“Paul Flaherty” (Used 4 times)

1) William Basinski's performance of 'Vivian and Ondine' at 110 Livingston (Brooklyn, NY)

The significance of this gig was already apparent before the lights dimmed and William Basinski stepped behind his table for a performance of  the 2008 composition 'Vivian and Ondine'.  The first sound he made was accidental - the apple computer start-up sound.  Drawing chuckles from the crowd, it was a harsh, sharp attack opposite his cathartic, glacially unraveling tape loops.  Behind Basinski, the Joshua Light Show 'liquid lights' highlighted the beautiful interior of the 110 Livingston building, Issue's future home.


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2) Sir Richard Bishop at Zebulon (Brooklyn, NY)

During his 4 week residency at Zebulon, Rick performed a mixed bag of exotic, instrumental guitar songs and classic, surreal story-songs from the SCG catalog.  I attended 3 out of 4 of the shows including one in which he was accompanied by the incredible Bill Orcutt.  To be frank, it was too hot and sweaty to enjoy that one.  I believe it was his opening night that Bishop played 'Eyeball in a Quart Jar of Snot'.  INCREDIBLE!  He asked if there were any requests to which I quickly shouted "play Nancy" drawing a smirk and a "NO".

Paul Flaherty ended a year-long sabbatical to play at ISSUE last May, and the free jazz saxophonist brought with him two long-time partners in the free-improv scene: Chris Corsano & Okkyung Lee.

The improvisation is guided by Flaherty’s energy and spirit, which is not to say that others do not have a voice. If anything, Flaherty is here in his element, and the challenge for the other two is bringing their dispirate ideas and experiences accumulated over their diverse careers into a performance style that Flaherty has been working in for some time. Corsano’s playing is forceful in both its noise and its silence, while Lee seems to be channeling the composers Xenakis or (more appropriately) Lachenmann, absorbing their instrumental techniques into her participation in collective improvisation.

The three musicians never seem to find—or even seek—a stable moment throughout their performance. Flaherty moves in turns fluttering and squeaking, letting off ecstatic steam, while Corsano explores repeated twitching drum hits in counterpoint to Flaherty, alternately supporting and exposing his playing. I’ve attached an excerpt of the performance here, but the entire thing is available on their album page.

This Tuesday at ISSUE Project Room, trumpeter Nate Wooley (Anthony Braxton, Evan Parker, John Butcher), violinist C. Spencer Yeh (Burning Star Core, Thurston Moore, Evan Parker), and drummer Chris Corsano (Flower-Corsano Duo, Paul Flaherty, Six Organs of Admittance) join together in holy-shit revelry, forming a trio as intensely formidable as one might ever be lucky enough to witness. Along with a bracing evening of improv, attendees will also bear witness to the unveiling of a new tape piece from Wooley, expanding upon The Seven Storey Mountain album collaboration with David Grubbs and Paul Lytton (released last month on Important Records). To get warmed up for what should be a staggeringly awesome concert, check the playlist below for some past ISSUE performances from these three men. You’ll hear a newly-shared performance from C. Spencer Yeh (with Greg Kelley and Paul Flaherty) as well as a couple classic staples of the FMA.