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Overlooked: String Theory (Audio)

Apr 14, 2021

After the local news at noon, this rebroadcast from April 13, 2021 will showcase the more practical than theoretical ways jazz musicians and improvisers incorporate string instruments into their compositions and their bands. Comprised primarily of recordings made in the past few years, this program will show how classical string quartets, such as Spektral, Jack and Mivos, are employed in works by Miguel Zenon, Jen Shyu, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Le Boeuf Brothers. Sometimes known as chamber jazz, much of the music features cellos and violins in place of the standard jazz brass and reeds lineup. There will be string trios and quartets, world music with string sections, and just a bit of guitar. And no jazz and string show would be complete without a hit of Charlie Parker and Strings. Featuring music by Charlie Parker, Miguel Zenon, Linda May Han Oh, Fabian Almazan, Ambrose Akinmusire, Le Boeuf Brothers, Jen Shyu, Henry Threadgill, David Virelles, Tomeka Reid, Bill Frisell, Matt Ulery, Gordon Grdina, Adam Rudolph, Masada String Trio, and Thumbscrew.

“Overlooked” is a show focusing on overlooked and under-heard jazz, improvisational, and other fringe music, from early roots to contemporary experiments, a mix of familiar to rare, classic to weird. Live from the shadow of Overlook Mountain in Ulster County.

Host Rob Saffer is the former Executive Director and Producer of the Creative Music Foundation. While living in Brooklyn for 25 years, he served on advisory boards for Celebrate Brooklyn and Symphony Space. He also curated the Brooklyn Museum’s summer jazz series and helped found The Mingus Big Band.