Event Detail

Jeff Kaiser conducts his Ockodektet through his own compositions for this sweeping cast of 20. "This is certainly not a traditional big band," Kaiser says, "but grows out of my experience playing in traditional big bands and avant garde big bands like Vinny Golia's Large Ensemble (Vinny is on this gig). The music varies widely, but mostly we play modular scores I design with these players in mind, that we improvise our way through with me conducting. Modules can be strictly notated, graphically notated, or more verbal ideas. Modules are frequently revisited to create thematic coherence, but mostly, the modules act as springboards into improvisation, from solos to full band and everything in between." The Ockodektet includes saxophonists Vinny Golia, David Borgo, Andrew Pask, and Tracy McMullen; flutist Emily Hay; trumpeters Dan Clucas, John Fumo, Brad Henkel, and Kris Tiner; trombonists Michael Dessen and Michael Vlatkovich; tubists Jonathan Piper and William Roper; keyboardist/thereminist Wayne Peet; acoustic guitarist Tom McNalley; electric contrabass guitarist Steuart Liebig; contrabassists Jim Connolly (also on musical saw) and Mark Dresser; and percussionists Rich West and Brad Dutz.