Location: Dresher Ensemble Studio (2201 Poplar Street, Oakland, CA)
Tickets: $20 (FREE for students and financially challenged)
* * * * *
The Sky Is A Suitcase
Insect Life
July 19 @ 7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
The Sky Is A Suitcase (from Seattle)
Mike Gebhart – drums
Carmen Rothwell – bass
Levi Gillis – tenor sax
Ray Larsen – trumpet
The Sky is a Suitcase is dedicated to improvisation. Their songs are personal – about dreams, places, people and memories. These memories manifest their mood in the melodies and rhythms the group uses to express themselves in the moment. The Sky is a Suitcase imbues in their music the fullness of their collective humanity as a band and the intricacies of their relationships
Insect Life
Ben Goldberg – clarinet
Ben Davis – cello
Danny Lubin-Laden – trombone
Raffi Garabedian – saxophone
Born from weekly collaborative sessions at Ben Goldberg’s house, INSECT LIFE is an Oakland-based experimental ensemble dedicated to pushing the boundaries of improvised music. The band emphasizes spontaneity, orchestral cohesion, and an adventurous sonic palette that fuses avant-garde and abstract elements. Over time, they developed a distinctive collective approach, creating an instant orchestral sound where cello and drums interact with winds, driving rhythm and texture in unexpected, groovy, and abstract directions. The result is a cosmic, dynamic, and innovative sound—modern yet deeply rooted in the old-school spirit of improvisation.
Purchase Tickets