Tom's Place
3111 Deakin Street Berkeley
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On Saturday, May 16 at 7:30pm, Tom's Place presents

Insect Life
a trio featuring
Myra Melford (piano)
Ben Davis (cello)
Ben Goldberg (clarinet)

Born from weekly collaborative sessions at Ben Goldberg's house, INSECT LIFE is an Oakland-based experimental ensemble dedicated to pushing the boundaries of improvised music. The band emphasizes spontaneity, orchestral cohesion, and an adventurous sonic palette that fuses avant-garde and abstract elements. Over time, they developed a distinctive collective approach, creating an instant orchestral sound where cello and piano interact with winds, driving rhythm and texture in unexpected, groovy, and abstract directions. The result is a cosmic, dynamic, and innovative sound--modern yet deeply rooted in the old-school spirit of improvisation.

Ben Goldberg (clarinet) is a celebrated figure in new music and jazz, blending deep tradition with adventurous innovation, and a key force behind bands like Tin Hat and New Klezmer Trio.

Ben Davis (cello) is a versatile cellist whose work bridges classical, jazz, and experimental genres, known for his inventive approaches to chamber improvisation and genre-bending performance.

Originally from Chicago and classically trained, Myra Melford is a composer with a singular, kinetic, and lyrical voice in piano improvisation. Chicago blues, architecture, jazz and experimental music inspire her work. She has been playing with Goldberg in many settings for more than 20 years now.
Here are Ben G and Myra performing Myra's composition "The Kitchen" in
Toulouse in 2013.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJRoSbDhd00
And, at the same concert, here's a Ben Goldberg composition called
"You Can't Write a Song Called 'I Heard It On the Radio' Any More."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWK84_ZGBHo

Tom's Place
3111 Deakin Street, Berkeley CA
Calendar: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/0ots0lvkk7164af1t953opr5o4%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
Directions: http://4-33.com/directions.html
Information: http://4-33.com/toms-place/index.html

Admission: donation. All proceeds go directly to the musicians.
(Bring Greenbacks! We have neither facilities nor the patience for processing checks, credit cards, venmo, paypal, foreign exchange, etc.)
No reserved seats.
Doors open at 7:00.

Audio samples in which musicians at this event play:

Videos featuring musicians playing at this event