July 2024 Events
IN STUDIO PERFORMANCES
Friday, July 12, 2024 – 7:30 PM
Saturday, July 13, 2024 – 7:30 PM
Sunday, July 14 · 12 noon
Photo: Matt Haber
The performance of Unbound at the Dresher Ensemble Studio is part of dNaga’s research process. It is sponsored by the Anti-Asian Violence: Origins and Trajectories Research Initiative (AAVOT) led by Leti Volpp, Susette Min, Laura Kang, and Lee Ann Wang. This research initiative has been generously funded by the University of California Research Grants Program Office. The completed work’s world premiere will be at the UC Davis Mondavi Center.
General Admission : $25.00 | Student/Senior : $20.00
Purchase Tickets & More information
ABRAXAS
Saturday, July 27, 2024 – 8:00 PM
Sunday, July 28, 2024 – 3:00 PM
Bay Area composer Brett Carson presents a new experimental, multimedia chamber opera entitled “Tell Me a Bedtime Story, ABRAXAS” in world-premiere performances. The abstract, dream-like narrative follows the central protagonist, “The Amphibian”, through a series of vignettes exploring the double-life of amphibians as beings existing both on land and in the water. They wander a landscape of Christian and Gnostic mythologies, culminating in a revelation of the transcendent Gnostic deity Abraxas, a being beyond logic and duality.
Carson’s musical language narrating this excursion is highly eclectic — drawing on contemporary classical music, rock music, free improvisation, and experimental electronic music — and will be performed by some of the Bay Area’s brightest stars in the realm of new music. Leading this ensemble are trailblazing vocalists Daniel Cilli and Melinda Martinez Becker, followed by the tireless new music aficionados Friction Quartet and versatile drummer/percussionist Jordan Glenn. In addition to composing the music and libretto, Carson also serves as the director and production designer. Portland-based artist Jayden Becker contributes an immersive video component.
“Tell Me a Bedtime Story, ABRAXAS” is a project of New Performance Traditions, and is made possible through generous support from the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation.
WEST OAKLAND SOUND SERIES
A weekly new-music and experimental-sound series presented on Sunday evenings by sfSound.
Location: Dresher Ensemble Studio (2201 Poplar Street, Oakland, CA)
Tickets: $10-$25 sliding scale (cash & Venmo accepted at door)
Eventbrite advance tickets ($20) [PURCHASE]
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Sunday, July 7, 2024
sfSound
sfSound performs a program covering half a century of composed, semi-composed, and improvised music by Anthony Braxton, Elliott Carter, Brian Ferneyhough, Vinko Globokar, Eva-Maria Houben, and Salvatore Sciarrino. From craggy complexity to sexy extended instrumental techniques, including graphic notation and free jazz, the whole gamut of sfSound’s musical skill and interest is presented here in a single concert!
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Sunday, July 14, 2024
Nathan Clevenger’s Astrolabe + David Leikam
Nathan Clevenger is an Oakland-born composer and multi-instrumentalist, working on the margins of modern composition, jazz, and improvisation. His 10-piece ensemble is an expanded version of Clevenger’s long-running Group, created in 2024 to perform an extended suite, Astrolabe. For this West Oakland Sound Series performance, the ensemble will perform pieces from the suite, including a premiere, and feature Kasey Knudsen (alto & tenor sax), Beth Schenck (alto & soprano sax), Cory Wright (Bb & bass clarinet, alto flute), Rob Ewing (trombone), Marissa Deitz (cello), Safa Shokrai (bass), Jon Arkin (drums, percussion), Tim DeCillis (vibes, percussion), Jason Levis (marimba, percussion), and Nathan Clevenger (piano, harmonium).
David Leikam, SFBA-based composer-performer and bandleader presents “An Evening Alone,” with 4 Instruments and 1 Human on acoustic piano, Moog synthesiser, 6 string electric bass guitar, and 6 string electric cello. Being born with cerebral palsy has affected his body and speech, giving him a distinct view into his creative arts/music process and being largely a self-taught multi-instrumentalist. Studied music composition/improv at CalArts primarily with Wadada Leo Smith (BFA 2001, MFA 2006).
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Sunday, July 21, 2024
Daniel James Burke and friends / Sticklerphonics
DANIEL JAMES BURKE an improviser/composer/performer from Chicago using strings, piano, extended techniques, field recordings, synthesizer, & electronics performs with local musicians ALEXANDRA BUSCHMAN-ROMÁN (voice/electronics), KYLE BRUCKMANN (oboe/electronics) and KANOKO NISHI-SMITH (koto) — a first-time configuration for this quartet presenting improvisation with minimal preconceptions.
Burke has been making music since 1983 as Illusion of Safety and has recorded and performed with Jim O’Rourke, Thomas Dimuzio, Jon Mueller, Olivia Block, Kevin Drumm, CHEER-ACCIDENT, & others. Recently he has started performing original music in singer-songwriter mode, and has initiated free improvisation sessions with Chicago-based improvisors Erik Sowa (drums) and Jeb Bishop (trombone & electronics). Seeing musical tools & traditions as borders to cross and boundaries to play with, his interest in making challenging, exploratory music is now augmented by a desire to also create music as beautiful and enigmatic as possible. Through interaction, environment, intention, & spontaneity, his intention is to connect space, performers and audience, believing sound can be a catalyst in reaching states beyond normal consciousness.
SCOTT AMENDOLA, the drummer, composer and bandleader who’s been a creative force on the Bay Area jazz scene (and far beyond) for the past three decades, knows all about the power of subtraction. His new stripped-down trio STICKLERPHONICS brings together long-time collaborators RAFFI GARABEDIAN on tenor saxophone and trombonist DANNY LUBIN-LADEN, NewYork-seasoned improvisers who’ve worked together since their formative years in the vaunted Berkeley High Jazz Band, circa 2003. The trio has plunged into the unmediated terrain that opens up in the absence of the usual guidelines, “a situation where there’s no bass and no chords,” Amendola said. “The sound is ever evolving. We’re really settling in, but there’s also the feeling like there are places to go. We’ve been adding my electronics and Danny bringing in a little looper. We’re just getting started.”
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New Performance Traditions concerts are partly supported by the Alameda County Arts Commission’s ARTSFUND and New Music USA’s Organization Fund for 2024-25
