Big Ears Festival

[mjazzg]

I hope the Fieldwork listing hints at an album and accompanying tour to include the UK of course.

Otherwise it's my annual "if only" comment, another enticing list

[clifford_thornton]

I dunno. Some friends & people I have great love for are playing, but overall it seems like an elephant gun approach to curation, kind of like Pitchfork. I'm sure it'll be fun for anyone who goes, but I wish these big festival lineups didn't read like overstuffed Spotify playlists. This is just my observation and I'm not trying to poop in the punch bowl, so take my opinions with a dose of salt.

[Hoppy T. Frog]

There is a lot more that is interesting to me this year, compared to last year, but passes are getting expensive...$750 for a premier pass at the early bird rate is a lot...The headliners are very "Pitchfork/NPR" as someone on another music message board described it. 

Edited September 13 by Hoppy T. Frog

[clifford_thornton]

That's a chunk of change. Yeah, I remember it being a lot more left-field than the festival has become in recent years. Obviously it is expensive as hell to put on something like this so one has to bet on some "sure things," but as an observer, to me it hits the middle of the road.

[BFrank]

I've been to the last 5 Big Ears. Always have a great time and get to see amazing music. For example, last year's series of Henry Threadgill shows were spectacular. Some with him performing, and some without.

I also try to go outside my comfort zone and see artists I haven't heard before.

Many more artists have been added since that list, BTW

 

[kh1958]

Wadada Leo Smith at Big Ears Festival 2025

Full details will be revealed in the coming weeks, but programs will include:

 

Reflections and Meditations on Monk

Wadada Leo Smith (Solo Trumpet & Piano)

 

Masnavi: A Sonic Meditation and Reflections on Light

Wadada Leo Smith (Solo Trumpet & Piano)

 

String Quartet No. 19, Central Parks: Sunset, Seneca Village, 

A Nature Sanctuary, Women’s Rights Statue, and The Obelisk (World Premier)

Wadada Leo Smith & RedKoral Quartet

Wadada Leo Smith (Trumpet), Shalini Vijayan (Violin), Mona Thian (Violin), 

Andrew McIntosh (Viola), and Ashley Walters (Cello) 

 

Gardens of Peace, in Five Parts

Wadada Leo Smith’s Revolutionary Love

Wadada Leo Smith (Trumpet), Yosvany Terry (Alto Saxophone, Chekere), 

Ashley Walters (Cello), Vijay Iyer (Piano, Fender Rhodes, Electronics), 

Erika Dohi (Piano), Seiyoung Jang (Electronics), and Andrew Cyrille (Drums)

 

Symphony No. 1, Fall (Ankhrasmation Music)

Wadada Leo Smith’s Radio Light

Wadada Leo Smith (Trumpet), Min Xiao-Fen (Pipa), 

Andrew Cyrille (Drums), and Ra Kalam Bob Moses (Drums)

 

Fire Illumination / Obama at the Bridge

Wadada Leo Smith and Orange Wave Electric

Wadada Leo Smith (Trumpet), Brandon Ross (Electric Guitar), 

Lamar Smith (Electric Guitar), Melvin Gibbs (Electric Bass), 

Greg Saunier (Drums), and Hardedge (Electronics)

[mjazzg]

23 minutes ago, kh1958 said:

Wadada Leo Smith at Big Ears Festival 2025

Full details will be revealed in the coming weeks, but programs will include:

 

Reflections and Meditations on Monk

Wadada Leo Smith (Solo Trumpet & Piano)

 

Masnavi: A Sonic Meditation and Reflections on Light

Wadada Leo Smith (Solo Trumpet & Piano)

 

String Quartet No. 19, Central Parks: Sunset, Seneca Village, 

A Nature Sanctuary, Women’s Rights Statue, and The Obelisk (World Premier)

Wadada Leo Smith & RedKoral Quartet

Wadada Leo Smith (Trumpet), Shalini Vijayan (Violin), Mona Thian (Violin), 

Andrew McIntosh (Viola), and Ashley Walters (Cello) 

 

Gardens of Peace, in Five Parts

Wadada Leo Smith’s Revolutionary Love

Wadada Leo Smith (Trumpet), Yosvany Terry (Alto Saxophone, Chekere), 

Ashley Walters (Cello), Vijay Iyer (Piano, Fender Rhodes, Electronics), 

Erika Dohi (Piano), Seiyoung Jang (Electronics), and Andrew Cyrille (Drums)

 

Symphony No. 1, Fall (Ankhrasmation Music)

Wadada Leo Smith’s Radio Light

Wadada Leo Smith (Trumpet), Min Xiao-Fen (Pipa), 

Andrew Cyrille (Drums), and Ra Kalam Bob Moses (Drums)

 

Fire Illumination / Obama at the Bridge

Wadada Leo Smith and Orange Wave Electric

Wadada Leo Smith (Trumpet), Brandon Ross (Electric Guitar), 

Lamar Smith (Electric Guitar), Melvin Gibbs (Electric Bass), 

Greg Saunier (Drums), and Hardedge (Electronics)

Wow! If I had the wealth and the health to get there I'd be there in a flash

[BFrank]

16 hours ago, kh1958 said:

Wadada Leo Smith at Big Ears Festival 2025

Full details will be revealed in the coming weeks, but programs will include:

 

Reflections and Meditations on Monk

Wadada Leo Smith (Solo Trumpet & Piano)

 

Masnavi: A Sonic Meditation and Reflections on Light

Wadada Leo Smith (Solo Trumpet & Piano)

 

String Quartet No. 19, Central Parks: Sunset, Seneca Village, 

A Nature Sanctuary, Women’s Rights Statue, and The Obelisk (World Premier)

Wadada Leo Smith & RedKoral Quartet

Wadada Leo Smith (Trumpet), Shalini Vijayan (Violin), Mona Thian (Violin), 

Andrew McIntosh (Viola), and Ashley Walters (Cello) 

 

Gardens of Peace, in Five Parts

Wadada Leo Smith’s Revolutionary Love

Wadada Leo Smith (Trumpet), Yosvany Terry (Alto Saxophone, Chekere), 

Ashley Walters (Cello), Vijay Iyer (Piano, Fender Rhodes, Electronics), 

Erika Dohi (Piano), Seiyoung Jang (Electronics), and Andrew Cyrille (Drums)

 

Symphony No. 1, Fall (Ankhrasmation Music)

Wadada Leo Smith’s Radio Light

Wadada Leo Smith (Trumpet), Min Xiao-Fen (Pipa), 

Andrew Cyrille (Drums), and Ra Kalam Bob Moses (Drums)

 

Fire Illumination / Obama at the Bridge

Wadada Leo Smith and Orange Wave Electric

Wadada Leo Smith (Trumpet), Brandon Ross (Electric Guitar), 

Lamar Smith (Electric Guitar), Melvin Gibbs (Electric Bass), 

Greg Saunier (Drums), and Hardedge (Electronics)

Just when you think they're done adding new acts, THIS shows up!

[kh1958]

Also added to the lineup: Charles Lloyd Sangam with
Zakir Hussain & Eric Harland

[Hoppy T. Frog]

Well, you can scratch Hussain :(. Glad I saw him earlier this year!