Andy Gensler

Noise complaints are not an issue you would expect to associate with Burning Man, the week-long, outsider arts festival that takes place in Nevada's remote Black Rock Desert. But that is exactly what happened after the event's namesake ritual on the last Saturday in August of 2014, the 28th version ...

Multi-instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal, at 74-years young, is a legendary and wildly experimental jazz musician beloved throughout his native Brazil. He recently played Lincoln Center Out Of Doors.

Immolation, the legendary New York City death metal band, recently played its first club show in seven years at New York City’s Webster Hall as part of the Blackened Music Series.

Long Island hip-hop legend EPMD rocked Queensbridge Park recently as part of the City Parks Foundation summer concert series.

Who can forget Lisa Lisa, of Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam fame? The Hell's Kitchen-born 1980s pop superstar, whose real name is Lisa Velez, got famous for her freestyle sound, which mixes hip-hop, R&B and Latin music with dance beats. NYC’s City Parks Foundation recently brought the singer to Staten Island’s Tappan Park.

Sierra Leone's Janka Nabay is a major figure in Bubu Music, which is traditionally performed by up to 20 musicians blowing into bamboo pipes. He modernized theMuslim music genre durin...

German experimental musician and composer Michael Rother recruited Steve Shelley, of Sonic Youth, and Aaron Mullan, of Tall Firs, to form Hallogallo 2010, a group which is playing Neu!'s electronic rock music live for the first time in 35 years. Rother and friends recently performed at the Lincoln Center Out of Doors festival.

The Force M.D.s play an original mash-up of doo-wop, R&B and old school hip-hop. Their hometown performance at Staten Island’s Tappen Park, courtesy of the City Parks Foundation, was easily one of the summer’s best.

 

Canary Island native El Guincho landed at Le Poisson Rouge on July 7th. You can stream the entire set right here.

Tri-Centric Modeling: Past, Present and Future

Legendary experimental jazz musician, composer, and multi-hyphenate Anthony Braxton, was honored last week on his 65th birthday. The two-night celebration, produced by the non-profit Tri-Centric Foundation, featured an array of contemporary jazz music’s leading lights, including John Zorn, Steve Coleman, Dave Douglas and Nicole Mitchell. “If it weren’t for Anthony Braxton,” exclaimed a clearly humbled Zorn said from the stage, “we all wouldn’t be standing here.”

Composer and percussionist John Hollenbeck leads a 19-person experimental jazz ensemble well beyond traditional big band swing-era clichés.

Keyboardist Bernie Worrell’s quartet brings the funky, hard rock fusion to wake the dead at this year’s Undead Jazz Festival. Stream their entire set right here.

Avant garde jazz pianist, composer and bandleader, Matthew Shipp gave a mesmerizing solo performance at the Undead Jazz Festival. This stream is no longer available. Matthew Shipp will be including this live performance as part of a February 2011 two album release. You can find more details for the album by clicking right here.

Michael League is a young composer and bassist whose funk jazz quintet played one of the Undead Jazz Festivals final sets. He performed as the Michael League/Ari Hoenig Group with John Ellis, Sam Barsh & Mike Maher from Snarky Puppy on flugelhorn.

Experimental electronic duo Graham Haynes/Hardedge played at Le Poisson Rouge as part of the Undead Jazz Festival. Stream their entire set right here.

Last summer, jazz promoters Brice Rosenbloom and Adam Schatz became incensed after reading an article in the Wall Street Journal with the rather provocative headline, “Can Jazz Be Saved?”

Gato Loco
"Coconino #7"
Playing SUNDAY at: Rose Live Music (345 Grand St., Williamsburg)
Get: Tickets FREE | Directions

Claudio Roditi
"Winter Dreams"
Playing FRIDAY AND SATURDAY at: Kitano Lounge (at the Kitano Hotel) (66 Park Ave., Midtown East)
Get: Tickets (Plus $15 drink minimum) | Directions

Fang Island
"Daisy"
Playing SATURDAY at: Cake Shop (152 Ludlow St., L.E.S.)
Get: Tickets ($10 at door) | Directions

Braids
"Lemonade"
Playing at: Mercury Lounge (217 E. Houston St., East Village)
Get: Tickets ($10 at door) | Directions