Buffalo Rising Online

May 4th 2007, 1:16pm By buffalorising

Tonight!

John Bacon and Multi-Jazz Dimensions announce the release of the CD "Boxing Day", featuring duo and solo performances by John Bacon on drums and percussion and Paul Bley on piano. This CD, recorded the day after Christmas in Rochester, New York, captures these two musicians collaborating spontaneously in the studio on a series of eclectic improvisations. Bley is a seminal contributor to the history of Jazz music through his exploration of free jazz, interactive piano trio and early electric improvisational music. Bacon has explored a variety of musical frontiers including avant-jazz with Roswell Rudd, new music with the Maelstrom Percussion Ensemble and Latin Jazz with Wendell Rivera. A Co-production of Multi-Jazz Dimensions, Soundlab and Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center. www.johnbaconjr.com

About John:

John Bacon, drumset and percussion, has been a mainstay of the music scene in Western New York for over 20 years, and along the way has lent his talents to Lester Bowie, Roswell Rudd, Bobby Previte, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Bobby Militello and as featured soloist with the SUNY Fredonia percussion ensemble.

He has taught for the past ten years at SUNY Fredonia where his duties include percussion lessons, music theory and directing a Latin Jazz Ensemble. Recently the Fredonia Latin Jazz Ensemble performed at the inauguration of governor Elliott Spitzer on New Years Day in Albany. He also teaches Jazz and music theory at Villa Maria College, and coaches percussionists at St. Joe's Collegiate Institute and Canisius High School.

Equally skilled as a classical percussionist and trap drummer, he has been a member of (hatArt) recording artists The Maelstrom Percussion Ensemble, as well as leading his own band, Multi-Jazz Dimensions, for many years in and around the United States. As an illustration of his wide skills and interests his music has been performed by a diverse collection of musicians, including the classical saxophone quartet and Innova recording artists The Amherst Saxophone Quartet as well as jazz and new music legend Leroy Jenkins.

He has toured in England, Italy, Canada, and the US, and holds a masters degree in music. His latest CD release is an organ trio outing on the Cadence Jazz Records label featuring tenor saxophonist Don Menza entitled "Jack Rabbitt".

Jan Williams (percussion) Bernard Woma (gyil, djembe) Jonathan Golove (electric cello) Joe Rozler (keyboards, guitar, voice) Steve Baczkowski (woodwinds)

May 4 9 PM Soundlab 110 Pearl @ Swan 440.5907