Eric Dolphy: Freedom of Sound

TWO NIGHTS IN MAY     For two nights, Montclair, New Jersey, will be the center of the jazz universe.

The visionary multi-instrumentalist and composer Eric Dolphy died 50 years ago this June, at just 36 years old. In his short life, he created some of the most exhilerating, forward-looking and compelling music in the history of jazz. Seed Artists has gathered world-class musicians, artists and scholars to celebrate his genius in a manner befitting the singular musical gifts that he gave us.

There is nothing like it anywhere. From legends of the Sixties avant garde to today’s leading innovators, Gunther Schuller and Richard Davis to Andrew Cyrille, Don Byron, and cellist Tomeka Reid, the slate and scope are unrivaled.  

And at $20 per night, with Richard Davis playing both nights, you can’t go wrong. (See schedules below for individual performance slates.)

THE COUP     We are also profoundly honored to present on both nights the world premiere of Eric Dolphy compositions that have NEVER BEEN RECORDED, NEVER PERFORMED. It is unclear if even Dolphy himself ever heard them played. From solo bass-clarinet to ensemble performances, we will debut them at Freedom of Sound. This is Holy Grail of Jazz territory.

BUT WAIT...yes, there is more. A Dolphy symposium featuring Schuller, Davis and James Newton; dance; poetry; photography and video exhibits; an educational display; outdoor performances by students from Jazz House Kids and School of Rock; food and wine; and...

GREAT ART for GOOD WORKS:  Proceeds benefit two partner nonprofits: the Jazz Foundation of America (JFA) and the Montclair Academy of Dance and Laboratory of Music (MADLOM). Helping elderly and ailing musicians, and bringing music and the arts to underserved kids.

Check out Friday night's schedule. We hope to see you there:

THE SCHEDULE

Friday, May 30* – 7pm-10:30pm

Andrew Cyrille & Pheeroan akLaff

Richard Davis

solo; duo w/ Marty Ehrlich; guests 

Russ Johnson’s “Still Out to Lunch”

Roy Nathanson, Orrin Evans, Brad Jones, George Schuller

Henry Threadgill w/ David Virelles

Veronica Nunn w/ Sean Conly 

Diane Moser Quintet feat. Howard Johnson

Marty Ehrlich, Anton Denner, Ken Filiano, Michael Sarin

Don Byron solo

The Dolphy Bass Clarinet Quartet

Howard Johnson, Don Byron, Marty Ehrlich, Oscar Noriega

Saturday, May 31* – 5pm-10:30pm 

Eric Dolphy: Architect Of Possibility

SYMPOSIUM feat. GUNTHER SCHULLER, Richard Davis, 

James Newton, John Szwed, PhD, and Michael E. Veal, PhD 

To Eric: Works by Hale Smith

 Arranged by Chris White 

 Adegoke Steve Colson, Pheeroan akLaff, Jerome Harris,

 Andy McKee, Jun Miyake

Tarbaby feat. Oliver Lake 

Orrin Evans, Nasheet Waits, Luques Curtis  

Richard Davis

with Andrew Cyrille, Angelica Sanchez, Aska Kaneko;  

duo w/ Aska Kaneko

Tomeka Reid with Beatrice Capote (dance) & Andrew Cyrille  

Michael S. Harper (poetry) 

Vernon Reid & Pheeroan akLaff w/ guests 

The Sound of Freedom Ensemble 

 James Newton (conductor); Grachan Moncur III, Pheeroan akLaff,

 Jerome Harris, Ted Daniel, Jay Hoggard, Andy McKee,

 James Brandon Lewis, Jun Miyake

*Emcees: WKCR hosts Sharif Abdus-Salaam & Anabel Anderson