Bklyn Sounds 8/6/2025—8/12/2025

This week's events include Vernon Reid & Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber residency / A Space For Sound & Surya Botofasina in the park / Michael T: Bowie 80 / Kiernan Laveaux / much more

Clockwise from upper left: Kiernan Laveuax, Vernon Reid, C Rena Anakwe (aka A Space For Sound), David Bowie

One quick note about a great Bklyn Sounds-related, NYC cultural-history listen from earlier this week: Always looking for media alternatives from the big institutions, I’ve been diving deeper into The City’s local jounrnalism offerings. (Highest Recommendation! I think both they and Hell Gate deserve your follows/subscriptions.) That’s how I recently discovered that their podcast “network,” FAQ NYC, does occasional arts episodes under the name LITNYC. (It ain't all politics: though isn't everything politics?) And last week's was a doozy:

The City Executive Editor (and longtime NYC journalist) Alyssa Katz in conversation with J. Hoberman about his new book, Everything Is Now: The 1960s New York Avant-Garde—Primal Happenings, Underground Movies, Radical Pop. Hopefully you know Hoberman as one of the great American film critics and historians of the past 50 years; but he also came up during the golden age of New York’s alternative press. (I started reading him in the Village Voice in the ‘80s.) And this conversation, a rich-ass 40mins, provides incredible insight into local arts journalism’s contributions to and responsibilities of growing New York’s independent culture. It also provides great Yayoi Kusama and Andy Warhol tea from his book, which seems like a must-read. Listen to it HERE.

(And if you’re looking for more on Hoberman’s book, I also want to point you to my colleague Marc Masters’ The Music Book Podcast episode, “J. Hoberman on 1960's New York.”)

THIS WEEK’s SHOWS:

Shara Lunon’s great Heavy Florals series returns to Sisters with an unmissable triple-bill: I know of LA-based multi-instrumentalist Salenta De Badisdenne because of her partnership with Topu Lyo on their stunning all-timer, 2023’s Moon Set, Moon Rise. Salenta plays and DJs around the LA community, and this rare live Bklyn appearance is a solo gig. Tswami seems like a new solo-music project by one of Bklyn Sounds’ inspirations, Irreversible Entanglements drummer Tcheser Holmes. If you know his other solo shit, you know it’s worth a follow. Want more? The DJ before-between-after is the invaluable community musicker Jadalareign. Highest Recommendation! (Wed 8/6, 8p @ Sisters, Fulton Street - $20notaflof)

Trombonist Frank Lacy has been one of the infinite secret cogs of New York’s creative and “jazz” music for at least 40 years, connective tissue between AACM stalwarts like Henry Threadgill and Joseph Bowie, and the Mingus Big Band. (Here’s where I point out his role in the deeply under-appreciated Julius Hemphill Big Band, which is where I discovered him). Lacy has been leading groups of his own throughout, and that music is getting its due over two nights uptown. Wednesday is for a Quartet (7p) and a Septet (9p); Thursday features the large Classical Jazz Ensemble (7p) and a nine-trombones-strong Tromboniverse (9p). (Wed 8/6-Thurs 8/7, 7p & 9p @ Dizzy’s, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Uptown - $25-$45)

Black Rock Coalition co-founder and Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid’s lifting of the Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber conduction baton after the sudden tragic passing of Greg Tate is one of my favorite NYC music stories of the past few years. And a Reid/Burnt Sugar residency at The Stone feels like a culmination of sorts. The whole sprawling jazz-rock-funk-hip-hop ensemble is on-board for the first three nights, the themes/guests being “A Night of Radiance” with Laraaji (Wed), “Summertime of Love ~ The Psychedelic Conductions” (Thurs), and “Bohos & Blues,” featuring David Barnes (Fri). Saturday night, the big band gives way to a special small group, Free Form Funky Frēqs, with Reid joined by legends, bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma, drummer Grant Calvin Weston, and “Special Guests.” Highest Recommendation! (Wed 8/6—Sat 8/9, 8:30p @ The Stone, New School, Manhattan - $30)

Kiernan Laveaux is foremost among my recent-year additions to the never-ending list of DJ-producers I try not to miss, especially when they play under irregular/curated circumstances. Laveuax is one of the great connectors between Bklyn and various Midwest techno, non-binary and DIY-arts communities, a DJ of immense ears, dope mixing skills, and a comfort level to pursue soundscape experiences of all orders. (Follow her great Sweet Abyss radio show on The Lot for non-club proof.) So it’s almost-guaranteed that a Present Sounds with Laveaux at the great Greenpoint loft will be a good trip. Highest Recommendation! (Thurs 8/7, 7p @ Light & Sound Design Studios, Greenpoint -$25-$30). She’s also rocking it in more standard environs Friday late-night. (Fri 8/8, 10p @ Signal, East W’burg - $17-$30)

PS1 Warm Up, the grandaddy of NYC’s museum dance-parties is still the one to turn to for interesting new artists, original bookings, sonic connections, etc. This Friday features the industrial/EBM pop of Marie Davidson, diasporic techno from LOKA. the creative music world-building of poet Fred Moten and bassist Brandon Lopez, and electronic producer/performer Concrete Husband. (Fri 8/8, 4p @ MoMA PS1, Long Island City - $20-$22)

International Anthem’s quarterly residency at Public Records is a gift that keeps bringing the label’s off-kilter West-Coast groupings to NYC, redrawing the lines of popular (cause these things all sell-out) improvised music. Here guitarist Gregory Uhlmann, saxophonist Josh Johnson and bassist Sam Wilkes, all wonderfully adept at electronics, spill their bag of jazz-adjacent tricks, presumably based on the trippy, rhythm-heavy album they dropped in March. (Fri 8/8, 7p @ Public Records, Gowanus - $30)

What is there left to say about Will Oldham, Bonnie "Prince" Billy (but forever Palace to some of us)? He’s one of the generation-defining American songwriters of the past three decades; still writing songs and making work, if not at the same insane clip; still a great post-hardcore, country-folk individualist, the direct-connection between Slint and Johnny Cash. Great performer too: I saw him at Big Ears last year for the first time in a few and cried all over again. If you’ve never shared an evening, and have the time, it’s a must. Highest Recommendation! Also: the Asheville-based guitarist Tashi Dorji. (Fri 8/8, 8p @ Pioneer Works, Red Hook - $40-$45)

As 1980-82 David Bowie was the first Bowie I knew—mesmerized and confused by how the guy singing “Wham Bam Thank you ma’’am” on FM rock radio was making the “Ashes to Ashes” and “Fashion” videos, and playing the Elephant Man on Broadway— it’s the Bowie I still find myself returning to the absolute most. (Maybe because this is also when his NYC moment began?) “Nightlife producer, performer, DJ, fixture in downtown NYC culture since the creation of the wheel” Michael T seemingly feels the same. He’s premiering a show at Joe’s Pub, Bowie 80, that is a review of this moment. (Fri 8/8, 9:30p @ Joe’s Pub, Manhattan - $36+minimum)

Derrick Carter may have been too young to be considered one of Chicago house music’s originators, but for a lot of folks who caught the club bug in the ‘90s, he is forever one of this music’s dons. There’s a reason why the DJ mix above gets regularly brought up as one of the defining house mixes of its era. And trust that Carter’s playing has only gotten better. Highest Recommendation! Also: S4M23. (Fri 8/8, 10p @ Nowadays, Ridgewood - $32)

Set, setting, and setters spectacular: The Sound of Ourselves is a “meditative music activation” by keyboardist/spiritualist Surya Botofasina (he of the Carlos Niño/Andre 3000 bands, a student of Alice Coltrane) and multi-instrumentalist Rena “A Space for Sound” Anakwe (she of healing soundbath practices, but fluent in techno bass). Powered (as it should be) by Karlala Soundsystem in one of Prospect Park’s great music-centric nooks, the event marks another chapter of the spiritual-music improvisations and collaborations society that keeps growing. (Sat 8/9, 2p @ Vale of Cashmere, Prospect Park - $15-$25suggested)

What has surely become partly defined as the summer of Wu-Tang’s sunset, arrives at its easily imaginable closing act: a 30th anniversary celebration of Raekwon’s indispensable solo debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. It’s not just a solo Wu hallmark, but a hip-hop cornerstone; and, for my money, also truly introduced Ghostface’s genius to the world. (So here’s hoping he’s involved.) BRIC’s preview warns there’ll be new songs too. (Sat 8/9, 7p @ Lena Horne Bandshell, Celebrate Brooklyn, Prospect Park - FREE)

Admittedly, it took me awhile to wrap my head around Editrix, the Zappa–meets-post-hardcore trio that provides singer-guitarist Wendy Eisenberg’s writing/playing an indie-rock-oriented outlet, with bassist Steve Cameron and drummer Josh Daniel supplying the power and precision that turns such endeavors from potential wank to “whoah!” New album reminds me of peak Polvo for some reason. Also: one of Daniel’s other bands, the Western Mass-based post-punks Landowner + Open Head. (Sat 8/9, 8p @ Union Pool, W’burg - $15-$18)

An excellent line-up at the Nomad Jazz Festival, co-produced by the Jazz Gallery folks. If Saturday’s headliners, Roy Hargrove Big Band (performing the late trumpeter’s great compositions) and soul-jazz singer Lizz Wright, feel a little light; Sunday’s line-up—Venezuelan experimentalists Caracas Trio with tap-dancer Melissa Almaguer, harpist Brandee Younger’s Trio, and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane playing his mother Alice’s music (likely with Brandee)—is pretty much all-star. (Sat 8/9—Sun 8/10, 1p @ Madison Square Park, Manhattan - FREE)

Another great Sunday afternoon Summer Thunder program at Union Pool, this one of the distorted-electric-guitar variety. The Gunn-Truscinski Duo, guitarist Steve and percussionist John, have been making wonderful instrumental records for a decade-and-a-half, giving the LES-feedback-meets-weird-America minimalism their own spin. They occasionally do great covers too. Also: Rippers regulars Real Young & Lazy Horse have maybe redefined On The Beach for a generation. The indomitable Brian Turner DJs before-between-after. (Sun 8/10, 2p @ Union Pool, W’burg - FREE)

There are levels of site-specific irony to having Arthur Russell’s music performed at the $260million arts island a few blocks from the old and new Kitchen, just up-river from former queer cruising spots turned yuppie promenade. Russell’s is a culturally shape-shifting legacy that now embodies both a former New York too many didn’t give a shit about, and new moneyed New York hard to get tickets to. Advanced seats to Arthur Ruseell: The Platform on the Ocean have been sold-out forever, but $10 stand-bys are available for early arrivals. The program definitely includes a big orchestral reading of 24 > 24 and DJ set by Laurie Anderson, maybe more. Beforehand, there’s free Arthur-related music by guitarist Smokey Hormel and saxophonist Zoh Amba. The curating is top notch. The sunset view’s guaranteed to be beautiful. (Sun 8/10, 6:30 @ Little Island, Manhattan - $10-$25)

NYC’s indispensable arts-music hootenanny, Abasement, returns with installment #79. This time around: audio-visual synth-building mavens MSHR; KALA, a noise duo collaboration between percussionist Ember Vaughan-Lee and guitarist Tashi Dorji; Detroit’s Kraut-centric lo-fi-improv trio Battle Elf; Endless Season, a gorgeous ambient-jazz collaboration between legendary NYC reeds player Daniel Carter and saxophonist/electronics player Ayumi Ishito; and a collaboration between David First’s machines and Madison Greenstone’s clarinets. DJing by Nikki Sneakers, visuals by Wavefield and Bradley Eros. (Mon 8/11, 7p @ Artists Space, Manhattan - FREE)

MORE RECOMMENDED EVENTS:

• Misster (Wed 8/6, 7p @ Stone Circle Theater, Ridgewood - $10-$13) - (full disclosure: one of my great students, so I’m biased AF) the young Abi Mirabel is celebrating the release of their first solo album, the singer-songwriter industrial pop, Admit We’re Lost.

• Playback: 29 Speedway (Wed 8/6, 7p @ Bar Laika, Clinton Hill - FREE) - the young artful Bklyn label comes to the Clinton Hill bar with the dope soundsystem to play its new and old music.

• Kelly Moran (Thurs 8/7, 8p @ Underground, Lincoln Center, Uptown - FREE) - electronic minimalist pianist/composer comes uptown.

• Imal Gnawa (Thurs 8/7, 10p @ Babés, Park Slope - $20suggested) - as a longtime fan of the Moroccan rhythm music, I am not mad at NYC’s gnawa boomlet, and this newish duo that incorporates drum-machines and electronic textures is wonderful on-record.

• DJ Max Glazer (Fri 8/8, 6p @ Brooklyn Public Library, Grand Army Plaza - FREE) - applauding that one of the city's excellent reggae/dancehall DJs (who graduated to become Rihanna’s tour DJ) has a semi-regular gig at the Library.

• SiiiSO (Fri 8/8, 8p @ Honey’s, Bushwick - FREE) - producers/DJs Gamma VIbes and Lauren Yoon are yet to record under their duo project name, and I’m yet to see them, but clips of their live electronic sets, and reports from them, have been great. This one’s on a rooftop, weather-permitting.

• Alfredo Colon Quintet (Fri 8/8, 8p & 10p @ Close-Up, Manhattan - $30) - excellent young alto saxophonist’s quintet includes visionary trumpeter Ryan Easter.

• Ruidosa Festival (Sat 8/9, 4p @ Lincoln Center, Uptown - FREE) - NYC iteration of the “first fully women-led music festival in Latin America,” includes electronic-pop vocalist/producer Empress Of, and art-pop/ jazz vocalist Sofía Rei.

• Juke Box Baby: Sirsnacktray & Devin Brahja Waldman + Different Birds + Dr. Now + DJ Coconut (Sat 8/9, 4p @ Mama Tried, Sunset Park - $uggested) - nice afternoon bill, with saxophonist and great composer Waldman teaming with a double-bassist, and Peter Zummo’s Birds as a trio with Conclave bassist Ọmọ Igi.

• Thor Harris & Friends feat. More Eaze, Lumberob (Sat 8/9, 7p @ Sultan Room, Bushwick - $20) - when famed indie-art-noise drummer turned multi-instrumentalist Harris gathers his tribes, he’s got a great crew to choose from.

• Tribute to Barre Phillips with Brandon Lopez and Drönemass (Sat 8/9, 7p @ Ki Smith Gallery, Manhattan - $25) - a low-key celebration of the late, free-jazz bassist whose move to Europe furthered the cross-Atlantic improvising dialogue.

• Celia Cruz Celebration (Sat 8/9, 7p @ Rumsey Playfield, Summerstage, Central Park - FREE) - the Queen of Salsa saluted by multiple generations of Cuban singers, including Issac Delgado and Brenda Navarrete.

• The Skatalites (Sat 8/9, 7p @ Littlefield, Gowanus - $40) - the great ska orchestra, celebrating its 60th anniversary in the Gowanus.

• Shake! Monk-One + DJ Prestige + 5D (Sat 8/9, 10p @ Friends & Lovers, Crown Heights - $5-$10) - Bklyn's great all-vinyl, all-classics party invites a Dallas funk DJ with a bag of heaters. (Honestly, I did not know 5D before - but I trust Monk…)

• Public Service (Sun 8/10, 3p @ Herbert Von King Park, Bed-Stuy - FREE, funding donation suggested) - one of the best parties in New York, a free park-jam to boot, bring friends. Highest Recommendation!

• The Originals featuring Rich Medina, Stretch Armstrong and Tony Touch (Sun 8/10, 5p @ Summerstage, Central Park - FREE) - three extraordinarily good ‘90s DJs who form like Voltron, for their occasional hip-hop-meets-house-meets-kitchen-sink parties.

• Deradoorian + Xylosma (Sun 8/10, 8p @ Union Pool, W’burg - $15-$18) - excellently artful double-bill featuring a one-time Dirty Projector, and an kindall-star trio of drummer Greg Fox, electronics player M. Geddes Gengras, and guitarist Grey McMurray

• Ozomatli (Tues 8/12, 8p @ Sony Hall, Manhattan - $39-$$$) - LA’s boundary-breaking jazz-hip-hop-salsa-cumbia ensemble is also celebrating its 30th anniversary. I wonder how their old jams stand-up?