Bklyn Sounds 3/5/2025—3/11/2025

This week's shows include HPRIZM / Melanie Charles birthday celebration / JD Samson & Amber Valentine / Joaquin Joe Claussell / 'Sublime Frequencies 3' / Pink Must / Maurice Fulton / much more

Thanks to everyone who came out to Public Records on Saturday night for Love Injection’s 10th anniversary—and especially to the folks who spent their evening Upstairs. It was such a joyous moment that I was actually able to forget for a few hours the horrors of the world at the moment.

Thank you to the staff at Public Records for the welcome and the care. Thank you to Will Shore and to Quinnette for their incredible sets. Thank you to the special guests Chris Williams, Shara Lunon and Jason Stein of Natural Information Society for elevating my set more than I could ever expect it. (And to Spencer, PR’s sound engineer for mic’ing those lovely musicians up and making them sound great on-the-fly…) Thank you to all the dancers and party-goers who brought the best vibes. And most of all Thank you to Team Love Injection, Barbie & Paul, for the invite and the friendship. 10 Years Strong and Moving On!

THIS WEEK’S SHOWS:

FUJI|||||||||||TA is “experimental” in a way that 85% of the music I describe here as such simply isn’t. The Japanese sound artist builds his own machines and instruments (most famously a mini-pipe organ he’s been augmenting since 2009) and tries to push them beyond the brink, sculpting abrasive minimal resonances into core elements. A relatively rare visitor to the States, go see him to experience sound’s true potential. Opening is the abstract turntablist Maria Chavez. (Wed 3/5, 7p @ Public Records, Gowanus - $30)

The final night of Arts for Art’s Out Festival has a very special treat, a meeting of two legendary New York players. I can’t imagine that guitarist Marc Ribot and bassist William Parker have never played together; cornerstones of Downtown improvised music for 50 years, their history is massive and must have had overlaps, right? Yet i can’t locate evidence to the contrary, and they’re playing as a duo at 10p tonight. Get there early though for a great full bill. Trombonist Zekkereya El-magharbel’s Band is a set of local all-stars; Cosmic Lexi-Glass is a quartet with vocalists led by the excellent pianist Alexis Marcelo; and the duo of Randall Horton & Jason Kao Hwang brings together poetic verses and violin. Highest Recommendation! (Wed 3/5, 7:30p @ Nublu Classic, Loisaida - $25)

Once best known as High Priest, co-founder of the electronic/avant-garde hip-hop collective, Anti-Pop Consortium, producer HPRIZM has spent the better part of two decades expanding as a multi-media artist and electronics improviser. This moment sees HPRIZM basking in the fruits of his labor. He’s been invited by the interdisciplinary artists Black Quantum Futurism (Camae “Moor Mother” Ayewa and Rasheedah Phillips) to present as part of the “Memory Vortex Inn” at Performance Space. (Wed 3/5, 7p @ Performance Space, Manhattan - $0-$50) And his sound installation, “Hprizm: Sound of the City,” is getting a lot love at Pioneer Works, where he’s playing live as part of the Red Hook art-compound’s Second Sundays monthly. That day-long program will also feature, among other happenings, a conversation between two great writers about music, the twin sisters Liz Pelly and Jenn Pelly. Highest Recommendation! (Sun 3/9, Noon @ Pioneer Works, Red Hook - FREE)

Micah Thomas’ residence at The Stone this week is a massive list of collaborators, with Tyshawn Sorey, Mary Halvarson, Immanuel Wilkins, Lesley Mok and Jessica Pavone joining the pianist on his various explorations. If I had to pick the most Dada of the nights, it’s prolly Wednesday, when—according to the schedule—Thomas drops the ivories and Wilkins puts down the alto, and both get on synths (!!!!!), joined by Philly guitarist Simon Martinez (aka flanafi). Unexpected from the word “Go.” (Wed 3/5 - Sat 3/8, 8:30p @ The Stone, New School, Manhattan - $20)

With his new trio album Apple Cores, tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis keeps on rippin’, continuing to make records that “jazz” purists embrace, while various progressives and futurists can also call their own. Here, it helps that JBL has a rhythm section featuring the mighty Chad Taylor on drums/percussion/mbira and electric bassist/dub champion Josh Werner. Groove is the core here, and will undoubtedly be on display at this album release show. (Thurs 3/6, 7p @ Public Records, Gowanus - $30). JBL is also doing a solo set at The P.I.T. late afternoon Saturday. (Sat 3/8, 5p @ Property Is Theft, W’’burg - $uggested)'

Initiated in 1979, SPACE was a trio that united Art Ensemble of Chicago co-founder Roscoe Mitchell, classically-trained baritone/improvising vocalist Thomas Buckner, and the late Japanese-American multi-instrumentalist Gerald Oshita, around what their 1984 album called New Music for Woodwinds and Voice. Oshita passed away in 1992, but in recent years, SPACE has reconvened with veteran winds player Scott Robinson, and are playing a rare program they’re calling “Interpretations” with Robert Dick on flute. (Thurs 3/7, 8p @ Roulette, Downtown Bklyn - $20)

Bassist Stephan Crump has another beautiful new band. The “Passerine" quartet features trumpeter Kenny Warren, saxophonist/woodwinds player David Leon and drummer Ches Smith, performing music that Crump, a composer enchanted by naturalist themes, calls “inspired by nests and birds.” Two sets. (Fri 3/7, 8p & 10p @ CloseUp, Manhattan - $30)

Serena and Dan Testu Collective have put together another technologically insightful, audio-visual Sublime Frequencies 3 program with deep immersive potential. It’ll feature music from synthesist, sound healer and former Pauline Oliveros assistant, C. Lavender; Iranian-born drone soundscapist Kamran Sadeghi; a collaboration between Japanese synthesist Maria Takeuchi and Testu’s Serena Stucke; with a night of visuals by Testu’s Dan Tesene, and contextual DJing by Post-Geography, whose atmospheric selections on NTS have found favor with the new ambient crowd. (Sat 3/8, 8p @ Light and Sound Design Studio, Greenpoint - $25 + RSVP)

My unrequited admiration for pedal-steel player J.R. Bohannon has brought the news that his electrified country and bluegrass quartet Still Minders—with guitarist Ian Douglas-Moore (who books the Striped Light series), drummer Rob Smith (of Animal Surrender) and electric string player Dave Shuford (No Neck Blues Band, among others)—is doing a gig at the wonderful Ore Bar. With Sightings guitarist Mark Morgan opening. (Sat 3/8, 9p @ Ore Bar, W’burg - FREE/$uggested)

JD Samson DJing is a product of the bands she’s been in (the punky lo-fi disco-pop of Le Tigre, the artsy dance sounds of Men), and her admiration for and participation in unabashedly queer club spaces. She shares the latter quality with Amber Valentine, a DJing staple at House of Yes and other city clubs. Tonight the pair, somewhat regular record-playing partners, bring their tag-team game to Gabriela. (Sat 3/8, 9p @ Gabriela, W’burg - Free before 10p/$20cash)

Signal is a brand-new (opened last weekend) dance-club on Morgan that I know nothing about. But I do know that on Saturday night, the mighty Maurice Fulton is pulling an all-night-long set in that space, which strikes me as a VERY good way to open your account. Always go see Maurice, especially as his new BOOF album has reminded folks that he remains one of the very best house (among other sounds) producers on the planet. Highest Recommendation! (Sat 3/8, 9p @ Signal, East W’burg - $15-$30)

Mickey Perez’s wonderful BeBop Poru party returns to the great newish spot in Ridgewood with a pair of next-level guests: I’ve already told you that Deon Jamar is one of next-gen Detroit’s finest DJs and producers, mining the “wide world of techno (adjacency)” for all its worth. São Paulo’s DJ Tahira is, on the other hand, a veteran, who marries traditional Afro-Brazilian-Latin diaspora sounds to contemporary electronic culture. Three magnificent selectors, at a tried and tested party, in one of the spaces I expect to pick up Black Flamingo’s “great small club” mantle. (Sat 3/8, 10p @ Earthly Delights, Ridgewood - $12)

This event at Joe Claussell’s great record store/rhythm clubhouse is billed as “An Invitation to Openness, Exploring the Mysticism of Sound and Music, Stories by Joaquin Joe Claussell.” It is ostensibly a record release party for something called “Hidden Revealed Dark Rebel,” a 7” record “manufactured specifically for this event.” Which doesn’t really make sense. BUT, record release parties at Cosmic Arts have been traditionally great fetes, and the new bigger space should make any congestion tolerable. RSVP required. (Sun 3/9, 7p @ Cosmic Arts, Bushwick - $10 + RSVP)

Over the past decade and a half, the singer, flutist, producer and musical provocateur Melanie Charles has become a rare community-bridge musician: She’s got the creative largess to be a focal point of an instrumental ensemble, front a band with her singing, or add the perfect touches to a hip-hop/soul/electronic music production. And she is all those things, with a crew that spans multiple musical cliques, all the while repping her Haitian and Brooklyn roots. On Monday, Charles is hosting a "birthday celebration" for herself. Not telling who will show up to help her be her. (Mon 3/10, 8p & 10:30p @ Blue Note, Manhattan - $30-$45)

Pink Must is a long-standing collaboration between Mari “More Eaze” Rubio and Lynn “Iceblink” Avery that has recently been sealed with an official release. Pink Must’s self-titled album of lo-fi indie-pop/not pop displays a pair of in-tune multi-instrumentalist songwriters whose creative energy and seems to know no bounds, a gorgeous multi-directional work for which this gig is an album release party. Also: Grant Chapman and Ryan Power. (Tues 3/11, 7p @ TV Eye, Ridgewood - $15-$20)

MORE RECOMMENDED SHOWS:

• Adrian Younge + Edan (DJ) (Wed 3/5, 7p @ Sultan Room, Bushwick - $$$) - multi-instrumentalist composer/producer, one-half of the Jazz Is Dead team, plays a solo show with one of the city’s most underrated and longest serving backpack grooves DJs

• Michael Shekwoaga Ode (Wed 3/5 & Thurs 3/6, 6p @ Cafe Erzulie, Broadway & Myrtle - $uggested) - massive young drummer (often on Isaiah Collier’s bandstand) leading a keys-heavy band one night, and electric string-led quartet the next.

• Terri Lyne Carrington “We Insist! 2025” (Wed 3/5 - Sun 3/9, 7p & 9p + 10:30p on Fri/Sat @ Smoke Jazz, Uptown - $35 - $$$) - the legendary drummer/educator leads a sextet through an update of Max Roach’s immortal civil-rights suite at an excellent uptown jazz club.

• New Colossus Festival (Wed 3/5 - Sun 3/9 @ various venues, Manhattan - $$$$) - next year, I really must better explore this downtown Manhattan-based, CMJ/Noise Pop-like marathon of primarily indie artists and venues. Feels like International Pop Overthrow.

• Kokoko! + Lollise + Mickey Perez (DJ) (Thurs 3/6, 6p @ Xanadu, Bushwick - $32) - great electronic Afro-pop double bill - skating with Mickey til 8p, live music after.

• “Brackish” (Thurs 3/6, 8p @ St. Lydia’s, Gowanus - $15-$20suggested, NOTAFLOF) - the great new music series return with a new trio, Motel, led by Angela Morris, Jessica Pavone accompanying a movement artist, and more.

• Okra Juice (Fri 3/7, 7p @ Umbra, Bushwick - $uggested) - trumpeter Ryan Easter’s new trio with bassist Mwanzi Harriott and drummer Dom Gervais at a new Bushwick spot that has some interesting bookings.

• Eli Escobar + Ultra Violet (Fri 3/7, 10p @ House of Yes, Bushwick - $TK) - one of the best big-room monthly DJ residencies in the city, the Don, Escobar in the main space, and Ultra Violet putting a Latin-drums spin on things in the Onyx.

• Toribio (Fri 3/7, 9p @ Gabriela, W’burg - Free before 10p/$10cash + Sat 3/8, 10p @ Jupiter Disco, Bushwick - $10-$15) - Big Papi working hard this weekend, back-to-back all-nighters.

• Shake featuring OBaH (Sat 3/8, 10p @ Friends & Lovers, Crown Heights - $5-$10) - Monk-One and Presige’s classic vinyl bangers monthly is hosting a Yonkers DJ who’s come to prominence via his “Recycled Funk” show on Brooklyn Radio.

• DJ Bone + Mike Servito + Rose Courts (Sat 3/8, 10p @ Basement, Maspeth - $25-$30) - excellent three-layer techno bill in the bunker below Knockdown.

• Gripin (Sat 3/8, 11p & Sun 3/9, 7p @ Drom, Manhattan - $$$$) - one of Turkey’s biggest and longest running alternative rock bands doing tiny, expensive club dates.

• Musclecars (Sun 3/9, 4p @ secret loft, Ridgewood - $45) - Brandon and Craig return to the great Decatur Street loft for another Sunday afternoon session - previous iterations have been glorious.

• Wolf Eyes + Lubelski, Nace & Watson (Sun 3/9, 7p @ Union Pool, W’burg - FREE) - rescheduled from its last-minute cancellation three weeks prior - a noise-improvisation haven

• SOMI (Mon 3/10, 7p @ Schomburg Center, Harlem - $40) - the opening night of Schomburg’s Women’s Jazz Festival (staged on three consecutive Mondays) features the wonderful vocalist whose immediate familial and musical roots are heavily African.

• K8A: IMPRESSIONS OF ETHIOPIA (Mon 3/10, 7p @ Barbés, Park Slope - $15suggested) + The Binoculars (Tues 3/11, 8p @ Sunny’s, Red Hook - $uggested) - consecutive nights with fiddler Kaethe Hostetter - first, continuing her Addis Ababa studies on her own; then, in a duo with pedal-steel player Chloë Swantner, playing the folk songbook and beyond.