Did you vote today? If not, please make sure you do. With that public service announcement out of the way, how about some music?

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/.