Elastic Arts

Join us this upcoming Monday 6/8 as The Middle presents an evening of unique musical duos. Each explores diverse eras and styles of music, featuring works by Jazzmeia Horn, J.S. Bach, Shai Maestro, Benjamin Britten, Momo Hasselbring, Alvin Santner, and the world premiere of a new piece by Kes Yager. 

As a series, The Middle finds through lines between various musical traditions, connecting genres to create a new musical collage for each show. We hope you can join us for this very special performance celebrating the evolution of the series over the past two years. Featuring Kalyan Pathak, Alvin Santner, Will Stevens, Momo Hasselbring, Adriana Harrison, and curator Priya Fink.

Monday 6/8 at 7:30pm!

Join us this upcoming Tuesday June 9th as acclaimed composer and multi-instrumentalist Dameun Strange is set to present a series of afrofuturist experiments at Elastic Arts. Free and open to the public starting at 6pm! This presentation, supported by Sonic Vanguard, serves as a cornerstone of his AACM composition residency.

The evening promises an immersive exploration of sound and sight, featuring a diverse program that pushes the boundaries of traditional performance:
    •    Solo Audio-Visual Piece: A dedicated work exploring the intersection of solo instrumentation and synchronized digital media.
    •    4D Visual Score Integrations: Two distinct audio-video pieces utilizing an innovative 4D visual score system.
    •    Project | AD: A featured work-in-progress that draws deep inspiration from the life and enduring social legacy of Angela Davis.

Through these afrofuturist lenses, Strange continues to investigate the potential for technological integration within the rich tradition of creative improvised music.

Project AD | Genesis
This work in progress serves as a critical examination of the legacy of Angela Davis, utilizing a 4D visual score to explore themes of liberation and resilience. It represents a continuation of Strange’s interest in non-linear storytelling and ritual performance.

Helianthus | Sankofa
Originally premiered as a Cedar Commission in 2017, Helianthus functions as a ritualistic vehicle for ancestor worship, specifically honoring the matriarchs who raised Strange. The “Sankofa” iteration utilizes the new 4D scoring methodology to create an immersive, interdimensional travel experience for performers and audience alike, moving beyond the linear constraints of traditional staff notation.

AquaSonos | Hydrologic
Born from Strange’s 2019 residency in Senegal, the AquaSonos canon uses graphic notation to explore genetic memory and the African diaspora’s relationship with water. This installment, Hydrologic, leverages advanced 4D scoring techniques developed during his residency with the Capitol Region Watershed District in Saint Paul, MN to map complex, recurring rhythmic cycles.

We’re excited to present a special Sunday night with two sets from the trio of Bonnie Han Jones, Jeff Arnal, and Ken Vandermark! Join us this Sunday June 7th!

Bonnie Han Jones (electronics/voice), Jeff Arnal (drums/percussion), and Ken Vandermark (saxophones/clarinets) reconvene to celebrate their first collaboration, Signal Otherwise, the 67th edition in the Catalytic Sound Artist Albums series.  The music was recorded at Experimental Sound Studio in December of 2022. Its seven pieces are an amalgamation of many things: individual music histories, pitch and texture, arrhythmic phrasing and pulse, fervent declamation and introspection, which results in an electroacoustic document unique in the discographies of all three musicians. This concert is a rare occasion to hear these three musicians working together through improvisation and experimentation over the course of two sets.
Signal Otherwise is now available to the public as part of Catalytic Sound’s CAA Fundraising program and all proceeds from sales of this digital album go toward Beloved Asheville, “a trusted, grassroots, and equity-focused organization. With over fifteen years of experience in movement building and advocacy for human rights, the organization’s success is credited to the ability to build relationships, create visible change, and generate community-led momentum for collective action.”

TONIGHT!

Two trios bring together generations of Chicago mainstays of jazz, noise, and rock. First up is Ahura, the jazz-based project of bassist Jeff Wheaton, who also produces alternative/indie bedroom pop as jFfjF. The band includes Wheaton on bass, Vincent Davis on drums, and Javier Red on piano. 

Next up is Interim Assassin, the trio of Jeb Bishop, Daniel Burke, and Erik Sowa. Falling loosely in the cracks between post-rock jazz improvisation and ambient electronic minimalism, the band presents communication in pursuit of a good moment. An open exploration of sound playing with the possibilities of sustain, silence, space, texture, environment, and pattern. Embracing the beauty of harmony and dissonance whenever possible. Music at 8:30pm!

8:30 pm: Ahura
Jeff Wheaton - bass
Vincent Davis - drums
Javier Red - piano, keyboards

9:30 pm: Interim Assassin
Jeb Bishop - trombone, electronics
Daniel Burke - guitar, keyboards, electronics
Erik Sowa - drums