Ojai at Berkeley 2017: George Lewis' Afterword
Cal Performances celebrates its vibrant and ongoing partnership with Southern California's renowned Ojai Music Festival with the latest installment of Ojai at Berkeley. Each year, an appointed music director re-imagines the festival, connecting Ojai's extraordinary history with fresh musical voices and perspectives. This year, Vijay Iyer, the trailblazing pianist, improviser, and composer, returns to Berkeley (where he earned his PhD nearly 20 years ago) as music director—bringing with him a thrilling mix of musical partners and approaches.
Over the course of his celebrated career, Iyer has explored the intersections of improvisation and composition as a leader and collaborator, freely conversing across musical genres and traditions. Over four concerts, he invites Berkeley audiences to experience how the distinct musical communities he is part of come together to make music. The seventh edition of Ojai at Berkeley unites members and protégés of Chicago's influential AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) with Ojai regulars ICE (International Contemporary Ensemble) and special guests for a series of adventurous premieres and collaborations.