Saturday, October 9, 2021
7pm CT
Streaming on Twitch
FREE, $5+ suggested donation (100% goes to the artists)

In a special closing-day celebration of the exhibition Moki Cherry, Communicate, How?: Paintings and Tapestries, 1967-1980, Corbett vs. Dempsey is pleased to present a nearly unprecedented set of duets by saxophonist and clarinetist Ken Vandermark and drummer Hamid Drake. Vandermark and Drake have been working together since the first concert of DKV Trio in 1994. Their only two previous duo encounters, out of hundreds of performances together in larger ensembles (including Spaceways Inc. and the Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet), were a default duo when bassist Kent Kessler's flight was cancelled (resulting in a DV duo – no K) and studio recordings for the Consequent Duos box set in 2019. On this occasion, Vandermark and Drake will explore the Don Cherry songbook, in homage to the work Don and Moki did together, often accompanied by the very tapestries now hanging at CvsD. Don Cherry's inspiration has been singular for both Vandermark and Drake; Drake worked extensively with Cherry in several contexts, and the landmark 1969 trumpet/drum recordings for BYG/Actuel with Ed Blackwell, "Mu" First Part and "Mu" Second Part, were such a formative influence in the drummer's early years that he took pains to avoid playing like Blackwell at a certain point. This is a homecoming for both Chicagoans, who have been touring again after pandemic interruptus. The concert will be streamed live in front of a small gallery audience. An evening with two monumental figures of improvised music, Sequesterfest Vol. 7 is not to be missed.

ARTIST LINEUP:

Ken Vandermark (reeds) & Hamid Drake (drums)