“Free Jazz from the Sanctuary” was a series of 13 live performances featuring some of the world’s most talented improvisers performing a wide spectrum of music in the genre broadly known as free jazz. Like freedom itself, free jazz as a term defies definition. The name most likely comes from Ornette Coleman’s 1961 album Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation.
This music celebrates the individual voice and collective action—and, like anyone exploring the limits of freedom, the musicians who play it sometimes find themselves on the edge of what is commercially, culturally and politically acceptable. But they endure… and their quest continues!
The concerts were recorded live between 2007-2009 at The Sanctuary for Independent Media, a historic former church in North Troy, New York. Originally released on DVD in 2010, selections from the concerts were also made available online, successfully reaching a virtual audience. In 2022, these concerts were re-released on-line in their entirety, continuing to provide a global audience with access to these documents of groundbreaking performances.
All photos by Andrzej Pilarczyk
About the Series
“Free Jazz from the Sanctuary” was originally made possible in part by a grant from the New York State Music Fund. The new funding opportunity, which was overseen by the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, was created in collaboration with the New York State Attorney General. The funding grew out of investigations by the Attorney General into the practice of “payola” or “pay for play” by major recording and broadcasting companies. Once these cases were resolved, the settlements stipulated that funds paid by the music businesses should benefit the residents of New York State through music education and appreciation programs. Though temporary, the program would help make contemporary music of all genres accessible to diverse audiences across the state.
With the New York State Music Fund grant, “Free Jazz from the Sanctuary” was able to fulfill these goals, internationally renowned musicians to New York’s Capital Region. Today we continue that mission, offering a global audience access to this newly re-issued series online. The re-issue of these concerts is funded in part by the Upstate Coalition for a Fairgame, the Kindle Project Fund of the Common Counsel Foundation, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
The musicians featured in this series:
• The Thirteenth Assembly (Taylor Ho Bynum, Tomas Fujiwara, Mary Halvorson, Jessica Pavone)
• Ethnic Heritage Ensemble (Kahil El’Zabar, Ernest Dawkins, Corey Wilkes)
• Fay Victor Ensemble (Ken Filiano, Anders Nilsson, Michael TA Thompson, Fay Victor)
• From Between Trio (Michel Doneda, Tatsuya Nakatani, Jack Wright)
• Michael Vlatkovich Quartet (Christopher Garcia, Jonathan Golove, David Mott, Michael Vlatkovich)
• Sax, Soup, Poetry and Voice (Joe Giardullo, Pierre Joris, Nicole Peyrafitte)
• Trio Tarana (Sam Bardfeld, Ravish Momin, Brian Prunka)
• The Ras Ensemble (Clif Jackson, Dave Miller, Ras Moshe, Tor Yochai Snyder)
• Empty Cage Quartet (Ivan Johnson, Paul Kikuchi, Jason Mears, Kris Tiner)
• Weasel Walter Trio (Peter Evans, Mary Halvorson, Weasel Walter)
• Splatto Festival Chorus (Dave Barrett, Michael Bisio, Ed Mann, Todd Reynolds)
Executive Producer, Steve Pierce
Check out a playlist featuring music from Free Jazz from the Sanctuary!
Free Jazz from the Sanctuary 2007-2009
The Thirteenth Assembly (Taylor Ho Bynum, Tomas Fujiwara, Mary Halvorson, Jessica Pavone)
The Thirteenth Assembly is a touring collective made up of four musicians forming four different and musically distinct small ensembles. Styled somewhere between the classic r&b/soul reviews of the 60’s and a post-modern traveling circus, the Thirteenth Assembly presents a selection of some of the fastest-emerging young artists and bands in New York’s creative music scene in one package. Featuring: Taylor Ho Bynum/Tomas Fujiwara Duo; Mary Halvorson/Jessica Pavone Duo; Taylor Ho Bynum Trio (with Mary Halvorson and Thomas Fujiwara); The Thirteenth Four (Mary Halvorson, Jessica Pavone, Taylor Ho Bynum and Tomas Fujiwara).
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble (Kahil El’Zabar, Ernest Dawkins, Corey Wilkes)
The illustrious Ethnic Heritage Ensemble combines concepts of African American musi with traditional African sounds into their special brand of 21st century Griot jazz, conjuring a spiritual journey to the inner self. According to Kahil El’Zabar, “This music has enormous history and incredible love. We are all here to make a difference; we must be about the work of our hearts. Living out your dreams is the greatest honor one can express.” Featuring Kahil El’Zabar (percussions, vocals), Corey Wilkes (trumpet), and Ernest Dawkins (saxophone).
Fay Victor Ensemble (Ken Filiano, Anders Nilsson, Michael TA Thompson, Fay Victor)
Fay Victor leads a full-tilt band to push vocal jazz tradition as a basis for improvising in the sense of Ornette Coleman/late Coltrane and beyond. Her soulfulness is expressed through a focused set of originals that offer taut construction and witty lyrics. “Taking jazz singing forward with a unique form of expression, Fay Victor delivers with authority. She reaches out with open arms to celebrate the freedom that comes with singing what you feel.” – Cadence Featuring: Fay Victor (vocalist), Anders Nilsson (guitarist), Ken Filiano (double bass), Michael TA Thompson (drums). Original composistions by Fay Victor and Johcem van Dijk.
From Between Trio (Michel Doneda, Tatsuya Nakatani, Jack Wright)
A collaboration of musicians from three continents, an evolving search for new creative experiences, From Between Trio is a cross-cultural mixture of improvised and experimental musics. Featuring: Michel Doneda (soprano saxophone), Tatsuya Nakatani (percussion), and Jack Wright (saxophone).
Michael Vlatkovich Quartet (Christopher Garcia, Jonathan Golove, David Mott, Michael Vlatkovich)
An imaginative ensemble with emotionally charged performers, the Michael Vlatkovich Quartet is comfortable in a variety of jazz and world music styles. Their improvisationally free music expresses raw power and beauty in a minimally structured format. Featuring Michael Vlatkovich (trombonist, composer, arranger), David Mott (baritone saxophone, composer, arranger), Jonathan Golove (electric cello), and Christopher Garcia (percussion).
Sax, Soup, Poetry and Voice (Joe Giardullo, Pierre Joris, Nicole Peyrafitte)
The trio celebrates and harvests non-linear momentum through music, poetry, voice, multimedia performance and yes, an “Inner-State” soup! Drawing on an electric heritage to perform works based on transcontinental experiences, a tasty and imaginative broth for listeners in need of an ear stretching. Featuring Nicole Peyrafitte (vocalist, multi-media artist, cook), Pierre Joris (poet), and Joe Giardullo (saxophone).
Trio Tarana (Sam Bardfeld, Ravish Momin, Brian Prunka)
Trio Tarana fuses violin, oud and percussion into a unique blend of improvised world musics. They primarily utilize Indian and East-Asian rhythms (including Japanese, Afghani, and Indonesian) as the foundation for a new creative musical experience, employing compositions that seamlessly blend written material with spontaneous group interaction. Featuring Ravish Momin (drums, percussion, voice, compositions), Brian Prunka (oud), and Sam Bardfeld (violin, effects).
The Ras Ensemble (Clif Jackson, Dave Miller, Ras Moshe, Tor Yochai Snyder)
The Ras Ensemble is uniquely positioned to bring the lineage of free jazz into the present day. With a family history rich in the jazz tradition, saxophonist Ras Moshe is on the forefront of musicians keeping avant garde music urgent and vital. Well versed in jazz’s past, he uses his knowledge to envision a future: the positive effect music will have on social and personal change. Featuring Ras Moshe (saxophone), Dave Miller (drums), Tor Yochai Snyder (guitar), and Clif Jackson (bass).
William Hooker
Percussionist William Hooker improvises to pioneering African-American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux’s 1920 silent classic, The Symbol of the Unconquered. Originally advertised as a chance to come see “the annihilation of the Ku Klux Klan,” the film is part of the emergence of a radical black voice in the mass media. William Hooker’s work is frequently grounded in a narrative context. Whether set against a silent film or anchored by a poetic theme, Hooker brings dramatic tension and human warmth to avant-garde jazz. His ability to find fertile ground for moving music in a variety of settings that obliterate genre distinctions offers a much-needed statement of social optimism in the arts.
Empty Cage Quartet (Ivan Johnson, Paul Kikuchi, Jason Mears, Kris Tiner)
The Empty Cage Quartet explores imaginative new ways to integrate a diverse mix of musical influences: the result is a multidimensional approach to jazz and new music performance, improvisational acuity, and compositional craft likened to an “urban folk music of the future.” Featuring Jason Mears (alto saxophone, clarinet, flute), Kris Tiner (trumpet, flugelhorn), Ivan Johnson (double bass), and Paul Kikuchi (drums, percussion).
Weasel Walter Trio (Peter Evans, Mary Halvorson, Weasel Walter)
The Weasel Walter Trip features three of the most iconoclastic, disinctive young improvisers on the contemporary U.S. scene. The modus operandi of the trio is pure free improvisation performed with lightning refleses and a blisteringly articulate combination of speed, structure and sensitivity. From a whisper to a roar, the unexpected is always expected when these three perform. Featuring Weasel Walter (percussion), Mary Halvorson (guitar), and Peter Evans (trumpet).
Splatto Festival Chorus (Dave Barrett, Michael Bisio, Ed Mann, Todd Reynolds)
The Splatto Festival Chorus brings together four of the leading lights in contemporary creative music. The rare assembly sculpts together a sound that is unmistakable, brining together classical rock, rock, free jazz and avant-garde with: Todd Reynolds, violin and laptop (Bang on a Can, Yo Yo Ma, Meredith Monk); Ed Mann, vibraphone, percussion, electronic sound design (Zappa); Dave Barrett, saxaphone (Banda Elastica, Splatter Trio); and Troy native-gone-global Michael Bisio, bass (Joe McPhee).
Amiri Baraka and Rob Brown: Somebody Blew Up America
The poet, icon and political activist Amiri Baraka performs with Rob Brown, an eloquent and versatile saxophonist with a deep knowledge of jazz, in a reading from his book Somebody Blew Up America and Other Poems. Featuring Amiri Baraka (poet, playwright, activist) and Rob Brown (saxophone).
The late poetic icon and revolutionary political activist Amiri Baraka performs with Rob Brown, an eloquent and versatile saxophonist with a deep knowledge of jazz, in a reading from his book Somebody Blew Up America & Other Poems. The recital of the provocative poem Somebody Blew Up America engaged the poet warrior in a battle royal with the governor of New Jersey, who demanded his resignation as the states Poet Laureate. With influences on Baraka’s work ranging from musical orishas such as Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, and Sun Ra to the Cuban Revolution, Malcolm X and world revolutionary movements, he is renowned as the founder of the Black Arts Movement in Harlem in the 1960s that became, though short-lived, the virtual blueprint for a new American theater aesthetic.
