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Rite of String—Edgefest 08

The award-winning 12th annual Edgefest showcases the wide range of music that goes under the label avant garde.

One thing that distinguishes the avant garde is unusual instrumentation. This year several fabulous string players are featured: violinists Mark Feldman (with pianist Sylvie Courvoisier) and Jason Kao Hwang (with his own quartet), cellist Katri Ervamaa and violinist Alicia Doudna (with accordionist Guy Klucevsek's orchestra), cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm (with tenorist Tony Mallaby's Cello Trio and also the 6-piece Flatland's Collective), guitarists Fareed Haque (with legendary saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett's Quintet) and David Torn (who ends the festival with a group that includes altoist Tim Berne, pianist Craig Taborn and drummer Gerald Cleaver), and of course The String Trio of New York led by Detroit born bassist John Lindberg (and featuring guitarist James Emery and violinist Rob Thomas). Lindberg is probably the most prominent bassist presented, but Dominic Duval of Trio X is a close second.

Trio X with saxophonist Joe McPhee and drummer Jay Rosen is one of the most anticipated of all acts this year. Many still remember their concert at one of the first Edgefests. For a more detailed schedule, please take a look below.

As usual Edgefest is centered at the Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor, with late evening events at the Firefly Club. Kerrytown Market will also feature a film and music event. The festival runs Wednesday through Saturday, October 15–18. You can make reservations for individual concerts or purchase a pass for the whole series by calling 734-769-2999.

2008 Edgefest Schedule

Wednesday 15 October

Kerrytown Concert House

7:00 pm • Guy Klucevsek's Bantam Orchestra Project with Klucevsek (acc), Katri Ervamaa (cello), Alicia Doudna (vi), Diana Gannett (b), Monica Swartout-Bebow (voc)
9:30 pm • Trio X with Joe McPhee (ts),Dominic Duval (b), Jay Rosen (dr)

Thursday 16 October

Argiero's Restaurant

5:30 pm • Ken Kozora (trpt) & Friends free

Sh/aut/

7:00 pm • Piotr Michalowski (reeds), Mike Khoury (vi), Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello) free

Kerrytown Concert House

8:00 pm • Mark Feldman (vi), Sylvie Courvoisier (p)
10:00 pm • Tony Malaby's Cello Trio with Malaby (sax), Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello),John Hollenbeck (perc)

Firefly Club

11:00 pm • Tad Weed's Freedom Ensemble with Weed (p), Andrew Bishop (sax), Ken Filiano & Tim Flood (b), Pete Siers (dr) free

Friday 17 October

University of Michigan Institute for the Humanities (Thayer St.)

3:00 pm • Edgefest Symposium with Jason Kao Hwang and others on Opera, Cultural Identity, and Improvisation free

Sweetwaters Café

7:00 pm • Angry Ape Quintet with Doug Stuart (b), Danny Fischer Lochhead & Greg Lindgren (alto), Scott Brown (b),Colin Campbell (dr) free

Washington Street Gallery (Main St.)

7:00 pm • Strings in the City: Decent Exposure with University of Michigan Creative Arts Orchestra, Greg Lindgren, director free

Kerrytown Concert House

8:00 pm • String Trio of New York with James Emery (gr), Rob Thomas (vi), John Lindberg (b)

Firefly Club

10:00 pm • Jason Kao Hwang Edge Quartet with Hwang (vi), Taylor Ho Bynum (corn), Ken Filiano (b), Andrew Drury (dr)
Flatlands Collective with Jorrit Dijkstra (sax), James Falzone (cl), Jeb Bishop (trb), Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello), Jason Roebke (b), Frank Rosaly (dr)

Saturday 18 October

Kerrytown Market and Shops

Noon • Edgefest Parade withTaylor Ho Bynum and others free
4:00 pm • Jason Kao Hwang / Spon­taneous River featuring 25–30 string players free
8:30 pm • Improv Film Meets Improv Music free

Sh/aut/

2:00 pm • Mike Carey (reeds), Greg Cooke (b), Djallo Djkate (perc) free

Kerrytown Concert House

7:00 pm • Tamarindo with Tony Malaby (sax), Ingebrigt Haaker Flaten (b), Gerald Cleaver (perc)
9:30 pm • Hamiet Bluiett Quintet with Bluiett (bar.sax), Fareed Haque (gr), Harrison Bankhead (b), Biza and Titos Sompa (perc)

Firefly Club

9:00 & 11:00 pm • Prezens with David Torn (gr), Tim Berne (sax), Craig Taborn (p), Gerald Cleaver (dr)