Saxophonist/flutist/bass clarinetist/composer Will Connell Jr died on November 19, 2014. His official memorial will occur on January 12 at St. Peter’s Church in New York City. It promises to be a rather historic musical gathering.
Fueled by the creative, tenacious inspiration of his parents, William Myles Connell Sr and Shirley Floyd, Will Connell came of age in the 1960s as an invaluable part of Horace Tapscott’s organization and the LA Black Arts Movement. By 1975 he was acknowledged as the quiet giant of NY’s Free Jazz and New Music circle. Connell’s sudden passing in November occurred just days shy of his 76th birthday. He is survived by his daughter Safiya Martinez, a poet and actress, his former wife Thea Martinez, and the bevy of downtown artists of his extended creative family.
As is customary for musicians’ services at “the jazz church”, the memorial will indeed be in the tradition. The concert will feature many of the artists the much-loved Connell worked with over his 50+ years of performance, and an assortment of the ensembles he led or was a part of. The music will range from Will Connell works and dedications, to improvisational pieces, to devotional tapestries of the free and the composed. It will be heard within a full program including guest speakers, a video presentation and photo montage highlighting Connell’s great contributions to the creative community both here and in his prior home of Los Angeles.
The evening will close with Connell’s Dark Tree Ensemble, greatly expanded with many guests, performing an orchestral rendition of his “Mountain Song” with conduction by Steve Swell.
Host Safiya Martinez
Performances by:
-OLIVER LAKE, CRAIG HARRIS and NEWMAN TAYLOR BAKER
Oliver Lake-alto saxophone, Craig Harris-trombone, Newman Taylor Baker-washboard/percussion
-SADHANA
Vincent Chancey-French horn, Hayes Greenfield-alto saxophone, Ken Filiano-bass, Jeremy Carlstedt-drumset
-I.C.E. –IMPROVISATIONAL COMPOSERS ENSEMBLE
Rocco John Iacovone-alto saxophone/compositions, Sana Nagano-violin, Ras Moshe- tenor saxophone, Michael Lytle-bass clarinet, TBA-bass, John Pietaro-percussion, Dalius Najo-drumset
-THE JAZZ & POETRY CHOIR COLLECTIVE
Michael TA Thompson-conductor/sound rhythium, EJ Antonio-poetry, Rosi Hertlein-violin/poetry, Larry Roland-bass/poetry, Golda Solomon-poetry, Phylisha Villanueva-poetry,
Guest Ras Moshe-reeds
-TRANCEFORMATION
Andrea Wolper-voice, Connie Crothers-piano, Ken Filiano-bass
-JORGE SYLVESTER ACE COLLECTIVE
Jorge Sylvester-alto saxophone, Nora McCarthy-voice, Marvin Sewell-guitar, Kenny Growhowski-drumset, Bass-TBA
-TRUDY SILVER TRIO
Trudy Silver-piano, Scottie Davis-actor/mime, Rosi Hertlein-violin
-EXIT STRATEGY
Tomas Ulrich-cello, Anders Nilsson-guitar, Rob Brown-alto saxophone
-SILVERBACK
Frank Lacy-tenor saxophone, Newman Taylor Baker-washboard/percussion/drumkit
-THE DARK TREE ENSEMBLE conducted by Steve Swell performs Will Connell’s “Mountain Song”
Steve Swell-trombone, Rosi Hertlein-violin/voice, Andrea Wolper-voice, Ras Moshe-tenor saxophone, Hayes Greenfield-alto saxophone, Vincent Chancey-French Horn, Matt Lavelle-flugelhorn, Joe Daley-euphonium, Jesse Dulman-tuba, John Pietaro-vibes, Larry Rollin-bass, Jeremy Carlstedt-drumset –PLUS- On Ka’a Davis-guitar, Ravish Momin-percussion, Dave Sewelson-alto saxophone, Stephen Haynes-trumpet, Jason Kao Hwang-violin, Kali Z Fasteau-soprano saxophone, Andrew Drury-percussion, Jack De Salvo-cello and many more.
Speakers:
– Safiya Martinez
-Reading from Steve Isoardi
-Kristy Nguyen
-Jason Goodrow
-Steve Dalachinsky
-Jason Goodrow
-Zen and Tanya Matsuura
-Jason Kao Hwang
-John Pietaro
-William Parker
Video Tribute by Robert O’Haire
When: Monday January 12, 7:30 – 9PM: program in Sanctuary; 9-9:30, reception
Where: St. Peter’s Church, 619 Lexington Ave. at 54th St. NYC
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