If you look at the line-up for this one-night only concert at Walt Disney Concert on Tuesday night, you’d be convinced that Ryan Gosling’s character in La La Land was completely wrong. Jazz is not dying on the vine. The Edge of Jazz is a one-night only concert of jazz world premieres curated by Herbie Hancock. The website describes the works selected as walking the line between formal composition and improvisation.

The Edge of Jazz is lead by conductor Paolo Bortolameolli
Conductor Paolo Bortolameolli (Courtesy of the LA Philharmonic)

On the bill are new works from Hitomi Oba, Vijay Iyer, Billy Childs, Kamasi Washington, Tyshawn Sorey and Hermeto Pascoal. Conductor Paolo Bortolameolli leads the New Music Group of the LA Philharmonic in this concert.

 

 

The works having their world premieres (all of which were commissioned by the LA Philharmonic) are:

"The Edge of Jazz" features six world premieres
Hitomi Oba (courtesy of HitomiOba.com)

Aina by Hitomi Oba

Oba is a composer and saxophonist and has the distinction of both opening the concert and being the sole woman on the bill. She is one of the founders of the new music collective LA Signal Lab. She performs with multiple ensembles (of varying configurations) and also teaches at UCLA.

"The Edge of Jazz" takes place January 15th at Walt Disney Concert Hall
Vijay Iyer (courtesy of Vijay-Iyer.com)

Crisis Modes by Vijay Iyer

Pianist/composer Vijay Iyer has the distinction of having been voted Downbeat Magazine‘s artist of the year three times. He’s a MacArthur Fellow and one of the most highly acclaimed musician/composers of our time. Far From Over, his 2017 release, topped the Billboard Magazine jazz charts.

"The Edge of Jazz" was curated by Herbie Hancock
Billy Childs (Courtesy of the LA Philharmonic)

of Darkness and Light by Billy Childs

Five-time Grammy Award winner Billy Childs is both a jazz pianist and composer.His most recent album was 2017’s Rebirth. Over the course of his career he has received commissions from the LA Philharmonic, the LA Master Chorale and several other organizations. Amongst his earliest influences is this project’s curator, Herbie Hancock

Herbie Hancock curated "The Edge of Jazz"
Kamasi Washington (Courtesy of KamasiWashington.com)

Struggle from Within by Kamasi Washington

If you listen to KCRW you know Kamasi Washington headed their list of the best albums of 2018 with his most recent recording, Heaven and Earth. His previous album, The Epic, was a monumental 172-minute recording that put him front and center in discussions about contemporary jazz music.

 

"The Edge of Jazz" is part of the LA Phil centennial season
Tyshawn Sorey (courtesy of pi Recordings)

 

For Fred Lerdahl by Tyshawn Sorey.

Sorey’s most recent record, Pillars, was hailed by critics around the world and found itself on several Best of 2018 lists. He plays multiple instruments and has performed with John Zorn, Steve Coleman and Vijay Iyer.

 

"The Edge of Jazz" features six world premieres
Hermeto Pascoal (Courtesy of AKAMU)

Suite Universal by Hermeto Pascoal

Pascoal is a multi-instrumentalist/composer from Brazil who first came to the United States in 1970 following the success of the group Quarteto Novo with Airto Moreira.  Beyond his own performances of his work, Pascoal’s compositions have been performed by a diverse group of artists that ranges from the Berlin Symphony to Gil Evan

Images of Herbie Hancock, Billy Childs and Paoloa Bortolameolli courtesy of the LA Philharmonic.

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