Roulette presents a tremendous 36th Season that highlights their three decades at the helm of experimental music, dance and intermedia. Starting the season by celebrating Sun Ra's Centennial, Roulette opens with The Sun Ra Arkestra directed by Marshall Allen and with Jazz Record's 2013 "Musician of the Year" Nate Wooley as the opener.
Our [DANCEROULETTE] Series launches in Fall 2014 with Lec/Dem, performances of lectures and lectures on performances, organized by choreographer Kyli Kleven and a large-scale work, "Actual Size" by choreographer Sally Silvers will premiere in November 2014. Perry Hoberman & Julia Heywood premiere a work for Roulette's Intermedia Series entitled "29 Space Time" which explores themes of surveillance, mind control and imperial dominance through interactive panoramic visuals and robotics.
In November, Roulette celebrates the 30th anniversary of John Zorn's Cobra! which was originally premiered at Roulette's original location in Tribeca in 1984. Joining Zorn is an all-star lineup including: George Lewis, Mark Feldman, Erik Friedlander, Eyal Maoz, Marc Ribot, Sylvie Courvoisier, John Medeski, Ikue Mori, Trevor Dunn, Kenny Wolleson, and William Winant.
Returning to Roulette this season are performances by co-producers Ear Heart Music, directed by Amelia Lucas and Interpretations, directed by Thomas Buckner. Ear Heart Music opens its third season at Roulette with a concert to celebrate the release of Richard Reed Parry's highly acclaimed new CD, Music for Heart and Breath. Thomas Buckner (baritone) presents a program of pieces written especially for him by Robert Ashley (1930-2014).
FULL SEASON LISTINGS: For more information + tickets visit: www.roulette.org
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2014 @ 8:00 PM $20/15
Sylvie Courvoisier Trio with Kenny Wollesen and Drew Gress
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 @ 8:00 PM $20/15
INTERPRETATIONS: A Tribute To Robert Ashley
SEASON OPENER: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 @ 8:00 PM Presale: $25/20 Doors:$35/30
THE SUN RA ARKESTRA directed by Marshall Allen + Nate Wooley Quintet
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2014 @ 8:00 PM $15/10
Dissemble with Josiah Cuneo + American Academy of Achievement
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 @ 8:00 PM $15/10
Battle Trance Palace of Wind Record Release Concert + Greg Fox
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 @ 8:00 PM $20/15
INTERPRETATIONS: Evan Parker Solo // Earl Howard & JD Parran
Roulette was conceived and incorporated in 1978 by Jim Staley, David Weinstein and Dan Senn, three composers who met at the University of Illinois. The first concert was in Chicago at the Old Town School of Folk Music in November 1978 (a favorite haunt of Odetta, Mason Williams and other greats). By 1979 Staley had established a loft performance space in Tribeca, New York with a piano and a recording facility.
In the summer of 1980 the group produced five concerts there and was inundated with requests by composers who loved the room. Even in these early days, Roulette paid the artists a fee. Weinstein said, "How will we choose who to show?" Staley said, "Let's do them all!" A community was born, and the work of learning how to support such an endeavor began in full.
Over the next three decades, Roulette built and continues to build, an international reputation for the quality and quantity of its eclectic programming, its dedication to the inquisitive, and its transformation of a loft space into a finely tuned environment for performing and listening to music. Thousands of artists have presented their work at Roulette. Many of them are now recognized as the leaders of avant-garde music. Roulette also continues to foster and support the work of emerging artists presenting a complex spectrum avant jazz, world music, experimental rock, improvisation, computer music, new technologies, and traditional and hybrid chamber ensembles.
Roulette is now an internationally recognized experimental contemporary art center, fulfilling its mission to support artists through presenting a substantial and diverse program of experimental music, dance and Intermedia, commissioning new work, paying the artists professional fees, and finding artists an audience interested in learning about traditions and developments in these art forms. In September 2011, Roulette took up residency in an Art Deco concert hall in Downtown Brooklyn. The new space features two levels of seating for up to 400 people (600 standing), an expanded multi-channel sound system, projection screen for film and multi-media events, state-of-the-art lighting system, modular stage, and a specially designed floor to accommodate dance. Since finding a new home, Roulette has received numerous accolades from major national and international critics and has been tipped as one of the city's best concert halls.
Roulette operations and programs are made possible, in part, with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by the Mary Flagler Cary Trust, mediaThe Foundation, Inc., The Counterpoint Fund, Baisley Powell Elebash Fund, Jerome Foundation, New York Community Trust and other equally important donors.
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