16 October, at 20.00
Brian Marsella Trio
Brian Marsella, piano; Trevor Dunn, bass; Kenny Wollesen, drums
Programme: The Book of Angles
16 compositions from The Book of Angels, one of Zorn’s fundamental “books”. The dynamic Brian Marsella Trio is led by the pianist whose name it bears, a compelling and passionate musician whose credits include the Banquet of the Spirits, Zion80 and The Flail ensembles. Bassist Trevor Dunn and drummer Kenny Wollesen are regular Zorn collaborators. Their delivery is powerful, focused and incredibly varied. Each composition evokes a different musical world, with each piece referencing a different pianist or composer, from McCoy Tyner, Don Pullen and Erik Satie to Conlon Nancarrow, Horace Silver, Lennie Tristano, Bill Evans, Bach, Bud Powell, RichardTwardzik and Debussy. Sheer joy!
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21.15
Samo Šalamon Bassless feat. Howard Levy & Nino Mureškič
Samo Šalamon, guitar; Howard Levy, harmonica; Nino Mureškič, percussion
The concert will feature Howard Levy, an acknowledged master and innovator of the diatonic harmonica who drew attention for his chromatic playing style. Levy has won multiple Grammy Awards and co-founded the legendary Bela Fleck & The Flecktones. He has worked with some of the most exciting names in music, including Paul Simon, Donald Fagen, Bobby McFerrin, Chick Corea, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Paquito D'Rivera and Dolly Parton. Joined by acknowledged Slovenian percussionist Nino Mureškič, the Samo Šalamon Bassless Trio will present Peaks of Light, an album by the Samo Salamon Trio & Howard Levy, released in January 2018.
CD Club EUR 15, 10*
Double concert
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6 November, at 20.00
Secret Chiefs 3
Trey Spruance, Jason Schimmel, guitars; Matt Lebofsky, keyboards; Eyvind Kang, violin, viola; Shanir Blumenkranz, bass; Ches Smith, percussion; Kenny Grohovski, drums
Programme: The Book of Angles, The Book Beriah
Secret Chiefs 3’s Xaphan includes spectacular arrangements of free-jazz maestro John Zorn’s 9th entry in Masada's Book of Angels. The covers were concocted by the mad alchemist Trey Spruance, Secret Chiefs 3 leader and one of the most versatile and accomplished musicians of modern times. Covering a broad spectrum of music styles, from exotica and surf to Ethiopian dunk and gypsy swing, Spruance’s variegated orchestral arrangements perfectly complement the lyricism and challenging rhythmic vitality of Zorn’s evocative The Book of Angels. Comprising some of the finest musicians from the San Francisco Bay Area, LA and Seattle, this is Secret Chiefs 3 at their most middle-eastern sounding and one of the most convincing takes on Masada. The programme will also feature pieces from The Book Beriah.
CD Club, €12, 8*
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4 December, at 20.00
AutorYno
David Konopnicki, guitar; Bertrand Delorme, bass; Cyril Grimaud, drums
Programme: The Book of Angels
For one of the last Book of Angels instalments, Zorn turned to AutorYno, a wild power trio of three Parisian punk rockers and one of the most powerful bands on the French rock scene. Their third CD on Tzadik, Flauros, presents tunes from the classic Book of Angels in a heavy rock context. Metal, punk, thrash, dub and surf come together in this trance-inducing sledge-hammer reading of some of the strongest and strangest pieces from the Masada repertoire. One of the last releases in the “Angels” series is also one of its most compelling!
CD Club, €12, 8*
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12 February, at 20.00
Ikue Mori
Solo audio-visual show
Versatile musician Ikue Mori, featured on over 50 works by John Zorn and almost all his major projects, moved from her native city of Tokyo to New York in 1977. She started playing drums and soon formed the seminal DNA band, with fellow noise pioneers Arto Lindsay and Tim Wright. DNA enjoyed legendary cult status, while creating a new brand of radical rhythms and dissonant sounds, forever altering the face of rock music. In the mid 80s Ikue started to employ drum machines in the unlikely context of improvised music. Throughout the 1990s she collaborated with numerous improvisors throughout the US, Europe, and Asia, while continuing to produce and record her own work. In 2000 Ikue started using the laptop computer to expand on her already signature sound, thus broadening her scope of musical expression. A visionary artist, Ikue unveils otherworldly ambient soundscapes and establishes a mesmerising contact with her audiences. Her overpowering set at the 2018 Big Ears Festival in Knoxville earned her a place in the pantheon of contemporary music.
CD Club, €12, 8*
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19 March, at 20.00
Uri Caine, solo piano
Programme: The Book of Angels
Uri Caine is a musician of astonishing virtuosity and versatility (well known to Slovenian audiences for his performance of Bach’s The Goldberg Variations at Cankarjev dom). Coming out of the legendary Philly Jazz scene, his playing is an encyclopaedia of styles from Tatum to Evans and beyond. With Moloch he interprets tunes from Zorn’s Book of Angels in a breath-taking outing for solo piano. Virtuosic and soulful, this latest volume of material from Masada Book Two is an absolute tour-de-force. Fifteen musical miniatures by one of the world’s greatest piano virtuosos.
CD Club, €12, 8*
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16 April, at 20.00
Sofía Rei & JC Maillard
Sofía Rei: voice; JC Maillard, saz bass
Programme: The Book Beriah
Award-winning vocalist, songwriter and producer Sofía Rei (featured in the Tuesday Clubbing series as member of the celebrated a cappella quartet, Mycale) is one of New York’s most passionate and inventive voices. Her music explores connections between the various traditions of South American folklore, jazz, flamenco and electronic sounds. Deriving from Buenos Aires, Sofía draws from various influences teeming with rhythmic complexity and fluid melodicism. In a unique project for voice and saz bass, long-time collaborators Sofia Rei and JC Maillard offer a superbly intimate and introspective study of the acclaimed source material. With lyrics by Rei and arrangements by both musicians, the songs explore a variety of topics, from love and solitude, to the ghost of Frida Kahlo and a childhood under the dictatorship in Argentina.
CD Club, €12, 8* EUR
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Music of the World
SAT, 13 October, at 20.00
Ólafur Arnalds
Piano virtuoso and pop star
The most popular Icelandic musician next to Björk and Sigur Rós and one of the most influential pop music composers of the last decade. The first Slovenian appearance will feature a uniquely wired string quartet, a live drummer/percussionist and Ólafur’s playground of pianos and synthesisers. The centrepiece of the show are two semi-generative, self playing pianos that Ólafur and his team have spent over two years developing. Each time theyare played is a little different, making every performance unique.
Gallus Hall, EUR 22, 27, 32, 36, 18*
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TUE, 30 October, at 20.00
Park Jiha
South Korea
At the forefront of new Korean music, Park Jiha combines classical minimalism and traditional folk motifs, enhanced by the dynamic of post-rock and contemporary jazz. Emerging Korean musicians, groups that include Jambinai, Black String, Park Jiha and Jiha’s former duo 숨 [suːm], have created some of the most exhilarating genre-fusing work of the last few years. Released under the Glitterbeat label, Communion has received glowing reviews and will be followed by an extensive European tour.
CD Club, EUR 15, 10*
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WED, 19 November, at 20.00
Saz’iso
Albania
An ensemble of virtuoso Albanian musicians who live in various parts of Europe, but occasionally get together to present their music before appreciative audiences. After their exciting release, At Least Wave Your Handkerchief at Me (Glitterbeat; produced by the legendary Joey Boyd (Pink Floyd, Nick Drake...) and sound engineered by Jerry Boys (Buena Vista Social Club, Ali Farka Toure)), the band has sold out their UK tour and captivated music lovers at festivals throughout Europe.
Linhart Hall, EUR 15, 20, 23, 12*
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MON, 4 February, at 20.00
Dani de Morón Septet
Spain
Exceptional guitarist Dani de Morón takes the traditional alzapúa (the thumb on the low strings) as a matter of course in his fingers. At the same time, he knows how to elicit the most beautiful new harmonies and moods from his strings. Dani’s style ranks him with the previous generation of flamenco artists, a style that has earned him an invitation from Paco de Lucía to play alongside him on his Cositas Buenas tour and the 2012 Sevilla Biennial Giraldillo Award for guitar playing. A style encapsulated in his first solo album, Cambio de Sentido, which enchanted the critics and listeners alike. With a fantastic 'all-star' cast of no less than three singers, two hand-clappers and a contemporary dancer, Patricia Guerrero, he keeps the flamenco tradition alive in the 21st century.
In cooperation with the Flamenco Biennale Netherlands
Supported by the Embassy of Spain
Linhart Hall, EUR 15, 20, 23, 12*
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SAT, 9 March, at 20.00
Juan de Marcos González Afro-Cuban All Stars
Cuba
One of the finest Cuban ensembles of all time led by the inspired and inspiring Juan de Marcos González, the driving force behind the Buena Vista Social Club phenomenon. The band presents all Cuban styles of music, a smooth set of salsa-infused classics, and features both seasoned performers and younger Cuban instrumentalists. A first-hand look at Cuba’s vibrant music scene.
Gallus Hall, EUR 17, 20, 23, 28, 15
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THU, 11 April, at 20.00
Teresa Salgueiro
Portugal
The legendary lead singer of Madredeus embarked on a successful solo career several years ago. Considered by many to be the finest voice of Portugal and beyond, Salgueiro has released her second solo album and taken European audiences by storm. Her voice has matured and turned exceptionally pure. Fado elements interlace seamlessly with folk motifs to make a delightful musical blend.
Linhart Hall, EUR 15, 20, 23, 12*