kh1958 Posted February 28, 2023 Report Posted February 28, 2023 Per twitter: Big Ears Festival @BigEarsFestival The detailed Big Ears schedule for 2023 is coming your way this Thursday, March 2!!!! Quote
randyhersom Posted March 3, 2023 Report Posted March 3, 2023 My early thoughts Thursday Allison Russell 6-7:15 Bill Frisell 7:30 - leaving early Joe Lovano w Marilyn Crispell 8:30- 9:30 Los Lobos 9:35 if I can get in leaving early Vijay Iyer 10:30 - 11:45 Friday Greg Tardy 1:00 - 2:15 Antonio Sanchez 2:20 Leaving early Mary Halvorson Amaryllis & Belladonna 3-5 Arooj Aftab - Vijay Iyer 5 leaving early Ava Mendoza 5:45 Maybe end of Tyshawn Sorey 6:50 - 7:15 William Parker 8:45 - 9:45 Ned Rothenberg 10 leaving early Tarbaby w David Murray 11-12:15 Saturday Zorn 12 leaving early Christian McBride 1-2:15 Charles Lloyd 4- leaving early William Parker 4:30 - 5:30 Trio Imagination 5:35 in progress Sun Ra Arkestra 7-8:15 Rickie Lee Jones 8:20 if I can get in. Blood Ulmer 9-10 Maybe end of Zoh Amba Cecile McLorin Salvant 10:45 - 12 Sunday Zorn 12 Wadada 2:15 James Brandon Lewis 3:15 Bill Frisell 4:15 Sona Jobarteh 5:30 Zorn or C McBride 7 Shara Nova 8 Maybe Zorn 10 Quote
kh1958 Posted March 3, 2023 Report Posted March 3, 2023 (edited) My  plan has a lot in common but I avoid partial sets. March 30: Allison Russell (Bijou) Joe Lovano Trio (Bijou) Vijay Iyer/Linda Oh/Tyshawn Sorey (Bijou) March 31: Gregory Tardy (Old City PAC) Mary Halvorson Amaryllis (Bijou) Mary Halvorson Belladonna (Bijou) Tyshawn Sorey Trio (Bijou) Gyan Riley (St. John's) William Parker In Order to Survive (Bijou) Tarbaby with David Murray  (Bijou) April 1: Bassekou Kouyate (Mill & Mine) Zorn Suite for Piano (Tennessee Theater) Charles Lloyd (Knoxville Civic Auditorium) Etran De L'air (Jackson Terminal) Sun Ra Arkestra (Mill & Mine) James Blood Ulmer (Standard) Cecile McLoren Salvant (Bijou) April 2: Theon Cross (Jackson Terminal) Wadada Leo Smith (Bijou) Bill Frisell Four (Bijou) Sona Jobarteh (Standard) Aurora Nealand Monocle (Old City PAC). Marc Ribot Y Los Cubano Postizos (Mill and Mine)   Edited March 18, 2023 by kh1958 Quote
BFrank Posted March 5, 2023 Author Report Posted March 5, 2023 You guys are WAY ahead of me. I just took a quick look at the schedule. Saturday looks like there will be LOTS of conflicts and tough decisions. Quote
kh1958 Posted March 5, 2023 Report Posted March 5, 2023 (edited) 13 hours ago, BFrank said: You guys are WAY ahead of me. I just took a quick look at the schedule. Saturday looks like there will be LOTS of conflicts and tough decisions. Saturday is especially loaded. There's something that is just wrong about the Sun Ra Arkestra led by 98 year old Marshall Allen being in the worst venue, the Mill & Mine, while John Zorn is in the opulent Tennesse Theater. Â Edited March 5, 2023 by kh1958 Quote
BFrank Posted March 6, 2023 Author Report Posted March 6, 2023 10 hours ago, kh1958 said: Saturday is especially loaded. There's something that is just wrong about the Sun Ra Arkestra led by 98 year old Marshall Allen being in the worst venue, the Mill & Mine, while John Zorn is in the opulent Tennesse Theater. Â And Zorn doesn't even like playing in "large venues." I remember reading about that last year. BE had to push him to play at the Bijou. Quote
kh1958 Posted April 4, 2023 Report Posted April 4, 2023 (edited) My fourth Big Ears Festival was once again a wonderful experience. Twenty concerts in 3 and a half days. The first two days I mostly was at the Bijou Theater, which is one of the best concert venues I've ever been to. Thursday evening: Allison Russell: I  enjoyed this set--a soulful and expressive singer/songwriter. Joe Lovano Trio: Marilyn Crispel on piano was the clear highlight of this set. Vijay Iyer/Linda Oh/Tyshawn Sorey: A quite excellent piano trio. Favorite set of the first day. Friday: Gregory Tardy: Composition based on A Pilgrim's Progress for a ten piece group. Mary Halvorson, Amaryllis. Vibes player Patricia Brennan was terrific. Mary Halvorson, Belladonna. Guitar and string quartet. Tyshawn Sorey Trio: Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano and Tyshawn Sorey. I'm not the biggest fan of the first two, but Tyshawn is fantastic and this set exceeded expectations. William Parker, In Order to Survive: The instrumentalists (William Parker, Gerald Cleaver, Rob Brown plus cornet) were good but I absolutely hated the two vocalists. Ruined the set for me. Makaya McCraven, In These Times: with a twelve piece band, including Brandee Younger and Joel Ross and a string quartet, in the lavish Tennessee Theater. Thrilling and majestic. Definitively my favorite set of the day and perhaps the festival. Saturday: Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba: In an earlier festival, I was thinking to myself, I can't believe I'm going to see Roscoe Mitchell at noon. Same thought today for Mali's ngoni ba griot. Just two ngoni ba players, two percussionists, and a vocalist. A fantastic set that was not hampered by the lousy venue (the Mill and the Mine). John Zorn, Suite for Piano (Brian Marsella on piano, Ches Smith on drums): A pleasing piano trio set. Charles Lloyd Chapel Trio: With Bill Frisell and Thomas Morgan: This was a truly beautiful concert. Trio Imagination (David Virelles, Reggie Workman, Andrew Cyrille): It was a long walk from the Knoxville Civic Auditorium to the Point, so I only heard the last half of this concert, but I was glad I did. Reggie Workman (85) and Andrew Cyrille (83) both still sound great. Vinicius Cantuaria: Some gentle Jobim-like samba mixed with Brazilian jazz.  A strong quartet. I really liked this set. James Blood Ulmer: An overly crowded venue with not the best sound, (the Standard) but it was great to hear James Blood Ulmer live again. The jagged instrumentals were the best for me. The 83 year old guitarist still sounded in prime form. Favorite sets of the day: Bassekou Kouyate, Charles Lloyd and Vinicius Cantuaria. Sunday: John Zorn, Gnostic Trio (Bill Frisell, Kenny Wolleson (vibes), Carol Emmanuel (harp): Quiet chamber jazz which was pleasing to hear. Wadada Leo Smith (with piano, cello and Pheroan Aklaff on drums). Very good. James Brandon Lewis Trio: Loud and a bit too aggressive, but I do like the saxophonist, and he settled down in the last half of the set. Sona Jobarteh: Transcendent and spiritually uplifting set from the Gambian kora griot and band. Aurora Nealand The Monocle: A theatrical set, not a jazz set, where she plays accordion instead of the usual soprano saxophone and clarinet. Favorite sets of the day: Wadada Leo Smith and Sona Jobarteh.  Edited April 4, 2023 by kh1958 Quote
Dub Modal Posted April 4, 2023 Report Posted April 4, 2023 Were any of these recorded by chance? And was Dezron Douglas playing bass with the McCraven/Younger band? Quote
ghost of miles Posted April 4, 2023 Report Posted April 4, 2023 4 hours ago, kh1958 said: Makaya McCraven, In These Times: with a twelve piece band, including Brandee Younger and Joel Ross and a string quartet, in the lavish Tennessee Theater. Thrilling and majestic. Definitively my favorite set of the day and perhaps the festival. Would've killed to see this one, especially given that configuration. Caught McCraven here in Bloomington several years ago in a small-group context and it was outstanding. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted April 4, 2023 Report Posted April 4, 2023 Thanks for the reports. Sad to have missed this year. Quote
kh1958 Posted April 4, 2023 Report Posted April 4, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, Dub Modal said: Were any of these recorded by chance? And was Dezron Douglas playing bass with the McCraven/Younger band? No, it was not Dezron Douglas. I didn't recognize the bassist. Unfortunately, I missed Brandee Younger's own set, so I don't know who she had on bass. If anything was being recorded at the festival, it was not announced. 26 minutes ago, ghost of miles said: Would've killed to see this one, especially given that configuration. Caught McCraven here in Bloomington several years ago in a small-group context and it was outstanding. Yes, I had seen him twice before; this was the best concert of his I have heard so far. 23 minutes ago, Chuck Nessa said: Thanks for the reports. Sad to have missed this year. Hopefully next year. On the plus side, they have added three pretty good new venues in the last two years: Old City PAC, the Point (a church), and the Knoxville Civic Auditorium.  Edited April 4, 2023 by kh1958 Quote
BFrank Posted April 5, 2023 Author Report Posted April 5, 2023 (edited) Also my 4th: 26 events. Lots of great music, for sure. Always is. Favorites in BOLD *Special shout out for Zorn's Cobra - an INSANE improvised mash-up of noise and fun. He did a similar, but smaller show to end last year's festival, too THURSDAY               Yarn/Wire               King Britt - Presents “Moksha Black"   cellist Seth Parker Woods   bassoonist Joy Guidry   Tyshawn Sorey       Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet   Ava Mendoza   Shane Parish   Wendy Eisenberg      Vijay Iyer   Linda May Han Oh   Tyshawn Sorey                        FRIDAY                William Parker (Essential Tremors interview)                 Britt/Sorey discussion               Gatos do Sul   Brian Marsella    Cyro Baptista, Tim Keiper, Jon Irabagon   Jorge Roeder, Felipe Hostins, John Lee, Itai Kriss      Mary Halvorson Amaryllis    trumpeter Adam O’Farrill, drummer Tomas Fujiwara, bassist Nick Dunston, trombonist Jacob Garchik, and vibraphonist Patricia Brennan       Mary Halvorson Belladonna    Mivos Quartet            Ava Mendoza   Sue-C (light show)            Pino Palladino/Blake Mills   Sam Grendel   Abe Rounds         William Parker - In Order to Survive   Patricia Nicholson   Rob Brown   Cooper-Moore   Gerald Cleaver   Taylor Ho Bayum                SATURDAY               Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba               Jack Quartet - Music of Catherine Lamb               Bill Orcutt/Chris Corsano Duo               William Parker Mayan Space Station   Ava Mendoza   Gerald Cleaver         Trio Imagination    Andrew Cyrille   Reggie Workman   David Virelles      Sun Ra Arkestra   Marshall Allen            James "Blood" Ulmer   Mark Peterson   Grant Calvin Weston         Cécile McLorin Salvant   Sullivan Fortner   Marvin Sewell   Keita Ogawa                     SUNDAY               Lonnie Holley All-Star Band   James Brandon Lewis   Shahzad Ismaily [+others]   Wadada Leo Smith   Ashley Walters, cello   Erika Dohi, piano   Pheeroan akLaff, drums       James Brandon Lewis Trio   Josh Warner   Chad Taylor         Justin Adams & Mauro Durante               Sona Jobarteh               John Zorn: Cobra | mary halvorson,wendy eisenberg, will greene - guitar   brian marsella, piano   john medeski, organ   mike nicolas, cello   trevor dunn, acoustic bass   simon hanes, electric bass   sae hashimoto, percussion & vibes   ches smith, aaron edgcomb, kenny wollesen - drums   john zorn, prompter       Edited April 5, 2023 by BFrank Quote
kh1958 Posted August 8, 2023 Report Posted August 8, 2023 (edited) LINEUP & PRESALE COMING Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 12, 9AM/ET Edited August 8, 2023 by kh1958 Quote
kh1958 Posted August 17, 2023 Report Posted August 17, 2023  The tour range is right, so I'm hoping these two are booked by Big Ears. March 2024 15-30: USA Tour Derek Gripper with Ballaké Sissoko (TBA) Quote
kh1958 Posted September 12, 2023 Report Posted September 12, 2023 (edited) The initial lineup announcement is out for 2024. Some highlights: Herbie Hancock Henry Threadgill Charles Lloyd Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dpog Shabaka Hutchings Christian McBride Mary Halvorson Jason Moran and the Harlem Hellfighters Julian Lage Cedric Burnside Cyro Batista Dave Holland Quartet David Virelles Fatoumata Diawara Helen Gillet James Brandon Lewis Kassa Overall Kokoroko Matt Mitchell Myra Melford Nic Bartsch's Ronin Tomeka Reid Quartet Tord Gustavsen Trio Wayne Horvitz Gravitas Quartet Yasmin Williams Brad Mehldau Edited September 12, 2023 by kh1958 Quote
randyhersom Posted September 12, 2023 Report Posted September 12, 2023 https://bigearsfestival.org/ Rhiannon Giddens is back. I'm curious about Tyondai Braxton, will check out some streams on Amazon soon. I'd add Elliiot Sharp and Kirk Knuffke (with John Medeski) to the jazz highlights list. No Zorn so far. Did they hire away a copywriter from Dusty Groove? Ringdown is the new project of Caroline Shaw and Danni Lee, who between the two of them have a Pulitzer Prize in Music, a handful of Grammys, and a Best Drum Major Award from high school. An electronic cinematic pop duo from Portland, Oregon, their songs float up from the dusty record bin between Brahms and Brandi Carlile. If you took a microscope to the hammers of a 1924 vintage piano, pixelated the image, rendered it in 3D, covered it in sequins, flung it into space, and then called your first love on a rotary telephone, that’s Ringdown. Quote
kh1958 Posted September 12, 2023 Report Posted September 12, 2023 (edited) I only see one African artist, but I'm very excited to have the chance to see Mali's Fatoumata Diawara. And they even have a blues act (for the first time ever?) in the person of Cedric Burnside. Â Edited September 12, 2023 by kh1958 Quote
BFrank Posted September 12, 2023 Author Report Posted September 12, 2023 1 hour ago, kh1958 said: I only see one African artist, but I'm very excited to have the chance to see Mali's Fatoumata Diawara. And they even have a blues act (for the first time ever?) in the person of Cedric Burnside. Â There was a VERY bluesy set by James Blood Ulmer this year Quote
clifford_thornton Posted September 12, 2023 Report Posted September 12, 2023 2 hours ago, randyhersom said: https://bigearsfestival.org/ Rhiannon Giddens is back. I'm curious about Tyondai Braxton, will check out some streams on Amazon soon. I'd add Elliiot Sharp and Kirk Knuffke (with John Medeski) to the jazz highlights list. Ty Braxton is really good Quote
kh1958 Posted September 12, 2023 Report Posted September 12, 2023 2 hours ago, BFrank said: There was a VERY bluesy set by James Blood Ulmer this year Harmelodic blues v. Mississippi Hill Country blues. Quote
Jason Bivins Posted September 13, 2023 Report Posted September 13, 2023 4 sets from Threadgill, including Very Very Circus for the first time in 3 decades! Quote
kh1958 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Posted September 13, 2023 28 minutes ago, Jason Bivins said: 4 sets from Threadgill, including Very Very Circus for the first time in 3 decades! Awesome! Quote
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.