At this week’s Improvised Music Series we welcome Lao Dan in from Hangzhou, China to perform two sets with a Chicago-based quartet. The band will feature Mabel Kwan on piano, Joshua Abrams on bass, and Michael Zerang on drums. Instead of pursuing the conventional career path as a professional conservatory flutist inside the “system”, after leaving SYCM, Lao Dan became an independent musician. With his unique understanding of the woodwind instruments through two decades of playing, Lao Dan sticks to his own vision and approach to the Chinese flute and its sounds. We can’t wait to hear two sets from this quartet! Music at 8:30pm

Brooklyn-based author Cisco Bradley presents his newest work “The Williamsburg Avant-Garde” in discussion with two musicians whose work helped to define that scene - saxophonist Jon Irabagon and drummer Weasel Walter. Following a discussion of the book, Irabagon and Walter will perform as a duo.

Instigation Festival returns to Chicago for its eighth year from September 21 to 24, 2023, celebrating relationships forged during Instigation’s history between the improvising communities of Chicago and New Orleans. For tonight’s concert, the Instigation Orchestra will break up into two sets of small groupings.

This relatively new grouping by an A-list cast of Chicago’s improvised music scene assembles for some Jazz Fest after sets.

Houston-based reedist Danny Kamins returns to Chicago for an all-too-rare performance reconvening some longtime colleagues and collaborators from his tenure as a Chicago resident some years ago.

Chicago-based tubist gone awry Beth McDonald presents an evening of solo and mixed grouping performances to celebrate the release of a brand new solo record!!

Chicago percussionist and composer Tim Daisy reconvenes his avant chamber ensemble Vox 4. For this round, the core trio consisting of cellist Fred Lonberg - Holm, clarinetist James Falzone and Daisy on percussion will be joined by NY-based violinist and composer Gabby Fluke Mogul. Tonight's concert will feature a brand new set of compositions which will be recorded for a future release on Relay Recordings.

Edition Redux is the most recent of Ken Vandermark’s ensembles, an addition to an ongoing series of bands that have been internationally and critically acclaimed, which include The Vandermark 5, FME, The Resonance Ensemble, The Territory Band, Made To Break, and Marker.  In addition to Vandermark, who plays saxophones and clarinet with the group, this quartet is comprised of Erez Dessel (keyboards), Lily Finnegan (drums), and Beth McDonald (tuba/electronics), who represent the next wave of Chicago’s creative music scene.

Two newish improvising quartet formations of Chicago-based musicians drawn from across several scenes make their Elastic Arts debut.

Cleveland-based harpist Stephan Haluska makes his Elastic Arts debut with a program of solo prepared harp music, and up-and-coming drummer Lily Finnegan organizes a first time quartet outing with some veterans of the Chicago improvised music scene.

Chicago based experimentalist Norman Long launches a new duo with reedist Keefe Jackson, and California-based saxophonist Rob Magill makes an all-too-rare visit to collaborate with two Chicago stalwarts.

Boston-based pianist Pandelis Karayorgis returns to Chicago to meet up with long-time musical compatriot Dave Rempis in a new quartet lineup featuring Jakob Heinemann on bass and Bill Harris on drums.

New York percussionist Devin Gray makes a rare Chicago appearance in support of his new solo album, and ex-pat bassist and bandleader Charlie Kirchen returns to Chicago for a set with a quintet featuring special guest Mark Feldman.

Since its foundation in 2015 the Berlin-based trio Sawt Out has shaped and refined its profile as a prominent improvisational unit. With their unusual acoustic instrumentation of trumpet and two sets of percussion these three gentlemen create bewildering sound worlds rich in detail and of tight musical interaction. Sawt Out has played numerous concerts throughout Europe, Asia and beyond. This current tour is their first live appearance in the US.

Saxophonist Mai Sugimoto presents her current working quartet, a seasoned band featuring some of Chicago’s best improvisers.

Tonight’s double bill features a pairing of some of the most active of the next generation of improvisers on the Chicago scene.

Imagine Sun Ra as Joni Mitchell's pianist, or Laurie Anderson writing songs for Billie Holiday and Slam Stewart. That potent and eclectic poise is what the long-standing upright bass and voice duo, Silvervest, offers. Silvervest is the Montreal-based project of Cicolas Naloia and Kim Zombik that cruxes intimacy at the heart of their compositions. Playing in the field of storytelling, pop, soundscapes, jazz and jangling, Silvervest offers fresh music that is intuitive and unique. They place primary importance on creation that has structure yet allows following their ears into wider exploratory spaces. This potent duo, ever open to possibilities, explores the nuts and bolts of humanity’s mortal coil with tenderness, humour and tunefulness.
The Chicago-based duo of Hunter Diamond and Allen Moore open things up with xxploratory, expansive, astral noise. Filtered found sounds, with a punk-leaning sense of abandon.

Ben Zucker, typically an instrumental contributor to Elastic performances, combines their long involvement with improvised music and choral singing in the first outing of an all-vocal improvising ensemble! The first set features a cast of vocalists drawn from across Chicago’s experimental, jazz, and new music scenes. For the second set, audience members (of any level and style) will be invited to join the group in a large ensemble conduction.

Tonight’s double bill features the Elastic debut of the Clauren/Kohl Duo, and a record release party for a virtuosic trio featuring two longstanding Elastic Arts regulars alongside renowned violinist Mark Feldman, celebrating the release of their debut album Sirocco on Aerophonic Records.

Matt Piet brings his working trio back to Elastic, and a quartet led by New Mexico-based reedist, composer, and arts activist Chris Jonas makes it’s Elastic Arts debut.

The longstanding transatlantic collaboration The Bridge brings its latest incarnation to Elastic Arts! PANG! [The Bridge #2.5 ] features an all star lineup including Chicagoans Ben Lamar Gay and Sam Pluta, and Parisians Sophie Angel and Pascal Niggenkemper.

Journeyman Chicago improviser David Boykin returns to Elastic Arts.

This collaborative and freewheeling quartet makes it’s Elastic Arts debut, matching up some active young upstarts with some veterans of the Chicago improvised music scene.

Renowned Berlin reedist s-Edith teyer makes her Elastic Arts debut, performing solo and in a trio with Elastic Arts stalwarts Mabel Kwan and Michael Zerang.

Jake Wark and Bill Harris make a long overdue return with their duo, and drummer Julian Kirshner assembles a new configuration, aligning himself with veterans Peter Maunu and Kent Kessler for a first time trio outing.

Double reed master Robbie Hunsinger returns to the Elastic Arts stage to present a new configuration featuring two mainstays of the contemporary classical scene in Chicago.

Tomeka Reid - more than a household name in Chicago, Savannah Harris - the versatile and much-in-demand drummer from NYC, and Angelika Niescier, a fierce saxophonist from Germany form this group, which openly approaches iescier´s compositions.

Two duos compare notes on the head-to-head format.

Prolific up-and-coming drummer Lily Finnegan returns to the Elastic stage with a new configuration.