7th Annual Vision Festival: A Vision Against Violence, The AvantJazz Festival

New York, NY -- Operating within a vast ocean of mediocrity, a culture of sameness and tired conventions, Arts for Art presents New York's world renowned, avantjazz festival, the Seventh Annual Vision Festival; a first rate festival which maintains its sense of community. The Vision Festival, now in its seventh year, has become the jazz event of the season, with 17 days of performances featuring avantjazz music, dance, poetry, and visual arts presentations and will include over 300 leading avantjazz creators from around the world, representing three generations of jazz history and contemporary innovation.

This year's festival is taking place in an altered socio-political landscape, at a time when a sense of community, shared experience, and a celebration of humanity are of the utmost necessity. Because of this, the festival will retain the theme from last year, “VISION AGAINST VIOLENCE." In the spring of 2001, this theme was important; in the spring of 2002, it is imperative. We will present speakers and provide literature which will inform audiences and performers alike about the present state of domestic and international economics and politics. Details concerning the participants will follow.

Every year the Vision Festival is forced (by a lack of independent art centers) to find a new home. Each year we transform this challenge into “The VISION FESTIVAL" This year the festival will take place in the best venue yet, The Center at Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral, (268 Mulberry Street between Houston and Prince Streets) with additional performances at CBGB’s Lounge.

The first two weekends will focus on music presentations and spoken word, while the third weekend will focus on collaborations between the music, dance and visual arts. In addition to the 3 weekends at 268 Mulberry Street, there will be a series at CBGB’s Lounge at 313 Bowery on nights when there are no performances on Mulberry Street. On June 1 and 2, we look forward to screening an avantjazz film series at Anthology Film Archives (32 Second Avenue). Highlights of the festival include:

From California, Oluyemi and Ijeoma Thomas with expatriate Alan Silva - Joe McPhee to be featured in a wonderful quartet led by Joe Giardullo - For the first time in decades, we will have the chance to hear Jemeel Moondoc’s Muntu - A rare performance by William Parker’s new Quartet, plus Leena Conquest, presenting “Raining on the Moon” - A special Billy Bang Trio with Jin Hi Kim and Hamiet Bluiett - French bassist par excellance, Joelle Leandre in a duo with Hamid Drake - A meeting of the greats: Kidd Jordan, Fred Anderson, William Parker and Hamid Drake - Milford Graves will set the roof on fire with one of his special projects - A Memorial Day Tribute to Don Cherry, featuring Jayne Cortez’ Firespitters, the Dewey Redman Quartet, the Don Cherry Memorial Band and the Pyramid Trio - A rare appearance in NY of Paul Dunmall and Paul Rogers from England with Gerry Hemmingway - The stellar Matthew Shipp String Trio - Douglas Ewart will present an all star lineup featuring Leo Wadada Smith - David S. Ware will bring his Quartet for its annual performance - a special performance of David Gonzalez’ Poetic License featuring Bobby Sanabria, John DiMartino, and Boris Kozlov - Cooper-Moore’s take on the Uncle Remus Tales - Special appearance by Sonny Simmons’ Quartet - The great jazz drummer Sunny Murray with eclectic Philly group Sonic Liberation Front - Roy Campbell jr., “Buhaina the Great,” commissioned for the festival with funding from the New York State Council on the Arts - During the week of collaborations, highlights include: Premier of Patricia Nicholson’s PANIC with music by Cooper-Moore and Joseph Jarman - Not to be missed duets by Francesca Harper and DJ Spooky - Jean Sassportes (lead dancer with Pina Bausch) and German bassist Peter Kowald - At CBGB’s Lounge, folks can hear great performances by Other Dimensions In Music, William Parker’s Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra and the Josh Roseman Quartet, among others.

Advance tickets for performances at The Center
Available from Downtown Music Gallery, 211 East 5th Street, NYC 10003
Phone: 212-473-0043, fax: 212-533-5059, e-mail: [email protected]

TICKETS:
$20 per night - $15 per night for last 3 nights June 6 - June 7 - June 8
9 Day Pass at The Center - $150 13 Day Pass at The Center - $175
Performances at CBGB'S $15 PER NIGHT (no advance ticket sales)

Attached is the confirmed schedule, to date. Please note that times, dates, and performers are subject to change; updates will be sent out as the schedule is revised.

For all other inquiries, call 212-946-2110, send e-mail to [email protected] or visit www.visionfestival.org.

3 Weekends @ The Center
268 Mulberry Street
Thursday MAY 23, thru Monday May 27, 2002
Thursday MAY 30, thru Sunday June 2
Thursday June 6 thru Sunday June 9 at CBGB’s Lounge 313 Bowery
May 28 & May 29 -June 4 & June 5 at Film Anthology 32 Second Avenue June 1 & 2