Thursday, October 12, The Royal Room, 8pm Jemeel Moondoc, Nathan Breedlove, Jamael Nance / Gordon Grdina

$16 adult | $14 Earshot members & seniors | $8 students & military It was the music and teachings of that led a young Jemeel Moondoc into modern jazz, and he has remained a devoted disciple ever since. Moondoc studied with Cecil Taylor and played in his Black Mu- sic Ensemble at Antioch College in 1970–1971, becoming a featured solo- ist. His own early group, the Ensemble Muntu, which included William Park- er and , had aspects of the Taylor sound, but deeply reflected oth- er influences as well. Moondoc would become known as an interpreter of the legacy being created by Ornette Cole- Jemeel Moondoc photo courtesy of artist man during the New York loft scene Moondoc and Breedlove will be “We will be doing a few solo pieces as of the 1970s. joined by Seattle-based drummer well as group improvisation, digging For this anticipated Seattle perfor- Jamael Nance, forming a trio with- into some Arabic Maqam and will mance, Moondoc reunites with long out bass. But when you consider that possibly play a few Iraqi folk pieces,” time New York colleague, now Seat- Louis Armstrong’s Hot Fives and Sev- says Grdina. “The concert is going to tle-area resident, trumpeter Nathan ens and the Benny Goodman Quartet be largely freely improvised. I’ve been Breedlove. were ensembles without bass, the con- a huge fan of Wayne’s playing for years “When I lived with Evelyn Blakey cept becomes less of a cutting-edge, and am really looking forward to the on 7th and Ave B, Moon and I were avant-garde endeavor. There is where opportunity to play with him. James neighbors. He has a place on 5th and the truth lies, and on this evening, the I’d heard about for years but hadn’t C. Butch Morris lived on the end of concept will be launched into a new heard live until recently at the Vancou- the block. Cats were all over the place, realm of musical discovery. ver Jazz festival, and I was blown away as you well know, those were the days,” Opening will be Vancouver string by his ingenuity, depth and command recalls Breedlove about their days to- master, Gordon Grdina. Grdina is an of his instrument.” gether in Greenwich Village. “Jemeel oud player/guitarist whose sound is a Falzone may indeed be the X factor basically is a protege of Cecil Taylor combination of mainstream jazz, free- in this explosive commingling of mu- and a true heir to Ornette.” form improvisation, and Arabic classi- sical genius. The multi-genre clarinet- The -born saxophonist has cal music. A protégé of jazz great Gary ist and award-winning composer is continued producing in a post-free Peacock, he is a well-respected con- Chair of Music at the distinguished jazz mindset for many years, working tributor to the jazz and world music Cornish College of the Arts, and has with bassist William Parker and oth- scenes, constantly being sought out for fully integrated himself into his new ers on the adventuresome avant-garde projects that need an original, multi- community since his arrival from fringes. In 2014, he released his first cultural sound. Chicago a year ago. For one evening album under his name since 2003, the For this performance, he is teamed Grdina’s unique approach both musi- post-free progressive Zookeeper’s House with legendary Seattle composer/pia- cally and culturally will bond these (Relative Pitch, 2014). The five-track nist Wayne Horvitz and trailblazing three innovators into one harmonious set captures a distinctly live vibrancy clarinetist James Falzone. contingent. and vulnerability in the studio.

October 2017 • Earshot Jazz • 11