Join us as the Makrokosmos Orchestra celebrates the release of our first album, Dissolve (Adhyâropa Records). Called "modern jazz at its highest level" (All About Jazz), Makrokosmos co-leader Richard Nelson's symphonic-length triptych takes a big picture, broad-spectrum view of contemporary creative music, maneuvering deftly between ambitious compositions and adventurous improvisation. Featuring some of New York’s finest players, Makrokosmos will bring fresh and dynamic interpretations to all three of the suite's evocatively titled movements—Dissolve, Float, and Cohere, music in which improvisation and composition intertwine in highly imaginative and surprising ways.

      We'll also spotlight Makrokosmos co-leader Tim O'Dell's compositions with the premiere of of Ellis Quincy, the constantly shifting colors of Kaleidoscope, and the aspirational, hard-swinging Selfless.

Venue link and tickets here:

https://shapeshifterplus.org/event/makrokosmos-may-3/

      Featuring Erica Seguine (conductor), Michel Gentile (flutes), Alan Brady (clarinets), Tim O’Dell (alto & soprano saxes), Adam Kolker (tenor saxophone, clarinet), Justin Mullins (French horn), John Carlson (trumpet), Jacob Varmus (trumpet, cornet), David Chamberlain (euphonium), Dale Turk (bass trombone), Frank Carlberg (piano), Richard Nelson (guitar), Ken Filiano (bass), Rob Garcia (drums), Todd Isler (percussion).

 About Richard Nelson and Dissolve:

"Nelson's followers can count on being surprised at how nimbly he can satisfy their appetites: he takes new directions while also satisfying their affection for thoughtfully conceived music that bridges jazz, classical, and other forms."—Steve Feeney, The Arts Fuse (Boston)

“… the title track [is] a kaleidoscope of contrapuntal themes that weave in and out of the brass and woodwind sections, shifting in and out of time and spatial sensibilities in a mysterious narrative, its peaking followed by a scattering into the ether.” – Gary Fukushima, DownBeat

 About Tim O'Dell:

"O'Dell designs hypnotic concepts that capture the imagination" - All About Jazz

“. . . a perfect album (from O'Dell) . . . great blend of composition and improvisation and it swings! . . . a uniqueness of vision.” - Beyond Coltrane

“This (O'Dell) is the sound of expanding American art.” - All About Jazz

Delighted to be part of this concert!

Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 7:30 pm

Aardvark Jazz Orchestra:  51st Annual Christmas Benefit Concert

Featuring the premiere of Mark Harvey’s piece, The Gift, dedicated to the memory of Arni Cheatham

Church of the Covenant, 67 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116

Proceeds to benefit Rosie’s Place

Admission:  $20 at the door.  Information:  617-776-8778

www.aardvarkjazz.com

If you'll be in or around New York on Friday, Nov. 3, hope you can join us at ShapeShifter in Brooklyn as we get the Makrokosmos Orchestra back into action for an evening of genre-defying large-ensemble compositions by Richard Nelson and Tim O'Dell, featuring some of New York’s finest players.  Works on this adventurous program include the premiere of O'Dell's Gratitude (for Wayne Shorter) and a preview of Dissolve and Cohere from Nelson's upcoming album on Adhyâropa Records.

Makrokosmos Orchestra

Friday, Nov. 3   8:00pm     $20.00

ShapeShifter Lab  837 Union St.  Brooklyn, NY

Featuring Erica Seguine (conductor), Michel Gentile (flutes), Alan Brady (bass/Bb clarinets), Tim O’Dell (alto/soprano saxes), Adam Kolker (tenor sax/Bb clarinet), Marshall Sealy (French horn), John Carlson (trumpet), Jacob Varmus (cornet/trumpet), David Chamberlain (euphonium), Dale Turk (bass trombone), Frank Carlberg (piano), Richard Nelson (guitar), Ken Filiano (bass), Rob Garcia (drums), Rex Benincasa (percussion).

"O'Dell designs hypnotic concepts that capture the imagination" - All About Jazz

“. . . a perfect album (from O'Dell) . . . great blend of composition and improvisation and it swings! . . . a uniqueness of vision.” - Beyond Coltrane

"(Nelson's) writing is complex but emotionally engaging, dense yet clean and resonant. . . .The colors of the orchestra are spellbinding, evocative and powerful." - New York City Jazz Record

“This (O'Dell) is the sound of expanding American art.” - All About Jazz

“(Nelson is) an ambitious and daring composer” who has “come up with a distinctive synthesis of modern jazz, and contemporary orchestral music" - All About Jazz

Excited to have a concert with the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra coming up in Boston on Saturday, April 29th.

Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 7:30 pm

Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, 50th Annual Spring Concert

Celebrating the Duke, Trane, and Mary Lou

Church of the Covenant, 67 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116

Tickets:  $20, available here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-aardvark-jazz-orchestra-50th-season-spring-concert-tickets-475711153867

Presented by Mandorla Music and The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra

Stunningly beautiful and adventurous - New York City Jazz Record 

One of the best jazz ensembles in the world - Jazz Podium, Germany

Mark Harvey and his Aardvark Jazz Orchestra continue their historic 50th season with joyful music by Duke Ellington on his birthday (April 29), including “Come Sunday” featuring Aardvark vocalist Grace Hughes, and “Chinoiserie” from the Afro-Eurasian Eclipse.  Exuberant originals by Mark Harvey will include “Soul on Soul” (2010 for Mary Lou Williams) and his composition “The Seeker” (1994 for John Coltrane).  A special highlight will be the premiere of Harvey’s latest work, “Prayer for Ukraine.”

Aardvark is: Arni Cheatham,  Peter H. Bloom, Daniel Ian-Smith, Phil Scarff, Chris Rakowski, Dan Zupan/saxes and woodwinds; Mike Peipman, KC Dunbar,  Jeanne Snodgrass/trumpets; Bob Pilkington, Jay Keyser/trombones; Bill Lowe/bass trombone, tuba;  Richard Nelson/guitar; Jesse Williams/string bass; Harry Wellott/drums; Grace Hughes, vocalist; Mark Harvey, music director. 

Read: ‘Aardvark Jazz Orchestra: 50 Years, a Special Calling’ - DownBeat, March 2023

It’s happening - the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra’s 50th Annual Christmas Concert! 

Congratulations to our esteemed bandleader Mark Harvey - talk about dedication and endurance!  I’m so happy to be a member of this band and to be playing in this concert. 

Details:  Saturday, December 10, 2022, at 7:30 pm

Church of the Covenant 

67 Newbury St. - Boston, MA 02116

Admission:  $20 

For information:  617-776-8778

Some words about the concert: The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra gave its inaugural concert December 23, 1973 at the Church of the Covenant in Boston as a benefit for the Chelsea Fire Fund.  Aardvark will return to the church five decades later, to celebrate its 50th Annual Christmas Concert.  As always, this Boston holiday tradition will feature joyful music, from jazz-infused carols to spirituals to Mark Harvey originals, including his Afro-Jazz Benedictus and his high energy arrangement of Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, a staple of the Christmas concerts since the very first performance in 1973.  Proceeds will support the Poor People’s United Fund, an organization that works to alleviate the suffering of poor and homeless people in Greater Boston.

The Imaginary Ensemble is delighted to be performing in Portland on Friday, June 10 on the terrific Dimensions in Jazz series at the Portland Conservatory of Music. We'll be bringing our own distinctive mix of original contemporary jazz explorations, South African jazz, music by Bud Powell and other jazz masters, and jazz-tinged takes on blues and Americana classics featuring vocalist Marcia Gallagher. Grateful to have the stellar bandmates Frank Mauceri, saxophones; Peter Herman, guitar; Scott Kiefner, bass; and Brian Shankar Adler, drums on board.  And many thanks to the esteemed Paul Lichter of DIJ for making this happen!

Doors open at 7:30 pm, shows start at 8:00 pm.

Tickets: $5 students, $15 Seniors, $20 in advance, $25 at the door

Venue/presenter info here:

Dimensions in Jazz at the Portland Conservatory