Free admission

FEATURING:
Han Bennink, drums
Mary Oliver, violin/viola
Mark Dresser, bass
Michael Dessen, trombone

Praised by AllMusic as one of those "rare musicians whose abilities and interests span the music's entire spectrum, from Dixieland to free," (AllMusic Guide) renowned Dutch drummer Han Bennink, co-founder along with Misha Mengelberg of the Instant Composer’s Pool Orkest, has been a pioneer in jazz and improvised music since the 1960s. Known as much for his deep rhythmic feel as his ability to coax music out of chairs, floors and random objects he finds backstage, Bennink's exhilarating performances invite the listener to experience a deep convergence of spontaneous imagination and carefully-honed skill. Bennink is joined by three other veteran improvisers, all UCSD Music alumni, for this special California appearance. Violinist and violist Mary Oliver is a vital member of diverse European music scenes. Based in Amsterdam, she is known for her unique virtuosity that spans the worlds of scored and improvised music. A native San Diegan, Oliver is a member of the Instant Composers Pool Orchestra, and collaborates at international festivals with many of the leading composers and improvisers of our time. Bassist Mark Dresser has carved out a singular musical voice during a long, international career, and is especially known for extending the possibilities of the contrabass through decades of obsessive sonic research and practice. Dresser was described as "an inventor" by the Boston Herald, which also claimed he "may be the most important bassist to emerge since 1980 in jazz or classical music." Trombonist Michael Dessen, a frequent collaborator of Dresser's here in southern California, has "his own distinct style, one that values nuanced gestures as highly as it does exuberance" (AllAboutJazz) and has been praised in numerous publications for music that "straddles the line between the avant garde and the accessible better than most" (AllAboutJazz).