Bklyn Sounds 8/28/2024—9/3/2024

This Week's Shows include: Marc Ribot Quartet / Tama Sumo & Lakuti / Vijay Iyer Trio & guests / Quinnette's 'Soul Purpose' / 'Peer Pressure' x 'Sweet Kicks' / Ryan Sawyer & Sam Newsome / + much more

Clockwise from top left: Quinnette, Marc Ribot, Tama Sumo & Lakuti, Vijay Iyer

So, here we are, the official-unofficial last weekend of summer, I hope it has been a good one for everyone — or, as good as it can be in the trying circumstances of a world on fire. I want to thank everyone who’s been coming to the various Dada Strain shows of the past few months, everyone reading and sharing the newsletter, listening to the radio program, and joining in on the ideas of local musicking and “Rhythm Improvisation Community.” I truly believe that this is energy that can point society into more equitable directions, which is also something that Luke Stewart echoed in an interview we did in June that just got published in BOMB. And though I’ve not published much here outside listings and interviews for a bit, the work has continued behind the curtain. Over the next few months, Dada Strain has some more live events up its sleeve, but also some new ways to put the notions of “Rhythm Improvisation Community” into the world. Watch this space.

I’m out of town til Monday — and begin teaching classes on Tuesday — so (as always when I’m out of town) the paywall stays down. Maybe next summer, we’ll just make all of August free…or we’ll rethink how this whole paid-sub content vs free-sub content works. If you have any ideas or recommendations, I’m open. In fact, I welcome your feedback in regards to everything happening here: please leave a comment below or write directly to Dada Strain Bklyn [at] gmail dotcom. But also, please remember that Dada Strain is a labor of love that requires many hours a week, and wants to become self-sustainable. This is a project about cultural and musicking viability, not about brand growth.

So, please subscribe to Dada Strain — or consider upgrading your subscription. And please support your local musicians and musickers, independent venues, arts organizations and community broadcasters. They/We need it now more than ever. Again, thank you for reading, listening, following and supporting.

This Week’s Shows:

A double-bill of improvised music heavy on open-ended electronics: Levi Lu is, among other multi-instrumental skills an engineer who creates incredible sonic soundscapes using contact mics and their body; the above performance from High Zero 2023 alongside saxophonist Zoh Amba (and Zachary James) might hint at what this duo will sound like. Or it might go completely elsewhere. Afterwards a trio of bassist Evan Palmer, multi-instrumentalist Leo Chang, and pianist/prepared gear operator Shinya Lin will build their own sculptures. (Wed 8/28, 8p @ iBeam, Gowanus - $20)

A quietly historic, never-say-done pairing. Antietam is the long-running indie-rock trio helmed by singer-guitarist Tara Key; and One Seven Eight Product is the collectivist concern founded by Sal Principato, drummer/vocalist in Liquid Liquid and a great NYC rhythmalist. Both acts are musical communities of love, sound and intent. (Thurs 8/29, 8p @ Sleepwalk, Bushwick - FREE)

MUSIC, ART + CULTURE: Little Island’s final week of guest-curated August performances at The Glade, its “natural” amphitheater, is organized by the punk-jazz-hip-hop-performance-art collective, Standing on the Corner, and focuses on various aspects of NYC’s Latinx street-culture. It opens with a live graffiti painting demonstration by Spanish Harlem spray-can legend, Calvin Gonzalez aka Delta2 (Thurs 8/29), before giving way to musical performances by various tri-state Bomba musicians (Fri 8/30), DJ Marley Marl & Dee Jay Orquesta (Sat 8/31)  and Standing on the Corner with special guests Grupo Terruño (Sun 9/1). More details on SOTC’s IG. First come, first served. (Thurs 8/29—Sun 9/1, 5p @ The Glade & The Playground, Little Island, Hudson River Park - FREE)

I think pianist Vijay Iyer to be one of the city’s contemporary musicking heroes. Admired primarily as a jazz instrumentalist, for more than two decades, he’s also been a voice of sonic experimentalism and social action. If I’m around and he’s playing (with anyone), it is a must-see; a free park show with his trio (alongside bassist Devon Gates and drummer Jeremy Dutton) is a no-brainer for those near Midtown on the Friday of  holiday weekend. Highest Recommendation! (Fri 8/30, 7p @ Bryant Park, Midtown - FREE) 8/29EDIT: Arooj Aftab and Heems have just been announced as guest vocalists.

This time around for their Coloring Lessons residency at Nowadays, musclecars bring in friends and collaborators Lakuti & Tama Sumo, whose own Your Love party has been their Berlin outpost, one of that city’s best global-house haps for a long while now. The two pairs have tag-teamed a couple of times in Bklyn over the past two years, resulting in magnificent dance music. Highest Recommendation! (Fri 8/30, 10p @ Nowadays, Ridgewood - $15-$30)

Two of Bklyn’s best party crews team up for an end-of-summer beach jam: Peer Pressure x Sweet Kicks at Riis Park. It’s got everything you need! That Matt, Rose Kourts, Miss Alicia and Karlala on decks will not steer you wrong, Karlala’s pink soundsystem is gaining love across the street-music landscape, the teams’ collective community intentions have been up-front and on-point since lockdown, and the location is perfect (fingers-crossed for sun and no wind). Highest Recommendation! (Sat 8/31, 2:30p @ Riis Park Co-Operative, Rockaways - FREE)

An exceptional night of DIY creative music at the Record Shop: Visiting Ecuadoran cellist/composer/electronics experimentalist Ana Gonzalez Gamboa will play in a duo with pianist Eli Wallace. There’s a potentially spectacular quartet of flutist Samantha Kochis, vibraphonist/trombonist Selendis Sebastian Alexander Johnson, drummer Tcheser Holmes and bassist Kevin Eichenberger. Plus, Record Shop’s resident curatorial smartie Kevin Murray will also bang. (Sat 8/31, 8p @ 360 Record Shop, Red Hook - $20suggested)

Lena Willikens’ secret power is one that many DJs claim: she plays her own personal concept of what dance music can be. In her case, a version of “techno” that is, yes, electronic, post-punk, industrially funky and all those cool sounds; but also, crucially, at times, none of those things. A German DJ living in Amsterdam who doesn’t visit all that often, Willikens is also a longtime NTS staple (a great venue for her don’t-give-af*ck-ness), so maybe in addition to joining the Fixed crew, she’ll jump on at The Lot. In the Bad Room: Aurelia and Alex McCracken. (Sat 8/31, 10p @ Good Room, Greenpoint - $15-$25)

At press-time (Wed morning), there were still plenty of tickets available for DJ Sprinkles’ semi-regular visit to Public Records, this one in the afternoon in the outside Nursery (weather-permitting). That’s a rarity, as when they perform late nights in the Music Room, those spots go quick. For the unfamiliar, Sprinkles is the radical-house vision of Terre Thaemlitz, trans composer, electronics whiz and insightful queer cultural theorist; and their DJ sets are art projects, history lessons, and funky deliverance, all in one. Opening is Richmond’s DJ Aakmael, whose house also has a deep foundation. (Sun 9/1, 2p @ Public Records Nursery, Gowanus - $20-$30)

For the second time this year, legendary downtown guitarist Marc Ribot comes into Bklyn’s LunAtico to test drive a band before bigger gigs — and, oh what a band. This version of the Marc Ribot Quartet also features MacArthur genius Mary Halvorson on second guitar, and a mighty rhythm section, bassist Hilliard Greene and Chad Taylor on drums. First come first served, so get there early if you want in. Highest Recommendation. (Sun 9/1, 8p & 10p @ Bar LunAtico, Bed-Stuy - $20cash + minimum)

UPSTATE: Labor Day evening gigs upstate are hard for those whose autumn semesters begin Tuesday morning, but should you find yourself near Woodstock with a desire to hear a great bill of Unexpected Music you’re in for a massive creative electronics treat. The timeless Laraaji headlines a bill that also includes percussionist Sarah Hennies, a duo of Evan “Photay” Shornstein & Will “High Water” Epstein, plus a trio of Ben Vida, Tyondai Braxton and Jefre Cantu-Ledesma. All producers are comfortable with stretching out. (The venue is the room where John Cage debuted “4’33” I believe.) Highest Recommendation! (Mon 9/2, 4:30p @ Maverick Concert Hall, Woodstock, NY - $30)

Drummer Ryan Sawyer semi-regularly brings in local and visiting improvisors into the cozy basement Lower East Side bar Bacaro. My experience of these performances has been of intimate community fun, musicians with hella-chops and funny bones, no pressure and a pass-the-bucket situation. On Labor Day, Sawyer’s pairing up with the great saxophonist Sam Newsome, so expect it to get skronky. (Mon 9/2, 8:30p-ish @ Bacaro, Dimes Square - $20suggested)

Thank you to Ariella for hipping me to #TomoTuesday, saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist Tomoki Sanders’ first Tuesday of the month (when he’s in town) residency at the music cafe on Nostrand Ave. For those unfamiliar, Tomoki is the son of Pharoah who’s been one of the all-stars of Kassa Overall’s great band the past few years. Not been yet, but the prospect of a monthly Tomoki & Friends gigs at a neighborhood spot is high indeed. (Tues 9/3, 6p @ The REP Cafe, Bed-Stuy - FREE) 9/3 EDIT: An early arrival to REP says the Tomoki gig was cancelled

Quinnette’s Soul Purpose monthly is one of the most musically consistent mid-week new-soul-artists jams around, a great outlet to hear one of the best young DJs in town, always expertly curated with additional live act and bonus selector. This time around, she’s got singer Justo Ontario, and Cosmo, another of Bklyn’s great young DJs. (Tues 9/3, 8p @ Nublu, LES - $20) 

Shabaka + numerous guests arrive at the Blue Note for a week-long stand on Tuesday, and a potential watershed NYC moment for one of the past decade’s crucial musicians. The trio he’s playing in—with drummer Austin Williamson, and trombonist Kalia Vandever—is thematically locked-in, but also consists of strong-minded individuals. Harpists Brandee Younger and Charles Overton, and keys-man George Burton are already scheduled to make appearances (see the schedule), and I bet others will show too. Get your tickets ASAP. Highest Recommendation. (Tues 9/3—Sun 9/8, 8p & 10:30p @ Blue Note, the Village - $35-$50 + minimum)