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Saturday, July 16 Eve at Cotton Factory
Formed in 2017, Canadian trumpet player and composer Lina Allemano's Berlin trio Ohrenschmaus (or “ear feast” in English) epitomizes the power trio format through their virtuosic dynamism. Although the group has been featured heavily on European stages—notably at the 2020 edition of Berlin's Jazzfest—they're just now visiting Canada for the first time and Something Else! is delighted to be including them in this year's program.
Their critically acclaimed 2020 debut recording Rats and Mice (Lumo Records) sees Allemano leading Norwegian bassist Dan Peter Sundland and German drummer Michael Griener through a bristling series of pieces, each full of explosive melodic interplay and deep textural exploration. In addition to receiving a generous helping of press worldwide, the disc was also featured on the NPR Jazz Critics Poll Best Music of 2020 (USA), Citizen Jazz France Best New Albums (2020), and PAN M 360 Top Albums of 2020 (Canada).
Genre-defying trio Numinosity consists of David Mott (baritone saxophone), Justin Gray (bass veena, acoustic bass), and Jesse Stewart (percussion). The group was named for the music they play, which audience members have described as having a “numinous” or spiritual quality. Their music is entirely improvised, drawing on diverse influences and traditions that reflect their respective musical backgrounds.
David Mott’s playing crosses the boundaries of style, form, and content, incorporating elements of jazz, creative improvised music, new music, and world influences. He is one of the pioneers of using circular breathing, multiphonics, and other extended techniques on the baritone saxophone in order to create a rich tapestry of polyphonic sound. He has worked with musicians including Gil Evans, Stevie Wonder, William Parker, Ray Anderson, Gerry Hemingway, Mark Dresser, Robert Dick, Ernst Reijseger, Wadada Leo Smith, Michael Vlatkovich, and many others.
Justin Gray performs in a variety of traditional and contemporary musical ensembles from around the world and leads his own contemporary world music ensemble, Justin Gray & Synthesis. In 2010, he invented the Bass Veena, an instrument designed for Indian classical and contemporary world music performance.
Jesse Stewart has performed and/or recorded with many musical luminaries including Pauline Oliveros, Hamid Drake, and William Parker. In 2012, he was honoured with the “Instrumental Album of the Year” JUNO award for his work with Stretch Orchestra.
When they perform together, their diverse musical sensibilities overlap and interact with one another in unexpected ways, creating transcendent improvised music.
$20 advance tickets via Eventbrite
$20 at the door for students, seniors, artworkers, un(der)employed
$25 at the door regular
No one will be refused admission for lack of funds, provided there’s space
Limited capacity, masks, social distancing and vaccine passports may be required.
These concerts are made possible by kind support from Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, City of Hamilton, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. Big thanks to these funders for believing in what we aim to do.
Also a big thanks to The Cotton Factory, Bayfront Park, Bridgeworks and the Hamilton Public Library (for partnering with us and) for opening their doors to us …the Hamilton Spectator for their support.
Sunday, July 3 Eve at Bridgeworks
“Strong from our first release on Songlines Records, the quartet is about to embark on a Canadian Jazz Festival tour in July of 2022, and going to record a second album at East Side Sounds in NYC.
This band features some of my favourite musicians on the planet. I’ve been dreaming of working with Gerry Hemingway (drums) ever since I heard him for the first time on those legendary Braxton Quartet recordings from the 80’s. Mark Helias (bass) has performed with pretty much everyone you can imagine, from Ed Blackwell to Tony Malaby. Joining these two monster musicians is my long time collaborator (and Juno Award winner!) Gordon Grdina on guitar.”
— François Houle (clarinets, composition)
“listed in DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE on Best of 2020!!! (January 2021 edition)”
“One reason why Canadian clarinettist François Houle’s compositions roar with such fierce and indefatigable energy lies in the personnel and instrumentation he’s assembled to play them”
— Daniel Spicer, The Wire (november 2020)
“The leader’s writing reflects the chamber-like vibe of Jimmy Giuffre’s trio with Paul Bley and Steve Swallow”
— Peter Margasak, Downbeat (November 2020)
Complex, intricate, idiosyncratic, and rocking — those are the adjectives that best describe this cross-border collaboration between Vancouver guitarist Gordon Grdina, and New York’s Matt Mitchell piano, and Berliner Jim Black drums. Juno Award winner Grdina’s compositions give the nod to 20th century classical composition, rock, free jazz, and third stream, and this trio promises to explore those ideas at their highest levels.
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.
Jim Black is a legend in the downtown New York jazz and improv scene and a world-renowned drummer. He has been part of legendary groups Endangered Blood, Tim Berne’s Bloodcount, and Human Feel as well as leading his own groups the Jim Black Trio, Alas No Axis, and Malamute.
Matt Mitchell is a mainstay on the New York jazz scene playing with internationally acclaimed ensembles like the Dave Douglas Quintet, John Hollenbeck’s Large Ensemble and Tim Berne’s Snakeoil. He also leads his own Quartet, Phalanx Ambassadors and Friction duo with Ches Smith.
$20 advance tickets via Eventbrite
$20 at the door for students, seniors, artworkers, un(der)employed
$25 at the door regular
No one will be refused admission for lack of funds, provided there’s space
Food and beverages available at venueLimited capacity, masks, social distancing and vaccine passports may be required.
These concerts are made possible by kind support from Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, City of Hamilton, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. Big thanks to these funders for believing in what we aim to do.
Also a big thanks to The Cotton Factory, Bayfront Park, Bridgeworks and the Hamilton Public Library (for partnering with us and) for opening their doors to us …the Hamilton Spectator for their support.
Sunday Eve at Cotton Factory
$25 advance tickets via Eventbrite
$30 at the door for students, seniors, artworkers, un(der)employed
$35 at the door regular
$130 festival passes to all 7 ticketed core weekend events + Balkan vocal workshop (up to $255 value at the door)
No one will be refused admission for lack of funds, provided there’s space
Food and beverages available at venueLimited capacity, masks, social distancing and vaccine passports may be required.
These concerts are made possible by kind support from Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, City of Hamilton, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. Big thanks to these funders for believing in what we aim to do.
Also a big thanks to The Cotton Factory, Bayfront Park, Bridgeworks and the Hamilton Public Library (for partnering with us and) for opening their doors to us …the Hamilton Spectator for their support.
Saturday Eve at Cotton Factory
$25 advance tickets via Eventbrite
$30 at the door for students, seniors, artworkers, un(der)employed
$35 at the door regular
$130 festival passes to all 7 ticketed core weekend events + Balkan vocal workshop (up to $255 value at the door)
No one will be refused admission for lack of funds, provided there’s space
Food and beverages available at venueLimited capacity, masks, social distancing and vaccine passports may be required.
These concerts are made possible by kind support from Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, City of Hamilton, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. Big thanks to these funders for believing in what we aim to do.
Also a big thanks to The Cotton Factory, Bayfront Park, Bridgeworks and the Hamilton Public Library (for partnering with us and) for opening their doors to us …the Hamilton Spectator for their support.
Friday Eve at Cotton Factory
$25 advance tickets via Eventbrite
$30 at the door for students, seniors, artworkers, un(der)employed
$35 at the door regular
$130 festival passes to all 7 ticketed core weekend events + Balkan vocal workshop (up to $255 value at the door)
No one will be refused admission for lack of funds, provided there’s space
Food and beverages available at venueLimited capacity, masks, social distancing and vaccine passports may be required.
These concerts are made possible by kind support from Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, City of Hamilton, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. Big thanks to these funders for believing in what we aim to do.
Also a big thanks to The Cotton Factory, Bayfront Park, Bridgeworks and the Hamilton Public Library (for partnering with us and) for opening their doors to us …the Hamilton Spectator for their support.