- courtesy of the artist
- Joëlle Léandre
The Bridge, an ongoing partnership between improvisers from Chicago and throughout France, is in the midst of another local run with one of its strongest lineups yet. Making its first appearance in Chicago is the first iteration of the project, which toured France in the fall of 2013: from across the pond come trumpeter Jean-Luc Cappozzo, bassist Joëlle Léandre, and bassist Bernard Santacruz; they join local percussionist Michael Zerang and reedist Douglas Ewart. Also performing on certain gigs is the Bridge #8, which pairs reedists Mars Williams and Ernest Dawkins with drummer Samuel Silvant and reedist Antonin-Tri Hoang. Both lineups will participate in a bunch of upcoming events through May 8—you can check out the complete rundown on the project’s website.
Last year she released an impressive album with former Chicago flutist Nicole Mitchell (who also complements her playing with singing) on Sisters Where (Rogue Art). The musicians reveal a clear affinity for one another, deftly mixing serenity and turbulence, moving from passages of crystalline melody to rumbling abstraction. Below you can listen to “Sisters on Mars” from the album.
