Profiling the father of free jazz trombone, the great Roswell Rudd, for Chronogram in 2009 was a definite high point for me. For the piece, he held forth on his method of “playing” the “notation” he sees in the natural surroundings of his Kerhonkson home. Eye-opening—and eye-opening—stuff. Rudd turns 81 this month, and on November 19 he’ll get together with some of long-time friends and musical collaborators for a celebratory night at the Falcon.
As a member of the influential New York Art Quartet and a musical partner of Cecil Taylor, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Don Cherry, and others, Rudd was a key participant of New York’s avant-jazz explosion in the early 1960s. His style has been deeply impacted by world music; he assisted Alan Lomax, taught ethnomusicology at Bard College, and frequently performs and records with folk musicians from far-flung cultures. For this month’s birthday bash he’ll be joined by vocalist Fay Victor, bassist Ken Filiano, and pianist Lafayette Harris.
Here he is, blowin’ up a storm in 2007:
Roswell Rudd and friends will perform at the Falcon in Marlborough, New York, on November 19 at 8pm. Donation requested. For more information, call (845) 236-7970 or visit http://www.liveatthefalcon.com/.
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