An afternoon of creative music and captivating cinema.
Noon-12:30pm - Grammy-nominated New York double bassist, composer. and educator Stephan Crump performs.
12:45-1:15pm - Improvisational chamber ensemble Josh Cole Trio + Strings performs blending double bass, violin, cello, and percussion. Renowned veteran Toronto composer John Oswald, of Plunderphonics fame, also performs on alto saxophone.
1:30-3pm - Ron Mann’s documentary Imagine the Sound (1981), captures the essence of the 1970s and 80s creative/experimental/free jazz scene, featuring legendary performers Archie Shepp, Paul Bley, Bill Dixon, and Cecil Taylor.
[Stephan Crump also performs at 8 pm the day before with Blue Moss at You Me Gallery]
STEPHAN CRUMP
Memphis-bred, Grammy-nominated, Echo Award-winning bassist/ composer Stephan Crump is an active bandleader with fifteen 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.
He can also be heard as long-standing member of Jen Chapin Trio, Ches Smith Trio, Rez Abbasi Acoustic Quartet, Liberty Ellman Sextet, Secret Keeper (duo with Mary Halvorson), his own Rosetta Trio (with Jamie Fox, Liberty Ellman), his Rhombal quartet (with Ellery Eskelin, Adam O’Farrill, Tyshawn Sorey), as well as co-led ensembles with Kris Davis, Ingrid Laubrock, Cory Smythe, Eric McPherson, Mat Maneri, and Okkyung Lee.
“I am tempted to call Rocket Love my favorite solo bass recording of all time. At a minimum, it is the most varied and fun.” Popmatters
“Crump coaxed from his bass the kind of striking, spectral sob that makes audiences want to erupt in applause” L.A. Magazine
“As a bassist and composer, Mr. Crump avoids obvious routes but manages never to lose his way” The New York Times
“strikingly fresh and unobvious compositions…an impressive and original voice” The Wire
“categories cease to matter” JazzTimes
“astonishingly beautiful playing” London Jazz News
“Crump’s music is original” Downbeat
Photo by Joe Strutt
JOSH COLE TRIO + STRINGS
Formed in 2023, Josh Cole’s ‘trio(or quartet) plus strings’ is an improvising chamber music ensemble featuring some of Canada’s most endearing improvisers. Lina Allemano on trumpet, John Oswald on alto saxophone, Aline Homzy on violin, Nick Storring on cello, Blake Howard on percussion and Josh Cole on the double bass.
“Moving from zones of quietude to shaking clatter, there were intriguing destabilizations all around here, held together as always with Cole in the calm centre.” Mechanical Forrest Sound
Ron Mann & Bill Smith’s
IMAGINE THE SOUND
Imagine the Sound (1981) was Ron Mann's directorial debut and remains the definitive cinematic portrait of early experimental jazz. Shot in Toronto, it features some of creative music's greatest protagonists Paul Bley, Bill Dixon, Archie Shepp, and Cecil Taylor. The film lovingly reveals each player's particular playing approach and philosophy through rousing and vividly captured performances as well as cogent and candid interviews. Since this film Mann has delivered now-classic documentaries such as Grass and Comicbook Confidential, yet Imagine the Sound maintains its iconic status through raw yet beautiful photography, and insightful questions posed by Coda Magazine/ Sackville Records head honcho Bill Smith, the film's co-producer. Mann will be on hand to present and discuss the film in a Q&A session following the screening.
We're most grateful to Canada Council for the Arts & the Department of Canadian Heritage for making this special series event possible... and to our partner Hamilton Public Library for their kind support and enthusiasm!
FREE admission
Reserve space via Eventbrite
Though not mandatory, donations are appreciated by e-transfer to
tix [at] zulapresents [dot] org or in person