Alliance for Improvised Music

New Show


BILLY BANG & ABBEY RADER

Monday, Nov. 9, 8 pm
Hayti Heritage Center, $10 ($7 students)
$1 of the proceeds benefits the
St. Joseph's Historic Foundation.
Co-sponsored by the St. Joseph's Historic Foundation.


The press release:

On Monday, November 9th, the St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation and the Alliance for Improvised Music are pleased to present noted avant-garde jazz violinist Billy Bang with percussionist Abbey Rader in an 8 pm concert at the Hayti Heritage Center. Tickets are $10, $7 for students and are available at the door on the night of the performance.

billy bangBorn William Walker, Billy Bang grew up in the rich musical environment of Spanish Harlem where he was exposed to artists like Charlie Parker, Tito Puente, and James Brown. After returning from a tour of duty in Vietnam, Bang began studying with the jazz pioneer and fellow violinist Leroy Jenkins and playing in the New York loft scene with such notables as David Murray and Sam Rivers. Bang began making serious waves in the early 80’s as a founding member of the String Trio of New York, a group which mixed "gypsy whimsy, recital-hall formalism, and speakeasy jazz." Since that time, he has remained at the forefront of the avant-garde movement with his naturally swinging yet exploratory sound. He has recorded over 20 albums as a leader and has also recorded with musicians such as Sun Ra, David Murray, William Hooker, Sonny Sharrock, and Ronald Shannon Jackson. He’s recently released two albums: the brilliant solo cd Commandment (No More Records) and a quartet cd titled Bang On! (Justin Time). Of Commandment, the Boston Phoenix said, "He moves through the entire spectrum … making a persuasive case for the continuity of African-American music, from farm houses on the Delta to art galleries in New York."

abbey raderAbbey Rader is a drummer, percussionist, poet, composer, and teacher who has spent more than 35 years performing and teaching in the US and Europe. Raised in New York, he was an active member of the creative music scene there throughout the late 60’s and 70’s. After becoming a practitioner of Zen meditation, Rader moved to Europe, performed as a clinician for Sonor drums, and continued to perform with many of Europe’s leading creative musicians. Recently, Rader has incorporated Middle Eastern rhythms and instruments into his palette of sounds. In addition to performing with Billy Bang, Abbey Rader has performed with Mal Waldron, John Handy, Marion Brown, Jeanne Lee, Laurindo Almeida, and many others. The last two years have seen the release of a series of excellent duet cd’s: Inner Voices, with saxophonist Dave Liebman; Suburban Utopic, with saxophonist/guitarist Keshavan Maslak; and Mystic Journey, with shakahuchi player Phil Gelb; all on the Abray label.

This performance promises to be one of the most thoughtful and rewarding concerts the Triangle is likely to experience, especially given the inspiring setting of the Hayti Heritage Center. Billy Bang rarely performs in the US outside of New York, Chicago, and other big cities and the Triangle is one of only three stops for this duo. This is a rare opportunity to see one of jazz’s leading musicians in such an intimate setting.


Choose your destination...