With a 37-year curatorial presence in NYC, World Music Institute is mainly known for presenting traditional and contemporary music from around the world. However, in the early years, WMI's programming included the Improvisations series, rooted at the intersection of NYC's jazz and improvised music scene and the music of our immigrant communities. The series brought together musicians from various backgrounds and cultures, including such visionary artists as Don Cherry, Yusuf Lateef, Randy Weston, Hassan Hakmoun, Glen Velez, Foday Musa Suso, and Yaya Diallo. Many of these artists had never performed together before, and the series gave them an opportunity to improvise and collaborate. This exciting, multi-artist launch event demonstrates and celebrates the lasting value and relevance of WMI's artistic vision of Many Cultures - One World.
A core member of many of these original dates was composer, percussionist, and often Acting Musical Director Adam Rudolph. Rudolph performed on over a dozen of these 'Improvisations' shows, many of which led to life-long musical relationships including with Yusef Lateef, Hassan Hakmoun, and Don Cherry, among others. Adam's later projects, 'Moving Pictures' and 'Go: Organic Orchestra' (featured at this event) were partly inspired by the unique Improvisation collaborations that he experienced at these WMI shows. On September 10th, Adam Rudolph reboots the 'Improvisations' series with an impressive lineup of musicians from many different backgrounds and musical influences. [see full list below].
"I was thrilled when WMI approached me about reviving the Improvisations series," says Rudolph. But I didn't want to do a rehash of what we did before. I wanted to reflect what's happening now. How do we create community when we're all living in different neighborhoods? How do we share the same sense of love, creativity, and exploration that's the glue of the Go: Organic Orchestra. Live performance is the key. Regathering in Central Park, sharing that creative moment as a community is where the magic happens."
The event will include old friends and veterans of the series, including NEA Jazz Master saxophonist Dave Liebman and Moroccan gnawa master Hassan Hakmoun, as well as a new crop of younger artists, including Brooklyn Raga Massive, Joel Ross, Brandee Younger, Marcus Gilmore and Angel Bat Dawid (who pulls double duty as the evening's DJ).
"My experience of the original series was about being open to the creative transmissions from older artists to us in the younger generations", Rudolph adds. "In the context of Black Atlanic arts, creative appraoches were shared and passed down from mentors like Yusef Lateef and Don Cherry. It is an oral tradition; sharing and passing along what has be given to us helps keep that chain of transmission alive."
The evening will also include Rudolph and Hassan Hakmoun performing in tribute to legendary jazz trumpeter and composer Don Cherry. Cherry performed in and illuminated many of the Improvisations shows; and recorded on Rudolph and Hakmoun's 1988 Gift of Gnawa project that WMI also hosted as part of the original Improvisations series.
"We are thrilled that our new Artistic Director Brice Rosenbloom proposed to start his first season with this ambitious and artistically exciting launch event," says Gaby Sappington, WMI Executive Director. "It's the perfect way to recognize and celebrate WMI's history of bringing artists and people of a variety of backgrounds together at one of New York City's most exciting spots - SummerStage in Central Park."
This program is supported as part of Con Edison's Arts Al Fresco series. "We are pleased to include World Music Institute's performance of Adam Rudolph's Go: Organic Orchestra in the Con Edison Arts Al Fresco series this fall," said Jen Hensley, Senior Vice President, Con Edison Corporate Affairs. "As a longstanding supporter of the arts, we continue to look for ways to bring a wide variety of arts and cultural experiences to New Yorkers free of charge."
Special Guest Artists/ Gift of Gnawa Honoring Don Cherry Hassan Hakmoun - sintir, vocal Abderahim Hakmoun - qarqaba, vocal Dave Liebman - soprano saxophone Marcus Gilmore - drum set Joel Ross - vibraphone Graham Haynes - cornet Brandee Younger - harp Angel Bat Dawid - clarinet Adam Rudolph - hand drums
Brooklyn Raga Massive Performing Artists Samarth Nagarkar - vocal Arun Ramamurthy - violin Neel Murgai - el. sitar, overtone singing Jay Gandhi - bansuri flute Sameer Gupta - tabla
Go: Organic Orchestra Performing Artists
Kaoru Watanabe - c flute, noh kan Michel Gentile - c flute Sylvain Leroux - tambin, c flute Ze Luis - c and alto flute Stephen Haynes - cornet, conch, kudu horn Peter Zummo - trombone Avram Fefer - tenor saxophone Sara Schoenbeck - bassoon Ivan Barenboim - b flat clarinet Trina Basu - violin Julianne Carney-Chung - violin Sana Nagano - violin Richard Carr - violin Sarah Bernstein - violin Stephanie Griffin - viola Gwen Laster - viola Jake Charkey - cello Leco Reis - contrabass Mia Theodoratus - harp Marco Cappelli - acoustic guitar Kenny Wessel - electric guitar Alexis Marcelo - piano and el.keyboards Damon Banks - electric bass Harris Eisenstadt - drum kit, bata Rogerio Boccato - percussion Tripp Dudley - cajon, dumbek, frame drums, percussion
Review Roundup: A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC At Barrington Stage
Actress Anne Heche Dies From Injuries Sustained in Car Accident
Listen: Julie Benko & Jason Yeager Share 'Louisiana Fairy Tale'
A STRANGE LOOP Launches $55 Digital Rush
What's Coming to Broadway in Fall 2022?
Sunday Morning Michael Dale: Dear Funny Girl: Let Julie Benko Sing!
Broadway Jukebox: Broadway's Best Opening Numbers
Block, Arcelus, Rodriguez, and More Will Join INTO THE WOODS
News + special offers for Broadway Shows