion), Frank Rolla (computer, stringed instruments), Christian Pincock (computer, valve trombone) and James Brody (computer). Sept. 28 Dave Wayne “The Things That Are Heard”Compositions for medium-size ensemble, with Dan Pearlman (trumpet), Paul Bossert (trombone), Case Tanner (electric bass), Ross Hamlin (electric guitar), Sean Buckley (electric guitar), Elliot Ryan (percussion) and Wayne (percussion).
