8pm
Josh Allen - tenor saxophone
9pm Jaroba - reeds, inventions +
Tania Chen - toys, electronic devices
Born in Berkeley, California in 1972, Joshua Allen has created his own personal language on the tenor saxophone, with an emphasis on polytonal and asymmetrical phrasing, as well as extending the range and sonic ability of the instrument. He does this with constant emphasis and study of the overtone series, and the generation of multiphonics from the application of this process. Like many of today’s prominent musicians, process. Like many of today’s prominent musicians, Mr. Allen was a product of the Berkeley public school system, studying saxophone starting at the age of nine under Phil Hardymon. He went on to study with such prominent Bay Area musicians as Bill Aron, Joe Henderson, and Rory Snyder. With his focus squarely on jazz composition and performance, Mr. Allen moved to Southern California in the early ‘90s to study with Rick Helzer at San Diego State. He became active in the Latin Jazz community, and worked with various musicians such as Dennis Chambers and Eddie Palmieri. Mr. Allen returned to the Bay Area in the mid ‘90s to finish his Bachelors degree at Sonoma State. His association with saxophonist Marco Eneidi led to working relationships with musicians such as Glen Spearmann, Matthew Goodheart, Damon Smith, and eventually, Cecil Taylor.
Tania Chen is a pianist, experimental musician, free improviser and sound artist, working with pianos, keyboards, found objects, toys and vintage and lo-fi electronics.
She studied piano with John Tilbury during her Masters degree in Performance studies at Goldsmiths College, University of London.
She has performed the music of John Cage, Earle Brown, Schoenberg, Webern, Satie, Scriabin, Andrew Poppy, Michael Parsons and Chris Newman in the UK, Europe, USA and Japan. She is equally known for her passion for free improvisation, performing alongside and collaborating with musicians that include Steve Beresford, John Edwards, Lol Coxhill, Alan Tomlinson, Roger Turner, John Butcher, Rhodri Davies and Terry Day.
Earlier this year, Tania has been touring John Cage’s Indeterminacy with Steve Beresford and the comedian, writer and performer Stewart Lee. Most recently, she has been nominated for the Royal Philharmonic Society RPS Award.
Jaroba is a composer of Experimental music and Soundscapes. Besides the woodwinds, he also plays the keyboard, guitar, and has a penchant for collage. In 1990, Jaroba received "Best New Music" from Kennedy Center for his contribution to the Tom Stoppard play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. More recently, he has written and performed works with director Bob Hall and the Flatwater Shakespeare Company for The Tempest, Measure for Measure, Henry V,and Macbeth.
Cost: $6-10