Composer, saxophonist, and Associate Professor of Jazz Studies for NIU’s School of Music, Geof Bradfield will premiere a new commissioned work for nonet: “Yes, and…music for nine improvisers,” Thursday, September 21 at 8 p.m. at Boutell Memorial Concert Hall in the NIU Music Building.
“Yes, and…” takes its name from a fundamental rule of the improvised comedy and theater pioneered in the 1950s by the Compass Players, who held their experimental revues in the back room of a bar at 55th and University in Hyde Park. This rule of thumb demands ego-less participation: improvisers accept what is offered and then expand upon it, a practice relevant to creatives working together in any medium. “Yes, and…” is made possible with support from Chamber Music America’s 2016 New Jazz Works program funded through the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
Born in Houston, Geof has shared the stage nationally and internationally with jazz luminaries such as Randy Weston, Carl Allen, Brian Blade, Rodney Whitaker, and Etienne Charles. He performs and records regularly with a wide range of fellow Chicago artists and is featured on more than 50 albums. Geof’s latest album is “Birdhoused,” recorded live in Chicago at the Green Mill Jazz Club and released on the Cellar Live label in August 2017.
This nonet will feature Geof on saxophones and bass clarinet, NIU alum Greg Ward on alto saxophone; Anna Webber on tenor saxophone and flutes; NIU alum Marquis Hill and Russ Johnson on trumpets; Joel Adams on trombone; Scott Hesse on guitar; Clark Sommers on bass; and Dana Hall on drums and percussion.
Admission is free of charge.
