Chris Pasin to Play Ornettiquette Jazz Concert at Spring Street Gallery

On April 26 Jazz at the Spring invites you on a sonic joyride with Ornettiquette a stellar band formed by trumpeter Chris Pasin to honor the music of Ornette Coleman, one of the most powerful and creative innovators in the history of jazz. During his career Ornette Coleman, who in 2007 won the Pulitzer Prize for his album "Sound Grammar," overturned the structure of be-bop. Be-bop is a style of jazz which uses the architecture of an underlying tune from the American Songbook as the structure for wide ranging improvised solos. Coleman's idea was to explore melody and do away with the idea of a fixed series of chords. He didn't do away with harmony, but rather created melodies with amazing harmonic implications as the platform for improvisation. Coleman broke through style and structure to seek sound.

Chris Pasin recalls his introduction to the music of Coleman, "I became acquainted with the music of Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, and Albert Ayler as a teenager, and played along with their records. A little later I transcribed "Ghosts," and started playing it with people, but it was not until recently that the idea of a band playing the music inspired by these heroes occurred to me, thus engendering "Ornettiquette." Joining Pasin are some of the region's most adventurous and accomplished jazz artists, Adam Siegel-alto sax, Michael Bisio-bass, and Harvey Sorgen-drums.

Chris Pasin, trumpet, composer, and band leader, studied at The New England Conservatory. His brilliant trumpet sound has filled Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater, Royal Albert Hall, the Village Vanguard, Ronnie Scott's, and the Blue Note; he has traveled with Buddy Rich and performed with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughn, Nancy Wilson, Ray Charles, Toshiko, Brother Jack McDuff, and many others. He plays with musical artists of all genres, in groups large and small; is a leader himself, and has produced and recorded several outstanding CD's featuring his own creative compositions.

Adam Siegel is an alto saxophonist with a distinctive voice on his instrument and a passion for storytelling. His virtuosity, while often dazzling, always serves the music that's at once intellectually stimulating and soulful. His explorations of the works of other composers, such as, Ornette Coleman and Lennie Tristano reveal a maturity beyond his years and, the persistence of a true seeker, as he strives to incorporate his own story and experiences with the works of these jazz masters. Siegel graduated from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA, where he was instructed by tenor saxophonists Ben Schachter and Chris Farr. Adam has shared the stage with such greats as Dick Oatts, Jon Gordon, Joe Magnarelli, Grant Stewart, Tani Tabbal, Michael Bisio, Joe McPhee and Pete Seeger. In addition to co-leading the Adam Siegel - Galen Pittman Quartet, Adam is currently a member of the Tani Tabbal Trio, the Walter Donnaruma Group, and the Dylan Perrillo Orchestra.

Bassist-composer Michael Bisio has been called a poet, a wonder and one of the most virtuosic and imaginative performers on the double bass. Nat Chinen writes in The New York Times: "The physicality of Mr. Bisio's bass playing puts him in touch with numerous predecessors in the avant-garde, but his expressive touch is distinctive." He has over a hundred recordings in his discography, two dozen as leader or co-leader. JazzTimes describes Michael as a performer who resonates with intelligence, emotional depth and probing virtuosity." Signal to Noise writes, "Bisio is one of the few musicians who has managed to meld this high concept of physicality with the soulful charge of jazz. His fiddle-high, scraped overtones create a tangled choir that is impossible to resist; his expressiveness with the bow is unmatched." He has been recognized with nine project grants from various arts organizations, plus the prestigious Artist Trust Fellowship and is an instructor at Bennington College. Michael has been a member of the Matthew Shipp Trio since 2009 performing throughout the Americas and Europe with piano icon Shipp. 2018 has already seen the trio perform to a sold-out audience at Carnegie Hall as well as looking forward to the Newport Jazz Festival. We are indeed fortunate to have Michael Bisio at the Spring!

Harvey Sorgen's career spans more than 40 years, and while he might be best known to some from his 14-year stint as the driving percussive force behind the legendary band Hot Tuna or some of his hits with the iconic Paul Simon; the list of jazz luminaries with whom Sorgen, in his career as a jazz artist, has been associated with reads like a who's who of creative improvised music. Harvey's musical philosophy is succinctly stated: "In sound, motion and beauty....so to lays the groundwork for truth. All that I am becomes a part of my own way of communication." His long list of collaborators includes: Ahmad Jamal, The Heath Bothers, Anthony Braxton, Dewey Redman, Jack DeJohnette Bill Frisell and Dave Douglas to name just a few.

Jazz at the Spring is held the last Thursday of each month at the Spring Street Gallery, Saratoga Springs, and is sponsored by Capital District Jazz, Ltd. (CDJ) a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization formed by practitioners and fans who love jazz music. American in origin, jazz reaches and draws from millions of performers and listeners around the globe who are inspired by its rich history, excited by its technical complexity, and moved by its emotional depth. The members of CDJ want to share their love of jazz with current and potential performers and enthusiasts throughout the "Capital District". CDJ's mission is to build and serve a wider audience for jazz through education; to create performance opportunities for jazz musicians; and to develop venues for these pursuits. CDJ supports All Ears: Jazz and Improvised Music Workshop, which is a fun hands-on way for students of all ages to learn about jazz.

CDJ is offering a number of free tickets for youth age 17 and under. If you are interested in obtaining a free ticket please inquire via email info@cdjazz.org. Tickets are available in advance at: brown paper tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com