John Zorn Presents The Stone Commissioning Series:
About the Show
New Music. New Jazz. Curated by John Zorn.
John Zorn’s The Stone Commissioning Series celebrates Zorn’s revolutionary venue, The Stone, a non-profit venue that was “dedicated to the experimental and avant-garde,” and served as a vital spot for new-music in Manhattan’s Alphabet City for over a decade. Held on the last Wednesday of every month, National Sawdust honors the spirit of the Stone, hosting the world premiere new work every month.
Called “one of the best jazz pianists alive” and hailed for his “ethereal genius” by The New York Times, Craig Taborn himself graces the stage for February’s Stone Series. Listen to Taborn premiere a brand new work on the stage for the first time, along with other repertoire that Taborn personally curates for the evening.
About the Artists
Craig Taborn
Craig Taborn is an American pianist, organist, keyboardist and composer. He works solo and in bands, mostly playing various forms of jazz. He started playing piano and Moog synthesizer as an adolescent and was influenced at an early stage by a wide range of music, including by the freedom expressed in recordings of free jazz and contemporary classical music.
While at university, Taborn toured and recorded with jazz saxophonist James Carter. Taborn went on to play with numerous other musicians in electronic and acoustic settings, while also building a reputation as a solo pianist. He has a range of styles, and often adapts his playing to the nature of the instrument and the sounds that he can make it produce. His improvising, particularly for solo piano, often adopts a modular approach, in which he begins with small units of melody and rhythm and then develops them into larger forms and structures.
In 2011, Down Beat magazine chose Taborn as winner of the electric keyboard category, as well as rising star in both the piano and organ categories. By mid-2017, Taborn had released nine albums as leader or co-leader, and had appeared on more than ninety as a sideman.
Other Stone Series Events
John Zorn Presents: The Stone Commissioning Series: Pamelia Stickney
March 28th, 2018 - 7:00pm For March, Zorn presents theremin maven Pamelia Stickney, whose playing has been described as “haunting” by People’s World.
John Zorn Presents: Uzupis
April 25th, 2018 - 7:00pm For April, Zorn presents Uzupis, a band led by revolutionary musician Kenny Wollesen. An eclectic, shimmering trio of 2 vibraphones and electric drums, Uzupis will create a spectacular experience using with the help of Wollesonics, newly created instruments by Wollesen.
