Leading New York City Jazz Musicians Come Together to Protest a War with Iraq

Dave Douglas, William Parker, Michael Blake and Quantum, in coalition with International ANSWER, will perform to benefit the peace movement on January 8th at Theater for the New City. Profits from the concert will be used to help fund the January 18th anti-war rally in Washington D.C., which is expected to draw over 250,000 people from across the country.

The concert will begin at 8pm and end at approximately 11pm. Dave Douglas and William Parker will play first, followed by Quantum and then Michael Blake's Rollie Pollie. Seating is general admission and tickets cost $20; student tickets are available for $13. For reservations, call (212) 254-1109.

Dave Douglas is an internationally recognized musician who has been named trumpeter, composer, and jazz artist of the year by such organizations as the New York Jazz Awards, Down Beat, Jazz Times, Jazziz and the Italian Jazz Critics' Society. A leader in a movement of musically groundbreaking and socially and politically active performers, Douglas is an artist who defies categorization. William Parker, whom the Village Voice has characterized as “the most consistently brilliant free jazz bassist of all time," has performed with some of the avant garde's finest musicians. Since his arrival in New York in 1972, Parker has, in addition to more recently fronting his own groups, played with Billy Higgins, Sunny Murray, Don Cherry, and Cecil Taylor. Douglas and Parker will share the stage for a rare collaboration between two of jazz's most brilliant performers.

Michael Blake will debut a new group, Rollie Pollie. Blake was recognized this year in Downbeat Magazine's 50th Annual Critics Poll TDWR (Talent Deserving Wider Recognition) categories for tenor sax, soprano sax and jazz artist of the year. He is also a Composer in Residence in The Jazz Composers Collective and a veteran member of Ben Allison's critically acclaimed group Medicine Wheel.

Quantum is a quartet of young musicians who draw on musical styles from jazz and classical to hip-hop and electronic to African and Indian music to form a distinct voice. Up and coming members of the New York City music scene, Quantum are preparing to release their debut album on Balance Recordings.

International ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism), was founded by former Attorney General Ramsey Clark in the wake of the September 11 attacks, and represents a broad coalition of peace groups. ANSWER was formed to oppose war, support global justice and self-determination, stop racism, and defend civil rights and civil liberties. ANSWER was the principal organizer of the October 26th 2002 anti-war demonstration in Washington D.C. that drew 200,000 people. ANSWER is a nonprofit organization staffed entirely by volunteers.

FMI
Dave Douglas www.davedouglas.com
William Parker www.williamparkermusic.com
Michael Blake www.michaelblake.net
International ANSWER www.internationalanswer.org

Artists Speak Out: Concert for Peace
January 8th, 8pm, Theater for the New City, 155 1st Ave. (9th and 10th streets)
Tickets: $20; students: $13. For reservations, call (212) 254-1109
Contact Pete Trachy at (213) 840-0077 or [email protected]