12 PM | DARIUS JONES SOLO
Darius Jones has created a recognizable voice as a critically acclaimed saxophonist and composer by embracing individuality and innovation in the tradition of African-American music. Jones has been awarded the Van Lier Fellowship, Jerome Foundation Commission, Jerome Artist-in-Residence at Roulette, French-American Jazz Exchange Award, and the Fromm Music Foundation commission at Harvard University. Jones has released a string of diverse recordings featuring music and images evocative of Black Futurism.
12:30 PM | GRDINA-GREENE-MCPHERSON
A special one time meeting among 3 creative greats!
Gordon Grdina is known for his incredible versatility and ability to bring a fresh and edgy vibe to any ensemble he joins or forms. His musical output is diverse, including 10-piece Arabic/avant-garde ensemble Haram, the intricate GG Quartet and cinematic GG Septet, high-energy collective Grdina/Houle/Loewen, free-punk duo Peregrine Falls, and contemporary Persian-influenced ensemble The Marrow.
Hilliard Greene has been a working jazz musician for over 50 years and has dedicated his life to playing the double bass. Since 1976, he has been composing and performing his own pieces for solo bass, drawing on his experiences in Jazz, Classical, Rock, and R&B music. In addition to his solo work, he has a bachelor’s degree in music and has attended three music schools. He has participated in countless shows with notable artists such as Jimmy Scott, Cecil Taylor, Charles Gayle, James Carter, Marc Ribot, and many others. Improvising with this wide range of master musicians has had a profound influence on his musical thinking and compositional style.
A native of NYC, Eric McPherson came to prominence apprenticing with legendary saxophonist and educator, Jackie Mclean, and innovative pianist and composer Andrew Hill. Those foundational experiences cultivated Eric into one of the leading drummers in contemporary creative music. Eric continues the legacy of the musical giants who came before him. As well as performing and teaching internationally with an array of today’s leading contemporary creative musicians, Eric teaches privately and at the University of Hartford’s, Jackie Mclean institute.
1 PM | ARAM BAJAKIAN & JULIA ÚLEHLA
Julia Úlehla vocals
Aram Bajakian guitar, bass, oud, piano
This core duo behind Dálava, the genre-defying ensemble performing later this evening, are Vancouverites, vocalist Julia Úlehla and guitarist Aram Bajakian (Lou Reed, John Zorn, Diana Krall).
After graduating from Stanford University and the Eastman School of Music, Úlehla performed as a lyric mezzo-soprano in operas for years and was subsequently a member of the renowned laboratory theatre the Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and Thomas Richards in Pontedera, Italy. Moving to New York City to start a family with Aram, Julia began singing with Darius Jones’ Elizabeth-Caroline Unit, while also beginning explorations of her great-grandfather’s book. In 2013 the family moved to Vancouver, BC, for Julia to pursue a PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of British Columbia.
Bajakian, who is married to Úlehla, was an active member of the downtown New York scene who toured extensively with musicians as disparate as Lou Reed, Diana Krall and Madeleine Peyroux, and performed the music of John Zorn with the group Abraxas. He has also explored folk traditions, both with Frank London’s Glasshouse Orchestra, and his own Armenian ancestry with his project Kef.
This dynamic duo perform as Dálava, The Dardanellas and as an improvising duo. They will bring us whatever is moving them this very afternoon.
1:45 PM | CRUMP-LILLINGER-NILSSON-WEST
Another first time meeting of special forces at the Something Else! Festival!
Memphis-bred, Grammy-nominated, Echo Award-winning New York bassist / composer Stephan Crump is an active bandleader with sixteen critically-acclaimed album releases in addition to numerous film scoring contributions. Known for transforming his instrument into a speaking entity of magnetic pull, his focus on creative instrumental music has led to collaborations with many of the leading lights of his generation, most notably Vijay Iyer, in whose trio and sextet Crump played a dynamic, founding role.
Deutscher Jazzpreis Artist of the Year winner Christian Lillinger is a Berlin-based German drummer, composer and percussionist who has played with Wadada Leo Smith, William Parker, Evan Parker, Louis Sclavis, Joe Lovano, Peter Brötzmann and Tony Malaby. His work expands the boundaries of contemporary improvised and composed music through complex rhythmic architectures and innovative ensemble concepts. His artistic practice is characterized by high structural density, dynamic precision, and a distinctive approach to sound, form, and collective interaction. Lillinger develops unique temporal and textural frameworks that blur the lines between composition and improvisation.
Electric & acoustic guitarist and composer Anders Nilsson lives in Brooklyn, NY. He leads his band HesaGun and plays in several NYC configurations, tours and records with artists such as singer/setar player Mohsen Namjoo & saxophonist Avram Fefer. He has worked with a wide array of composing and improvising visionaires across the genres and continents including guitarists Elliott Sharp and Raoul Björkenheim, violinist Jason Kao Hwang, vocalist Fay Victor, keyboardist Gordon Beeferman, Momenta Quartet, Under Satan’s Sun.
Alto saxophonist Brodie West is best known for his work with Eucalyptus, Ways, The Brodie West Quintet, The Ex and Getatchew Mekuria, The Lina Allemano 4, and The Ryan Driver Sextet. West studied composition in Amsterdam with Misha Mengelberg. West's fascination in sound has taken him from Alexandra Park to Addis Ababa. As a bandleader and collaborator he is a key member of Toronto's vibrant creative music scene.
Saturday Noon Ticket:
$29 advance / $33 door (1 event, 4 sets)
Saturday Pass:
$65 advance / $75 door (3 events, 11 acts)
Festival Pass:
$135 (6 ticketed events, 21 sets, up to $225 value)
Discounted Advance Tickets & Passes:
E-transfer (no fee) tix@zulapresents.org or EVENTBRITE (+fee)
No one will be refused admission for lack of funds
Festival at-a-glance
In our 13th year of operation, as Zula Presents Something Else!, we are most grateful to Department of Canadian Heritage, and The City of Hamilton for their financial support to make these festival events possible. We would also like to acknowledge and thank our partner Hamilton Public Library for their kind support and enthusiasm. As well, much gratitude goes to our diligent media partners Musicworks, Music Buddy, and CFMU.