Brennan Connors & Stray Passage returns to the Mason Lounge for a night of fascinating adventures into jazz, sound, and musical narrative. Geoff Brady on drums, homemade electronics, and Theremin. Brian Grimm on electric Frankencello and electric bass. Brennan Connors on saxophones. Craft Brew, Jazz Delights, No Cover.
“Their sets embrace plenty of sinuous melody and conversational interplay, but can just as easily dive into minimalism and dissonance.”
– Tone Madison
Watch the trio’s first return to Cafe Coda since the pandemic hit, live streamed on Facebook in May 2021.
“For those who seek to shake themselves out of musical complacency, there’s Stray Passage, an improvisational jazz trio that explodes boundaries, playing off the energy in the room and audience. The group, led by saxophonist Brennan Connors, includes master percussionist Geoff Brady and Brian Grimm on bowing cello, contra-cello and electric bass. The album they’re releasing on an Italian label (Setola di Maiale) was recorded live by Steve Gotcher at Audio for the Arts.“
~ Isthmus Daily Page
Check out Brennan and Geoff playing as a Duo (due to pandemic performance restrictions) at Cafe Coda back in May of 2020!
Tues, 7/11 | 8p $8adv/10do @ Arts + Literature Laboratory
2021 Winnebago St, Madison, WI 53704
JONAH PARZEN-JOHNSON (Brooklyn, NY)
BC GRIMM (Madison, WI)
Brooklyn based saxophonist and composer Jonah Parzen-Johnson performs at Arts + Literature Laboratory on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, with Madison multi-instrumentalist Brian Grimm opening. Tickets are $8 in advance online at http://parzenjohnson.bpt.me/ or $10 at the door. Online sales end one hour before the show.
Jonah plays lofi experimental folk music for solo baritone saxophone and analog synthesizer. Imagine the raw energy of an Appalachian choir, balanced by a fearlessly exposed saxophone voice, resting on a strikingly unique combination of analog synthesizer components sitting on the floor in front of him. It all breathes together, as Jonah uses his feet to weave square and sawtooth waves into a surging base for folk inspired saxophone melodies, overblown multi phonics, vocalizations, and patiently developed circular breathing passages. Every element is performed and recorded at the same time, by one person, without any looping, overdubbing or recorded samples. “I want to make music that has texture, and depth, but most of all I want it to be direct and grounded. Touring and playing solo is all about being connected to the folks listening. I want you to feel like I’m looking you in the eye while I’m playing.”
Click for Tix!
In BC Grimm’s solo set, you may hear dances of the unaccompanied Bach cello suites; ever popular melodies of the Erhu Chinese fiddle adapted for cello; as well as original compositions from his dance/theatre scores & solo albums. Cellist & composer Brian Grimm grew up surrounded by Chinese string instruments of every sort. After initiating lessons in with virtuosos Yang Wei (pipa) & Daxun Zhang (bass) of the Silkroad Ensemble, Brian was lucky to continue his Chinese music studies on guqin (zither), pipa (lute), gaohu (fiddle) & daruan (bass lute) in Hong Kong with members of the 香港中樂團 Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra & Wuji Ensemble 無極樂團. Over the last 15 years Grimm has developed a deep language of Free Improvisation & Composition with groups such as The Brothers Grimm, Lovely Socialite, and Brennan Connors & Stray Passage.
Chicago based saxophonist Dave Rempis will open the night with a 30 min solo set. He will then be joined by Madison free-jazz trio Brennan Connors & Stray Passage to play a quartet set for the rest of the evening. ** Catch a preview of Rempis on-air during the day, 2/17 from 3-5p @ 91.7fm WSUM Live with host Emili Earhart!
Prolific Chicago-based saxophonist Dave Rempis (Rempis Percussion Quartet, Ballister, The Engines, Vandermark Five) makes his first Madison appearance in five years, performing solo, and in collaboration with Madison-based improvising trio Stray Passage. This special night is part of a larger series of solo performances Rempis is undertaking throughout North America in 2017, with the goal of building a unique approach to solo saxophone that will be documented for release on his Aerophonic records imprint next fall, while also working to strengthen the informal networks that connect, inform, and sustain the improvised music scene worldwide.
Experimental Jazz TrioBrennan Connors & Stray Passage has been performing in Madison for over three years, exciting listeners with their range of sonic capabilities. Their improvised music is directly linked to the atmosphere in the room and energy of the audience. Attendees will experience a jazz trio that embraces free and structured improvisation, original compositions, groove based experiments, and sound exploration. The breadth of a performance ranges from focused minimalism to fiery high energy music, all while maintaining a sense of narrative organization and compelling ensemble interplay.
On Tour: NICK ZOULEK & ALEKS TENGESDAL (Bowling Green, OH)
730p – Solo Sets by:
Nick Zoulek – saxophonics
Aleks Tengesdal – cello 800p – Duo Set by:
Rob Lundberg – double bass
Brian Grimm – cello, Chinese strings, stuff 830p – Duo Set by:
Nick Zoulek & Alek Tengesdal 900p – chaos, riots & cookie hour
Aleks Tengesdal is a cellist/composer based out of Bowling Green, Ohio. His current work includes writing music for the cello and collaborating with his fellow DMA colleagues at Bowling Green State University in the regional New Music scene. A cello album called Songs of Kralizec will be available soon. An experimental/progressive solo metal project, Weapons of Indignation, has recently been released:
A modern artist with an impassioned eye toward the unification of contemporary art and sound, saxophonist Nick Zoulek‘s focus on collaboration, improvisation, and commissioning new works has led to a diverse portfolio of distinctive performances and artistic ventures. Nick has worked with dancers, multimedia artists, and fellow saxophonists to advance audience’s perceptions of the saxophone’s capabilities, markedly displayed on his debut album, Rushing Past Willow. Also active as a teacher and researcher into the saxophone’s role in contemporary music, Nick is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Contemporary Music Performance at Bowling Green State University with the guidance of Distinguished Artist Professor Dr. John Sampen. Nick holds a Master of Music Performance from BGSU, a Certificat des Études Musicales from the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régionale de Boulogne-Billancourt, and a Bachelor of Music Performance with Magna Cum Laude honors from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
