Elliott Sharp -saxophones, bass clarinet
Brandon Lopez -bass
Don McKenzie -drums
Celebrating Elliott Sharp's 70th Birthday!
With his improvising trio Aggregat, E# on saxophones and bass clarinet reveals a deep familiarity with jazz history and practice but also dives headlong into a futuristic approach, shredding tradition while acknowledging it. Aggregat's rhythm section of Brandon Lopez on bass and Don McKenzie on drums is powerful and supple. The music that E# has composed for this formation is his most explicitly jazzy set to date with sounds ranging from solid swing to skittering high-velocity textures.
Interim for trio and electronics (2022)
New Thread Quartet
Jonathan Hulting-Cohen, soprano saxophone
Erin Rogers, alto saxophone & mentor
Zach Herchen, baritone saxophone
The recipient of the 2022 Composers Now First Commission Award is Ebun Oguntola. Ebun is a 16-year-old contemporary classical composer, violinist, pianist and saxophonist living in upstate New York. Her music was brought to the attention of Composers Now by the founders of Luna Composition Lab, Missy Mazzoli and Ellen Reid. With mentorship from composer/saxophonist Erin Rogers, Ebun will create a chamber work for the New Thread Quartet that received its world premiere as part of the Opening Event of the 2022 Composers Now Festival.