Free Jazz

Fred Ho performs Free New Afrika! Boogaloo Live at The Sanctuary for Independent on March 30, 2011. More about Fred's work at

www.JazzSanctuary.org"Exchange Rate," by the Thirteenth Assembly with Fay Victor (vocals), Anders Nilsson (guitarist), Ken Filiano (double bass) and Michael TA Thompson (drums), recorded live on April 26, 2008 at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy, NY. Fay Victor captivates her audience by singing blues, a free piece, or vocal jazz tradition. She combines down to earth essentials with clever lyrics and universal themes. She has made a trademark of “freesong,” mixing traditional songs with brilliant improvisation. Victor’s vocals, combined with the power of her full-tilt blues and rock-tinged band, produces a spectacular sound. Fay Victor leads a full-tilt band to push vocal jazz tradition as a basis for improvising in the sense of Ornette Coleman/ late Coltrane and beyond. This production is part of "Free Jazz at the Sanctuary," a 13-part series of jazz performance videos featuring some of the world's most talented improvisers performing a wide spectrum of music in the genre broadly known as free jazz. Each hour-long show is available on DVD directly from Downtown Music Gallery (www.downtownmusicgallery.com).

www.JazzSanctuary.org "Song One," by the Weasel Walter Trio with Weasel Walter (percussion), Mary Halvorson (guitar), Peter Evans (trumpet), recorded live on September 20, 2008 at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy, NY.This production is part of "Free Jazz at the Sanctuary," a 13-part series of jazz performance videos featuring some of the world's most talented improvisers performing a wide spectrum of music in the genre broadly known as free jazz.

www.JazzSanctuary.org"Part 3," by William hooker (drums), recorded live on February 14, 2009 at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy, NY. Percussionist William Hooker improvises to pioneering African-American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux’s 1920 silent classic, “The Symbol of the Unconquered.” Originally advertised as a chance to come see “the annihila¬tion of the Ku Klux Klan,” the film is part of the emergence of a radical black voice in the mass media. William Hooker’s work is frequently grounded in a narrative context. Whether set against a silent film or anchored by a poetic theme, Hooker brings dramatic tension and human warmth to avant-garde jazz. His ability to find fertile ground for moving music in a variety of settings that obliterate genre distinctions offers a much-needed statement of social optimism in the arts. This production is part of "Free Jazz at the Sanctuary," a 13-part series of jazz performance videos featuring some of the world's most talented improvisers performing a wide spectrum of music in the genre broadly known as free jazz.

www.JazzSanctuary.org"Song 3," by From Between Trio with Michel Doneda (soprano saxophone), Tatsuya Nakatani (percussion), and Jack Wright (saxophone), recorded live on September 15, 2007 at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy, NY. From Between Trio, a collaboration of musicians from three continents, creates their own sounds using many different instruments and unique techniques, culminating in an intense sound that defies musical categories. Their improvised, experimental music combines jazz, free jazz, rock, and noise, but also keeps the beauty of Japanese folk music. The music creates itself and many questions are raised about its direction: the answers are unknown, opening doors to anyone who wants to look in. This production is part of "Free Jazz at the Sanctuary," a 13-part series of jazz performance videos featuring some of the world's most talented improvisers performing a wide spectrum of music in the genre broadly known as free jazz.