(HIP) stands for Hosting Improvising Performers and the second of these annual events features some of the leading lights of the creative music scene. Three internationally known musicians, William Parker (pictured), Rob Mazurek, and Gianluca Petrella, will be appearing with local players in duos and trios and together with one very special local guest at the Blue Nile.
The Village Voice characterized William Parker as, “the most consistently brilliant free jazz bassist of all time.” He is scheduled to play a duo with bassist and cornetist James Singleton and in a trio with drummer Dave Cappello and HIP Fest co-founder and trombonist Jeff Albert on Tuesday night.
Cornetist and electro-acoustic composer Rob Mazurek has helped redefine the aesthetic boundaries of artistic expression for well over a decade with his Chicago Underground Collective. He will appear with guitarist Cliff Hines as well as with bassist Nathan Lambertson and drummer Simon Lott on Tuesday night.
Italian jazz trombonist Gianluca Petrella is considered to be one of the best young jazz trombonists working today and he has participated in many important international festivals. His duo set will feature Jeff Albert. In the trio setting expect to hear him with Cliff Hines and HIP Fest co-founder and drummer Marcello Benetti.
Wednesday night is THE CONCERT. Two sets are scheduled beginning with saxophonist Brad Walker and Redrawblak featuring drummer Paul Thibodeaux, multi-instrumentalist Aurora Nealand, and James Singleton.
The main event will feature Parker, Petrella, and Mazurek with drummer Johnny Vidacovich in an epic improvised throwdown.
HIP Fest is Presented by the New Orleans International Sound Exchange. Doors open both nights at 8 PM and showtime is 9 PM.
