On the evening of Friday, July 21st we are proud to present experimental contra clarinet duo Jason Alder + Piotr Michalowski (MI), multi-instrumentalist Lisa Bella Donna (CMH), jazz improv quintet Radarhill (CMH), and jazz improviser Chris Haas (CMH). The performance will take place at the It Looks Like Its Open gallery (13 E. Tulane Rd, cmh 43202). Admission: $5. Doors 7:30pm. BYOB, all ages.
About the performers:
Jason Alder and Piotr Michalowski come together for a tour exploring the depths of the clarinet family. Each armed with an arsenal of contralto and contrabass clarinets, these two reknowned improvisers will rattle your subterranean soul.
Always finding himself on the forefront of innovation, (bass) clarinetist Jason Alder is a specialist of contemporary music, improvisation, and electronics. He maintains a busy performing schedule premiering new works of composers solo or with his flute-clarinet Shadanga Duo; performing electro-acoustic improvisations with Sonido 13; touring the world with his psychedelic klezmer-jazz band Payazen!, or playing saxophones in numerous jazz, world, rock, and pop bands. Jason studied clarinet at Michigan State University (BMus- US), bass clarinet at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (BMus- NL), and creative improvisation at the Artez Conservatorium (MMus- NL), as well as post graduate study in the application of the rhythmic principles of South Indian Karnatic music to contemporary Western classical and jazz music at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. He is currently pursuing a PhD at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester (UK) researching the contrabass clarinet. Jason is also the editor of The Clarinet [Online] from the International Clarinet Association. Originally hailingfrom metro Detroit, he has been based in Europe since 2006.
Piotr Michalowski has been collaborating with musicians in Ann Arbor and the Detroit area for over two decades, playing various saxophones and clarinets, from the tiny sopranino sax to the very large contralto and contrabass clarinets. He has worked closely with violinist Mike Khoury, with whom he has made several recordings; the most recent is Close Embrace of the Earth – At the Spirits Rejoice Festival on the Public Eyesore label. At home and on some of his recent travels he has performed with Fred Lonberg-Holm, Vinny Golia, Jon Raskin, Jason Kao Hwang, Andrew Drury, Taylor Ho Bynum, Jack Wright, and Ken Filiano among others. Just last month he played concerts with leading improvisers in Warsaw, Poland and a trio gig in Ann Arbor with the pianist Thollem Thollem. His latest appearance on recordings was on Jason Kao Hwang’s Voice.
Lisa Bella Donna is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, modular synthesist, clinician, all around sonic sorceress. She currently works with EYE, Descendre, Earthquaker Devices, Simone Weißenfels, Scotty Bottcher, Elliot Levin, Juan Alderate, Jamie Stillman, and many musicians and artists all throughout USA and Europe.
Radarhill is a Midwestern-eclectic, Jazz-ish quintet that writes and performs music inspired by the forms, harmonies, and rhythms of a wide variety of genres. We’re trying bridge the gap between the music conservatory and the local dive. Everybody’s music.