UPCOMING SHOWS
March 20 - Present Moment +
Trey Gunn & David Forlano Duo
7:30 pm / Paradiso Santa Fe / $20
Trey Gunn and David Forlano mark the start of a unique collaboration carved from the high desert of New Mexico. Both artists bring a history of genre-bending musical explorations. Gunn is a long-established figure in the prog rock/improvisation scene from his years with King Crimson to his work with collaborators around the world. Forlano melds free-improvisation, electronics and live sampling into their sound. Within their performances the sounds of each player are accessed by the other to create a hyper-refractive audio experience.
Present Moment is a Santa Fe based co-operative group of four veteran players that create spontaneous compositions by using thematic improvisation. Their philosophy is that all music made throughout the world up to the present moment is available for them to use as a basis for their music. "Now" is their first record, which demonstrates this philosophy. The group consists of Jim Goetsch on saxes and synthesizers, Mustafa Stefan Dill on guitars and oud, Kim Stone on basses and Dave Wayne on drums.
3/28/26
FREE SHOW!
The Don Quixote Trio from ABQ
Surround sound electronic compositions
from Jim Goetsch & Kaylock Sellers
The Don Quixote Trio is a group of young musicians from Albuquerque that are true believers in the cause of free jazz, already demonstrating great potential. The members are Nick Chun on electric guitar, Nathan Niekmenn on tenor sax and Ethan LaPierre on drums. Since the AJW believes it is important to support young artists striving to create their own music, this a free show in order to present this group to as many listeners as possible.
The show will open with a short presentation of new electronic works by AJW music director Jim Goetsch that utilize a 4 speaker surround sound system. Among the works will be a premiere of “Probabilities”, a joint work from Goetsch and poet / writer Kaylock Sellers, who will be doing a live recitation of his text over Goetsch’s electronic score.
April 4 - James Emery Neo Trio
7:30 pm / Entropy Gallery - Santa Fe / $20
The Avant Jazz Workshop is honored to present renowned guitarist and composer James Emery, who has recently relocated to New Mexico after many decades in NYC. He will be performing with his latest group, the Neo Trio, joined by two other virtuosos, Alex Murzyn on woodwinds and John Funkhouser on bass.
In the spring of 2022, Emery relocated to Santa Fe, NM, after nearly 50 in the New York area, marking a new chapter in his illustrious 45-year career of touring and recording worldwide. A Guggenheim Fellow, Emery has performed at some of the world's most prestigious concert venues, including Great Performers at Lincoln Center (NYC), The Menil Collection (Houston), Philharmonic Hall (Berlin), Royal Festival Hall (London), Espace Cardin (Paris), Bunkamura Hall (Tokyo), City Hall (Hong Kong), the Roman amphitheater at Carthage (Tunisia), and Chowdiah Memorial Hall (Bangalore, India).
As the co-founder of the pioneering chamber jazz ensemble The String Trio of New York, Emery has earned international acclaim for his innovative and highly original approach to both improvisation and composition. Since 1975, he has been an active performer and a frequently commissioned composer in the international jazz and contemporary music scene. With more than two dozen albums as a leader or co-leader and live performances spanning over 25 countries, Emery’s artistry has been described as "innovative and imaginative" and "utterly distinctive" by the Penguin Guide to Jazz. His orchestral recording, Transformations, was selected for The History of Jazz in the 1001 Best Albums by the same guide.
Emery’s ensembles and collaborations have earned him critical praise, especially for his work with The String Trio of New York, which celebrates its 47th anniversary in 2024. Throughout his career, he has performed and recorded with an array of contemporary music masters, including Anthony Braxton, Steve Reich, Wadada Leo Smith, Henry Threadgill, The Human Arts Ensemble, Joe Lovano, Muhal Richard Abrams, Leroy Jenkins, and many others.
To date, Emery has composed over 170 works, including a recent double concerto commissioned by the Skidmore College Orchestra. One of his proudest moments was performing the piece alongside his daughter, clarinetist Hannah Emery.
In addition to his performance career, Emery has contributed to music education through master classes and residencies at institutions such as Stanford, Columbia, Skidmore, Dartmouth, UCLA, and USC. He also taught jazz ensemble and private guitar lessons for eight years at SUNY/Orange in New York state.
April 24 - Glass Key Trio
& Claudio Tolousse
7:30 pm / Entropy Gallery - Santa Fe / $10