Bklyn Sounds 4/10/2024—4/16/2024

This Week's Shows: Wookie / Leyla McCalla / gabby fluke-mogul / Chris Williams / Theo Parrish / Caroline Davis & Wendy Eisenberg / The SSPS / William Parker's Pocket Watch / and much more

When Bklyn Sounds first launched in the “Vaccine Summer” of 2021, it was to spotlight the great local musical culture exploding post-lockdown — had been, in fact, quietly (and safely) exploding during lockdown too. It was meant to give a renewed sense of New York musicians, New York parties and New York sounds inherent to the city’s cultural fabric. These were/are some of the folks whose need to keep on musicking kept our souls alive during a time when people were physically dying all around us. Because this was how these musickers were staying alive too. And now they continue doing this werk. As the world splits further and further apart, they are musicking in tougher and tougher conditions — civic, political, financial, inhumane — of which we are reminded every damn day, in myriad ways.

I write this partly because this week’s list of shows is unusually heavy with these same local musicians and happenings at the core of why Bklyn Sounds exists. (And who will always remain at the core. Since a wonderful flurry of subscribers have arrived at Dada Strain, and regard it primarily as a listings guide, it’s important to reiterate that this is not simply about promoting the best parts of creative New York rhythm and improvisation nightlife in the city, but its focus on community musicking. The stuff that continues to happen at an incredibly high-level after the “scene” has dispersed.) Go check them out, even if you are as-yet unfamiliar with their music. The discovery you come upon may not necessarily be sonic.

Which is related to the other reason I am writing this: the mindful importance to occasionally emphasize how Dada Strain believes liberation in music works — particularly how liberation through rhythm and improvised music works. That is, by participating fully in the experience, giving yourself over to it, and then seeing what you can find there. Giving fully of yourself is what I do in my writing now, what I have come to expect of musickers I trust (one reason I feature many of them over and over), and since I’ve heard them do it so fully in our time of need, it is a relationship that’s become foundational to how Dada Strain regards the world. 

This is not how others see it. An article published earlier this week at The Baffler has roiled the world of dance music media (social and established), by questioning the purported political aspects of clubbing. (I refuse to link to it here for a variety of reasons — I may come back to it in the future.) One of the things I believe the piece’s writer gets the most wrong is ascribing to the relationship between music and “politics” a very stern definition, based solely on the issues of the day. “If you don’t act this way,” it says (I am paraphrasing), “or if you ape the green-washing/Black-washing marketing of political stances, you are false, and the whole act of dance-floor liberation is bullshit.” To which I would say that the very act of giving yourself over to the dance-floor fully is inherently one of the most political and vulnerable acts you can make. Full stop. You do it by yourself — or with a partner, or with some friends — and if you do it fully, on a successful night, you will find allies in your liberation. And that’s how, I believe, mass movement begins. (Pun intended.)

Rhythm, improvisation, community isn’t just a tag-line or a t-shirt. (Though it’s that too. DM me.) A few months ago, a colleague starting a newsletter asked me how this one was going, and my “strategy” for developing it, and after hearing a variation of the above said, “You’ve got a mission” Indeed. I kinda think we all do.

Thank you for reading, following, sharing and of course musicking.

This Week’s Shows:

Violinist, improviser gabby fluke-mogul (they/them) is a Bklyn Sounds regular not only because gabby is among the city’s great creative players, but because, as a great creative player, they’re fearless with their variety of musical contexts. Hence, the perfect person for a week at The Stone, where gabby will spend three evenings in duos — with guitarists Fred Frith (Wed 4/10) and Eva Mendoza (Thurs 4/11), and electric harpist Zeena Parkins (Sat 4/13) — then bring the swing in XXE, alongside pianist Mara Rosenbloom and drummer Tcheser Holmes (Fri 4/12). Highest Recommendation! (Wed 4/10 - Sat 4/13, 8:30p @ The Stone, New School, Manhattan - $20)

Legendary New York bassist William Parker’s creative-music big-band project has undergone many names and mutations — Little Huey, Huey’s Pocket Watch, and now William Parker’s Pocket Watch. Surrounded by great young NYC players, Parker has lately been pulling the Pocket Watch out more often, winding it for detonation. Always a great reminder that Parker is one of the great elders in the city’s improvised music community, that he’s playing it funky and paying it forward. (Thurs 4/11, 7:30p @ Radio Nublu, Manhattan - $20)

An excellent conglomeration of community players at the Record Shop: guitarist Keisuke Matsuno, trumpeter Kenny Warren, saxophonists Angela Morris and Nathaniel Morgan, and percussionist Carlo Costa. Thursgay evening, they’re gonna play three sets, the last of which will definitely feature all five, but the others in duo and trio combinations. Red Hook vibes at their finest. (Thur 4/11, 8p @ 360 Record Shop, Red Hook - $10-$15suggested)