William Parker – April 13, 2023 at 7.30pm
feat. Wu Wei, Judith Hamann, Ariel Bart, Ernie Odoom, Biliana Voutchkova, Klaas Hekman, Leo Chang
Set 1: Before I Went to Sleep, Mother Would Put a Clothes Pin on My Nose
World Premier
Set 2: Flexible Showers of Sound
World Premiere
“Music is anything I perceive as beautiful that resounds inside of me,” says bass virtuoso William Parker. “My musical world relies on the intuitive now—my job as the composer is to give all the musicians permission to soar and engage in the spontaneous moment.” In a pair of world-premiere programs, Parker is joined by two ensembles comprised of an extraordinary group of artists. The evening’s first set, Before I Went to Sleep, Mother Would Put a Clothes Pin on My Nose, reflects on Parker’s own story and the lingering effects passed down from more than 300 years of slavery in North America. Following an intermission, Parker leads a unique sextet featuring instruments from Asian, African, and American traditions in a program entitled Flexible Showers of Sound.
Ticket Link: https://www.boulezsaal.de/en/event/william-parker-104202
Audio Livestream-Link: https://www.boulezsaal.de/en/online/video/108114/WilliamParker
John Scofield – May 25, 2023 at 7.30pm
ft. Gerald Clayton
Set 1: John Scofield
Set 2: John Scofield & Gerald Clayton
“It’s a pleasure to write new music with a specific musician in mind to play it,” says John Scofield. For his first appearance at the Pierre Boulez Saal, the American guitarist, who began his career performing with legendary artists such as Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, and Miles Davis, is joined by pianist Gerald Clayton, with whom he shares a special bond: “I’ve known Gerald since he was a boy because his dad, bassist John Clayton, is a long-time friend. Gerald and I have toured on and off over the last four years and developed a true rapport—he is without question one of the best piano players I’ve ever worked with.” Prior to their duo set, Scofield will perform solo in the concert’s first half.
Ticket Link: https://www.boulezsaal.de/en/event/john-scofield-104205
Audio Livestream Link: https://www.boulezsaal.de/en/online/video/108488/JohnScofield
Myra Melford – June 3, 2023 at 7pm
ft. Zeena Parkins, Miya Masaoka, Michael Formanek, Ches Smith
Set 1: Myra Melford, Miya Masaoka & Zeena Parkins
World Premiere
Set 2: Myra Melford, Michael Formanek & Ches Smith
World Premiere
Myra Melford returns to the Pierre Boulez Saal in her first concert as a leader, presenting the premieres of two newly composed installments of her larger work An Extravagant Joy (for Cy Twombly). The music is a response to works by American artist Cy Twombly held in the Marx Collection at Berlin’s Hamburger Bahnhof. Melford’s electronic trio with Miya Masaoka and Zeena Parkins performs the first set, while the program’s second part features an acoustic group including bassist Michael Formanek and percussionist Ches Smith. Melford’s compositions explore multiple perspectives on the beauty, complexity, and exuberance of Twombly’s artistry.
Ticket Link: https://www.boulezsaal.de/en/event/myra-melford-104173
Audio Livestream Link: https://www.boulezsaal.de/en/online/video/108315/MyraMelford
feat. Wu Wei, Judith Hamann, Ariel Bart, Ernie Odoom, Biliana Voutchkova, Klaas Hekman, Leo Chang
Set 1: Before I Went to Sleep, Mother Would Put a Clothes Pin on My Nose
World Premier
Set 2: Flexible Showers of Sound
World Premiere
“Music is anything I perceive as beautiful that resounds inside of me,” says bass virtuoso William Parker. “My musical world relies on the intuitive now—my job as the composer is to give all the musicians permission to soar and engage in the spontaneous moment.” In a pair of world-premiere programs, Parker is joined by two ensembles comprised of an extraordinary group of artists. The evening’s first set, Before I Went to Sleep, Mother Would Put a Clothes Pin on My Nose, reflects on Parker’s own story and the lingering effects passed down from more than 300 years of slavery in North America. Following an intermission, Parker leads a unique sextet featuring instruments from Asian, African, and American traditions in a program entitled Flexible Showers of Sound.
Ticket Link: https://www.boulezsaal.de/en/event/william-parker-104202
Audio Livestream-Link: https://www.boulezsaal.de/en/online/video/108114/WilliamParker
John Scofield – May 25, 2023 at 7.30pm
ft. Gerald Clayton
Set 1: John Scofield
Set 2: John Scofield & Gerald Clayton
“It’s a pleasure to write new music with a specific musician in mind to play it,” says John Scofield. For his first appearance at the Pierre Boulez Saal, the American guitarist, who began his career performing with legendary artists such as Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, and Miles Davis, is joined by pianist Gerald Clayton, with whom he shares a special bond: “I’ve known Gerald since he was a boy because his dad, bassist John Clayton, is a long-time friend. Gerald and I have toured on and off over the last four years and developed a true rapport—he is without question one of the best piano players I’ve ever worked with.” Prior to their duo set, Scofield will perform solo in the concert’s first half.
Ticket Link: https://www.boulezsaal.de/en/event/john-scofield-104205
Audio Livestream Link: https://www.boulezsaal.de/en/online/video/108488/JohnScofield
Myra Melford – June 3, 2023 at 7pm
ft. Zeena Parkins, Miya Masaoka, Michael Formanek, Ches Smith
Set 1: Myra Melford, Miya Masaoka & Zeena Parkins
World Premiere
Set 2: Myra Melford, Michael Formanek & Ches Smith
World Premiere
Myra Melford returns to the Pierre Boulez Saal in her first concert as a leader, presenting the premieres of two newly composed installments of her larger work An Extravagant Joy (for Cy Twombly). The music is a response to works by American artist Cy Twombly held in the Marx Collection at Berlin’s Hamburger Bahnhof. Melford’s electronic trio with Miya Masaoka and Zeena Parkins performs the first set, while the program’s second part features an acoustic group including bassist Michael Formanek and percussionist Ches Smith. Melford’s compositions explore multiple perspectives on the beauty, complexity, and exuberance of Twombly’s artistry.
Ticket Link: https://www.boulezsaal.de/en/event/myra-melford-104173
Audio Livestream Link: https://www.boulezsaal.de/en/online/video/108315/MyraMelford
