AB embraces adventurous jazz in the coming concert season. We’re glad about that. Colin Stetson, Mulatu Astatke, Portico Quartet and the duo Brad Mehldau/Mark Guiliana will be providing the exciting and entrancing jazz music highlights.
Tenor saxophonist Colin Stetson is no stranger to AB. He provided the unruly sounds for the much lauded Bon Iver in ’11, as a member of their backing band. But Colin Stetson was already brilliant solo in the AB Club too in ‘11. Stetson is a master in circular breathing and the manner in which he plays tenor sax reminds one of grandmasters like Evan Parker, Anthony Braxton and Peter Brötzmann.
► Colin Stetson will be performing on Wednesday 14 November in AB.
We welcome the so-called father of Ethiopian jazz for the first time, Mulatu Astatke. On the eve of his 70th birthday too. Mulatu Astatke’s musical terrain is not strictly defined as jazz. Rather, call it a unique blend of modern jazz, traditional Ethiopian music, Latin rhythms, Caribbean reggae and Afro-Funk.
► Mulatu Astatke will be performing on Friday 16 November in AB.
Things are even more adventurous with England’s Portico Quartet. They’re often labeled as the ‘Radiohead Of Jazz’ and also as ‘the English Jaga Jazzist’. Jazz is always the point of departure for Portico Quartet but they’re increasingly inspired by electronica, ambient, classical and dance. Radiohead, Burial, Sigur Rós, Flying Lotus and Norway’s jazz trumpeter Arve Henriksen are often mentioned as points of reference.
► Portico Quartet will be performing on Wednesday 5 December in AB.
Lastly, we have honoured guest and famous pianist Brad Mehldau who is already passing by AB for the 8th (!) time, even though this time it will be in duo with Mark Guiliana. The idea: Mehldau behind a Fender Rhodes & an arsenal of synthesizers and Mark Guiliana on drums & a series of effects. You can expect “a completely free form performance, with no set compositions”. Exciting? We certainly think so.
► Brad Mehldau/Mark Guiliana duo will be performing on Thursday 7 March 2013 in AB.
