The First Thursdays series curated by Dan Blake is back! New York’s contemporary music scene is incomparably vast in scope, perhaps impossible to cover with a single series. With this residency at The Firehouse Space, Dan Blake brings together a range of collaborations that at least begins to represent the diversity of experiences and musical styles in music. Now in its second season, this first concert will feature Joshua Sinton’s Senhor Vasques and the Chris Pitsiokos Trio.
Joshua Sinton’s Senhor Vasques is a saxophone quartet comprised of some of his favorite practicioners of one of his favorite instruments: Greg Ward, Brian Settles and Daniel Blake. The quartet is named for the menacingly avuncular head accountant in Fernando Pessoa’s “Book of Disquiet.” Inspired by his literary research, Sinton is slowly building a book of music for the saxophone quartet that’s informed by the experimenting he’s been methodically conducting on the saxophone and in his life. This concert is a once-a-year opportunity to hear the fruits of this research and development.
The Chris Pitsiokos trio encompasses a gamut of compositional techniques from free improvisation, to through composed, to graphically notated scores. The music is highly personal and in most cases written specifically for Kevin Shea and Max Johnson, who are the trio’s other members. Recording coming soon.
8pm - Senhor Vasques
Josh Sinton, Baritone Saxophone
Dan Blake, Tenor/Soprano Saxophones
Greg Ward III, Alto Saxophone
Brian Settles, Tenor Saxophone
9:30pm - Chris Pitsiokos Trio
Chris Pitsiokos, Alto Saxophone
Max Johnson, Bass
Kevin Shea, Drums
