Founded in 2018 at a one-off gig in Austria, the Blue Reality Quartet has evolved a potent group sound, unique in avant-garde jazz. Their pandemic-era recording debut, Love Exists Everywhere, “showcase[d] the meticulous technique and impressionistic explorations of four free-jazz masters” (Lissette Corsa, Jazziz), qualities that were further in evidence on the follow-up Ella’s Island. Though this balanced reeds-and-percussion musical unit functions democratically, special mention should be made of its constituent members. Percussionist Warren Smith is among the music’s most esteemed and prolifically recorded artists, and saxophonist Joe McPhee is a hero in creative music–between them are over 1000 recorded appearances. Michael Marcus (whose 2001 Soul Note album inspired the name for the group) has distinguished himself in collaboration with a wide variety of musical legends including Albert King, Jaki Byard, and Sonny Simmons, while Jay Rosen ties it all together through his longtime affiliations with both Marcus in the Cosmosamatic and McPhee in TrioX, as well his work with legendary experimentalists including Anthony Braxton and Charles Gayle. This special concert includes a special guest, yet another celebrated elder of creative music: trumpeter Ted Daniel, who is well known for his work with Sonny Sharrock, Archie Shepp, and Andrew Cyrille. 

This event is free and open to the public!

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