Kevin Norton’s COUNTERPOINT – February 28th 2009

After composing music for a dozen or so CDs and for various chamber groups, the TILT brass band and the Sound Vision Orchestra, Norton now turns to a decidedly jazz orchestration. Like the Steve Lacy trio, the Sonny Rollins trio or the Ornette Coleman trio a lead melody instrument with bass and drums (functioning on a higher level of interaction, rather than subordinate accompaniment roles) this trio features a new transparency of sound, yet it is connected to Norton’s other composition work by counterpoint: both emotional and technical.

Drummer Garrett Brown graduated from William Paterson University. Garrett studied with Ari Hoenig, Kevin Norton, Rich Derosa, Ben Perowsky, John Riley and pianist Armen Donelian. He has since developed a unique approach to improvisation maintaining a very interactive, linear and sensitive playing style, placing him in high regard among fellow musicians.

Jesse Stern has been playing electric bass in and around the New York area for a variety of different styles of music including jazz, funk/fusion and experimental rock and roll. In addition to studying with many accomplished musicians he primarily honed his bass skills studying with jazz masters Cecil McBee, Buster Williams and Bob Cranshaw.

Kevin Norton is known for both his composition work and his performances as a percussionist. At Hunter College, Kevin met and began to perform and record with the legendary bassist (photographer and writer) Milt Hinton. After graduating from Manhattan School of Music with a Masters of Music degree, Kevin soon fell in with New York’s downtown music scene. Though a complete listing of collaborations would take pages, some highlights include recordings and/or performances with The Microscopic Septet (and separately with Micro co-leaders, Phillip Johnston and Joel Forrester), Fred Frith’s Keep the Dog ((with john Zorn and Zeena Parkings), Bill Brovold and the Soldier String Quartet. Eventually, he became a key member a key member of (his childhood hero) Anthony Braxton s ensembles.

Show starts @ 8pm

Donations $5.00 – $10.00