Bklyn Sounds 12/12/2024—12/17/2024

This Week's Shows Include: Chuquimamani-Condori / Arturo O’Farrill's Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra plays Carla Bley / Uptown Vinyl Supreme / Relaxer / Easy Star All-Stars / 'UpBeat' / 'Unsilent Night' / +

Clockwise from upper left: Chuquimamani-Condori, Carla Bley, Uptown Vinyl Supreme, Daniel Martin-McCormick (aka Relaxer)

I am neck-deep in reading and grading papers of the great work my students have been doing these past few weeks. Be back with you in a moment…

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This Week’s Shows:

DANCE+MUSIC: Lace Action Cards is an improvised performance by legendary Downtown NYC harpist/composer Zeena Parkins, with dancer-choreographer Ishmael Houston-Jones and keyboardist Craig Taborn. It is a continuation of Parkins’ Lace Project, initially commissioned by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, exploring “the concept of lace as an embodiment of a score, a translation of image into sound and movement.” (Thurs 12/12, 7:30p @ e-flux, Clinton Hill - $15)

Originally formed in the early 1990s, Henry Threadgill’s Very Very Circus group presented the AACM composer’s loosely-structured-yet-precise work using instrumentation seen as eccentric by jazz traditionalists. Multiple electric guitars and tubas, a French horn and trombone, accordion and violin? And all of it was driven by an eclectic downtown energy—the second VVC album, 1995’s Carry The Day, was co-produced by Bill Laswell—a unique music from a singular thinker. Since the release of Threadgill’s autobiography last year, Very Very Circus Legacy Project has been playing occasional shows of this repertoire, a septet that includes handful of players on the original recordings (guitarist Brandon Ross, tuba player Marcus Rojas, drummer Gene Lake) augmented by other talented New Yorkers. (Thurs 12/12, 7:30p & 9:30p @ Jazz Gallery, Midtown - $25-$35) EDIT/READER FACT-CHECK: Brandon Ross, aka VVC guitarist writes, “Hey There! Re: Threadgill VVC Legacy information - the 2nd VVC LP was Too Much Sugar for a Dime produced by Bill Laswell for the Island Records imprint label AXIOM 1992, check out “Little Pocket Size Demons””)

Black punk meets free jazz triple-bill: Guitarist Honeychild Coleman & drummer Jason “The Biz” Lucas are one-half of the great punk band, The 1865. The quartet, Shrine for the Black Madonna, is a long-standing metallic rock-meets-funk quartet, of Black Rock Coalition devotees. And Burnt Sugar saxophonist Avram Fefer’s 4tet is a wonderful trip across global harmolodics. (Thurs 12/12, 8p @ Mama Tried, Sunset Park - $10-$20suggested)

When I first met Daniel Martin-McCormick in the mid-aughts, I knew him as an extremely erudite musicker who produced great bassy techno as Ital, wrote insightfully about music for numerous publications, and threw DIY dance shows around Bklyn. Daniel went on to have a hand in starting the marvelous Sustain-Release, co-founding the crucial Dripping festival, and recorded more wonderful abstract electronics as Relaxer. It was only in 2023, when his quietly legendary high-school dub-hardcore band (a band I knew by name only) reunited for a tour, that I learned Daniel was in Black Eyes before he did any of those other great projects. That’s a lot of culturally significant wins over the past two decades. Break, Relaxer’s new, synthetic-breakbeat heavy EP for 29 Speedway, is another. Daniel plays (or DJ’s?) for free tonight. Run, don’t walk! With Love Letters. Highest Recommendation! (Thurs 12/12, 10p @ Earthly Delights, Ridgewood - FREE)

The Met’s exhibit “Flight into Egypt: Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876–Now” has had some great related programming that I’ve been a bit late to. But not so late as to miss drummer Trae Crudup’s and bassist Luke Stewart’s punk-jazz duo, Blacks’ Myths performing in an extraordinary, expanded ensemble with Jamal Moore on reeds, Cassie Watson Francillon on harp, Nicole Mitchell on flute, and everyone on electronics. There will also be spoken-word recitations by Moor Mother and Thomas Stanley, movement and video by Miriam Parker, and more. Two sets, first come first served, with limited capacity. Highest Recommendation! (Fri 12/13, 3p & 7p @ Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side - Free with museum entry, first come first served)

ROLLER SKATE CHRISTMAS PARTY: If the upstate community dance festival Shaker Mountain is as done as promoters claim, mark me a sad person for never having attended, The word-of-mouth has always been exemplary. But even if the festival is done, the community seems to thrive. Hence the Shaker Mountain Holiday Party, a roller-skating jam featuring a killer line-up of local DJs, and Detroit cats in NYC so often we’re adopting them. Get your four-wheel boogie on with Analog Soul, Rimarkable, LADYMONIX, Darian and Lovie. (Fri 12/13, 7p @ Xanadu, Bushwick - $30)

I have known the gents behind New York’s reggae label, Easy Star Records, since I was a snot-nose getting arrested for buying weed in Washington Square Park—even helping produce their annual reunion shows at Stuy Town in the mid–aughts, once I got a little wiser. It’s always a pleasure to see them again, and to hear Michael Goldwasser lead the Easy Star All-Stars through whatever classic-rock dub reconfiguration, deep roots skank, or big-band dancehall they’re on about at the moment. This evening, John Brown’s Body is along for the ride, plus veteran reggae radio DJ, Amy “Night Nurse” Wachtel. (Fri 12/13, 8p @ Brooklyn Bowl, Williamsburg - $30)

I recognize that when I espouse New York’s current golden age of community DJs, I tend to write up those of my home borough. And that’s totally my bad, because there are folks doing great work all over the city. First and foremost, there’s the Bronx’s Uptown Vinyl Supreme, maybe best recognized for Sunny Cheeba (who makes her way to Bklyn a bunch), but is a true collective. Buddy, Josh Hubi (check his vinyl-only deep-house LP, From NYC With Love) and Chiqui B are also in the core, and there’s seemingly a broader cast of talented friends always around. The whole crew is holding down Friday at Bushwick’s About Last Night. Somebody should give them a full residency. (Fri 12/13, 9p @ About Last Night, Bushwick - FREE til 10p/$10)

MUSIC MEETS ART: Bassoonist/vocalist/electronics improviser Joy Guidry is producing some of my favorite hard-to-categorize music in the world at the moment—and, with their 2024 album AMEN now beginning to show-up on year-end best-of lists, getting recognized for it. This afternoon at Hauser & Wirth, Guidry is the latest to create a live-music response to the paintings that artist Lorna Simpson created for the exhibition, “Earth & Sky.” (12/14, 3p @ Hauser & Wirth, Chelsea - FREE with registration)

It should come as no surprise that Dada Strain salutes any publication that built its reputation on recommending and shouting-out new local artists. More so when they’ve been doing it for two decades. And while The Deli Mag generally traffics in more traditional music than what we do ‘round here, their 20th Deliversary is a helluva achievement. Their birthday party is at Arlene’s, and features The Dutch Kills, Tits Dick Ass, Opera, and Digamy. (Sat 12/14, 7p @ Arlene’s Grocery, Lower East Side - $10adv/$15)

File Under “I trust Sam and Jared Pique-nique’s taste”: Persian Empire is Mannheim, Germany-based producer Sam Khatam, who also runs Prrrrrrr (P7R) Records, producing, mixing and releasing tracks that combine old-school lo-fi beats and live instruments, somewhere between absurd grooves and homemade delights. Pique-nique are hosting this, his U.S. debut, with Loum (Pique-nique) on opening DJ duties. (Sat 12/14, 7p @ Light and Sound Design Studio, Greenpoint - $20 w/RSVP’)

The relationship between the great New York pianist/bandleader/arranger/Latin Jazz flag-bearer Arturo O’Farrill and the composer Carla Bley began when Bley recruited the teenage O’Farrill into her band in 1979. It sent him on his way to one of the city’s great modern musical careers. Bley’s last writing commission before passing away in 2023 at age 87 came from O’Farrill, a piece called “Blue Palestine.” It is the center-piece of Arturo’s Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra’s program entitled, Mundoagua: Celebrating Carla Bley, with guests, saxophonist Joe Lovano, vibraphonist Patricia Brennan and pianist Karen Mantler (Bley’s daughter). Not a cheap ticket but likely to be a wonderful program. (Sat 12/14, 7:30p @ St. Ann’s Warehouse, DUMBO - $49 - $$$)

Julia and Matteo Please Y.S. have another excellent living room show at their Crown Heights spot The evening’s treats include ọmọlolú Refilwe Babátúndé, whose West African folk harmonies I am currently obsessed with; RA Washington, proprietor of spontaneous lo-fi beats that gather at the order of experimental hip-hop and downbeat electronics; and a collaboration between the mighty Kid Millions and violinist Sarah Bernstein. (Sat 12/14, 8p @ RSVP for location, Crown Heights - $15-$20)

I’ve never known how to properly describe the work of Aymara-American composer-synthesist-poet-futurist Chuquimamani-Condori, who first made an impression a decade ago under their Anglicized name, Elysia Crampton. From the first, their sound was indebted to contemporary rhythms and electronics—extremely digital, post-bass and hyper-pop sound design—but also to folk storytelling and textures, exploring issues of queer and trans identity and its meaning in today’s social context, as well as that of indigenous South American heritage in a post-colonial world. Heavy sh*t, and deeply of-the-moment music. Chuquimamani-Condori’s 2023 album, DJ E, is an incredible document, and they will be performing it in full, alongside Bklyn vocalist (and occasional collaborator) Embaci. Highest Recommendation! (Sat 12/14, 8p @ First Unitarian Congregational Society, Brooklyn Heights - $15-$20)

Named after her monthly broadcasts on London’s Soho Radio, DJ Tara’s UpBeat party returns belatedly to Black Flamingo with special guest, uptown techno/great Black dance-music maven, cry$cross. (Sat 12/14, 10:30p @ Black Flamingo, Williamsburg - $10)

SHAKE! Monk-One and DJ Prestige’s, all-vinyl NYC classics monthly, welcomes as its special guest, JKriv, the producer/DJ behind Bklyn’s great Razor-N-Tape label, whose basslines also power the live disco-jazz A Joyful Noise band. Another one of the best we’ve got in NYC, at the moment, so expect nothing but classic 4/4 disco-house vibes. (Sat 12/14, 10p @ Friends & Lovers, Crown Heights - $5-$10)

Six Sunday-afternoon hours dancing to Brandon & Craig musclecars is already my idea of sweet relief at the moment. Add a specialty location (private loft with a beautiful soundsystem), and a homecooked meal, and this is basically my idea of heavenly escape. You can maybe see why they’re calling it Homecoming. Highest Recommendation! (Sun 12/15, 4p @ private loft, Ridgewood - $45) Except that if I go there, I would miss…

…Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night which is about as good as a holiday-season musicking tradition gets for those of us who think caroling corny. If you’re unfamiliar with Kline’s now 30+year-long flash mob of Christmas-y sonic disturbance, it involves the gathered masses using boomboxes (and now smart-phones) simultaneously playing one of four 44minutes-long interwoven tracks, to create a minimalist cacophonous roar, then wandering the neighborhood spreading a variation of cheer. The anti-Santacon, it one of the best things about being in New York at this time of year! Highest Recommendation! (Sun 12/15, 6p @ Washington Square Park, The Village - FREE)

I have no doubt that there will come a time when the memory of free-swinging saxophonist Tim Berne’s haphazard but years-long, unofficial-yet-crucial residency at Lowlands will become legend. These performances tell the story of events that helped us survived an era. Maybe helped the musicians survive it too. Berne brings his rotating cast of all-star collaborators—this time: saxophonist Chris Potter, guitarist Gregg Belisle-Chi, drummer Tim Rainey, and bassist John Hebert—back to the Third Avenue (Gowanus) bar where the crowd is always glad they came. One of the stranger, most wonderful, long-running fee-jazz jams in the city. (Tues 12/17, 8p @ Lowlands Bar, Gowanus - $20suggested)