The Roulette Tapes

Composer, multi-instrumentalist, visual artist, and bandleader Golia on the challenges and pleasures of mastering the entire woodwind family of instruments, navigating between written music and improvisation, illustrated with his many gigs at Roulette over the years with appearances by collaborators including Nels Cline, Rob Blakeslee, Ken Filiano, Billy Mintz, Tim Berne, Michael T.A. Thompson, Tom Rainey, his trio with Scott Fields and Toshi Makihara, and more.

The music, sounds, and stories of composer Miguel Frasconi, known for work with instruments made from glass and also a master of analog electronic sound. Here are solos for glass, mbira, and a piece for the Jack String Quartet, all recorded in concert at Roulette, plus a 1995 electronic trio with J.A. Deane and Bob Ostertag recorded at the Hotel Utah in San Francisco.

The saxophonist and composer in several settings: his quartet with Micah Thomas on piano, Daryl Johns on bass, and Kweku Sumbry on drums; his trio with pianist David Virelles and drummer Mike Mitchell; and in a quartet led by vibraphonist Joel Ross, plus observations on collaboration, community, justice, and memory. Wilkins is a 2021-22 Roulette Resident Artist.

Composer/keyboardist Anthony Coleman with stories and samples of his bands, solo work from improv to stride piano, projects for large and small ensembles, the Downtown and Radical Jewish Music movements, and an embrace of musical culture from Harlem to Herzegovina, Korea to Vienna, with appearances by Roy Nathanson, Charles K. Noyes, Jim Pugliese, Don Byron, and many more, all recorded at Roulette between 1986-2016.

The composer and violist in conversation with examples from a variety of projects recorded at Roulette including string and orchestral ensembles. As a performer and composer, Pavone is interested in repetition, song form, sympathetic vibration, and the physicality of her instrument utilizing both traditional notation and improvisatory techniques. Her association with musical masters including Anthony Braxton, Mary Halvorson and others has amplified her musical voice and vocabulary in recent years. Her newest piece, Lull, for string octet and soloists, will debut at Roulette on 19 November 2021.

Composer J.G. Thirlwell aka Foetus, Clint Ruin, Manorexia, Steroid Maximus, and Xordox, walks us thought his musical journey from experimental rocker to the concert stage and soundtrack work for animated TV shows (Venture Bros, Archer) and films. We’ll hear examples from these projects alongside excerpts from his 2017 solo concert at Roulette, entitled Cholera Nocebo. Thirlwell returns to Roulette with new material on Dec. 7, 2021.

The composer/guitarist and MacArthur “genius” awardee discusses everything from guitar tech to string quartets, illustrated with musical excerpts from Roulette Archive concerts including the projects Code Girl, Thumbscrew, a duo with Deerhhoof’s John Dietrich, and collaborators Ches Smith, Jonathan Finlayson, Amirtha Kidambi, John Hébert, Michael Formanek, Tomas Fujiwara, Adam O’Farrill, and Jon Irabagon. Halvorson’s latest projects debut at Roulette Sept. 8-9, 2021.

Saxophonist Lenny Pickett discusses his career straddling popular culture and the avant-garde, from his work with David Bowie and Saturday Night Live to his own ensemble work for dance, film, and the concert hall, illustrated with examples from 1984-2018 including the Borneo Horns, his score for choreographer Bebe Miller, and plenty of gospel and R&B influenced pyrotechnics. With appearances by Jack Bashkow and Stan Harrison on saxes; a quartet with Michael Wolff, piano, James Genus, bass, John Hadfield, percussion; and a duo with Cheryl Hardwick, piano.

The composer and clarinettist discusses his fascination, influences, and obstacles to film scoring and re-imagining 20th Century classics, illustrated with excerpts including his projects ranging from Messiaen to Warner Bros. cartoons and inspiration from Lalo Schifrin to Jean Michel Basquiat.

Equal parts composer, vocalist, and storyteller Shelley Hirsch is universally admired for an astounding gift firing off free association between words and sounds, which is our focus in this edition. Here with collaborators keyboardist/arranger Simon Ho, turntablist Christian Marclay, guitarist Kazuhisa Uchihashi, pipa master Min Xiao Fen, electronic percussionists Ikue Mori & Samm Bennett, cellist Okkyung Lee, keyboardist David Weinstein, and Horst Rickels’ Mercurius Wagen.

The drummer discusses origins, influences, and compositions with excerpts from his always collaborative projects: 7 Poets Trio (with Patricia Brennan, vibraphone and Tomeka Reid, cello), Thumbscrew (with Michael Formanek, bass and guitarist Mary Halvorson), a duo with bassist Meshell Ndegeocello, and Triple Double for Fujiwara and Gerald Cleaver, drums; Halvorson and Brandon Seabrook, guitars; and Ralph Alessi, Adam O’Farrill, trumpets.

The mysteriously named composer/sound artist investigates sonic properties of traditional drums and percussion “objects” including discarded industrial materials, toys, and even food, plus a fascination with the Trinidadian steel pan. From the Roulette Archive dating 1984-2017, solos, duo projects with Takehisa Kosugi and Yves Musard, a trio (The Chutneys) with Gelsey Bell & Chris Cochrane, some conversation, and more.

The violinist/composer discusses her classical training, mastering improvisation, Korean heritage, and introduces us to musical examples recorded at Roulette with collaborators including Marco Cappelli, Susie Ibarra, Rubin Kodheli, Ikue Mori, Michael Nicolas, Vongku Pak, and the Talujon Percussion Ensemble.

Turntable, sound, and installation artist Maria Chavez, based in New York by way of Texas and Peru, demonstrating tools and techniques and performing in a variety of settings recorded over the years at Roulette, with appearances by longtime collaborators David Dove and Sandy Ewen and spirit guide Pauline Oliveros. Plus a peek at her 2019 release, “Playing”. A preview for her February 2021 livestream concert from Roulette.

The vibraphonist in conversation and concert excerpts illustrating composition, collaboration, influences, and his relation to the instrument. Plus a glimpse ahead to new works created for his 2021 Roulette residency, starting with a live stream on 30 January.

The composer/multi-instrumentalist whose output ranges from noise to blues and from electronic to orchestral works discusses improvisations and compositions recorded at Roulette between 1987-2018, illustrated with projects featuring CK Noyes, Orchestra Carbon, SysOrk, The Veni Academy, and solo flights including The Velocity of Hue.

The electronic sound artist in conversation about vulnerabilities, strengths, transitions, and technology and how these impact her art works and life choices. With musical excerpts featuring solos and collaborations with Ka Baird, Joe Hertenstein, and Jim Denley. Note: Penalosa’s Roulette concert has been rescheduled for 26 January 2021.

The adventurous guitarist admired for contributions to the improvisation scene, hybrid compositions for dance and concert settings, and thoughtful, poetic songs that reflect identity and social structures all in a unique and instantly recognizable style. Cochrane walks us through it, illustrated with concert and studio recordings from the 90s to the present. Musicians and collaborators who appear in this segment include Annie Gosfield, Miguel Frasconi, Roger Kleier, Richard Carrick, Zeena Parkins, Kato Hideki, Richard Dworkin, JD Foster, Gelsey Bell, and others.

The jazz piano virtuoso and highly praised composer/improviser channels spiritual and emotional musical poetry in concert excerpts from the Roulette archive, including his quartet with Allen Lowe, Gerald Cleaver, and Kevin Ray, a trio with Evan Parker and Paul Lytton, and a new solo album.

Composer, poet, activist, organizer, author, educator, bandleader, and one of the world’s most celebrated jazz and new music bass players tells the tale richly illustrated with concert excerpts dating to 1990. Projects and people featured here include: Hamid Drake, Conrad Bauer, Roy Campell, Rob Brown, Jackson Krall, Matthew Shipp, Organic Orchestra, Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra, and dozens more in the ensembles. Find the full concert recordings at roulette.org/archive.

The pianist and composer discusses influences and cross-genre creations, mentors and collaborators from Leroy Jenkins to Butch Morris, keyboard and electronic strategies, and curiosity to keep exploring. Lushly illustrated with concert excerpts from the Roulette Archive.

A 40-year retrospective on the work of composer and multi-instrumentalist Ned Rothenberg with 8 excerpts featuring the artist on bass clarinet, alto sax, and shakuhachi in compositions and improvisations alongside musicians including: Fred Frith, Hans Reichel (guitars, daxophone); Evan Parker (sax), Jennifer Choi/Olivia De Prato/Stephanie Griffin/Alex Waterman (string quartet); Yumiko Tanaka (Shamisen); Min Xiao-Fen (Pipa), Vortex (percussionist Satoshi Takeishi, pianist Shoko Nagai); Riley Lee, Ralph Samuelson (shakuhachi); and the Paul Dresher Ensemble (Joel Davel, conductor; Woramon Jamjod, engineer). Rothenberg does a stellar job of weaving the history together in stories and observations. Concert excerpts included in this program: Hans Reichel w/Fred Frith & Ned Rothenberg 1987 / Ned Rothenberg Solo 2005 / Evan Parker / Ned Rothenberg Duo 2006 / Ned Rothenberg Quintet #1 for Clarinet and String Quartet 2008 / Yumiko Tanaka / Ned Rothenberg / Min Xiao-Fen with Vortex 2013 / Ned Rothenberg’s Ryu Nashi, New Music for Shakuhachi 2016 / Ned Rothenberg: Beyond C w/Paul Dresher Ensemble 2019

The composer and multimedia electronic artist discusses new and developing works, appreciation of the experimental lineage, adapting to COVID-19, and shares recordings that document one point along the curve. Roulette awarded Clarke a 2020 Van Lier Fellowship.

The musical work of the interdisciplinary artist who conjures experiences through ritual, altered perception, and shared imagination—employing traditional and customized instruments and electronics—in order to explore the multifaceted layers of consciousness. Photo: Nikki Sneakers.

Pianist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and instrument builder Cooper-Moore in conversation about roots and priorities, singing pianos, collaborators and influencers, and how life and music intersect, alongside some of his free jazz and cross-disciplinary projects recorded at Roulette. The Vision Festival awarded him Lifetime Achievement honors in 2017.

Composer David Behrman (Sonic Arts Union, Merce Cunningham) describes his unique flavor of electronics with examples covering three decades. Appearances by Takehisa Kosugi, Jon Gibson, Cleek Shrey, and a moment with Christian Wolff. Photo: Maria Ludovici.

Music and a conversation with Mary Prescott, the Thai-American interdisciplinary artist, composer, and pianist based in Minneapolis and New York City whose work explores the foundations and facets of identity and social conditions. Prescott discusses process, experimentation, improvisation, and curiosity alongside excerpts from Songs Between Life and Death recorded in concert at Roulette in 2019.

Vocalist, pianist, flute player, and much more, composer Ka Baird’s solo work and collaborative projects, Spires That In The Sunset Rise, Sapropelic Pycnic, Perfect Wave, and highly praised albums have earned the admiration of the New York and international new music scenes. Baird’s 2018 concert at Roulette was a stunner. Here are excerpts and a conversation on how it all began and where it stands today, following the release of Respires (RVNG).

A conversation with the Haitian-born Brooklyn electronic music artist and percussionist whose blend of vodou and DJ culture both dazzles and inspires. Featuring excerpts from a 2016 Roulette concert and recorded in advance of her 22 Nov. 2019 Roulette concert collaboration with Risha Rox. Segment produced for Roulette by Susan James at BRIC Arts Media.

Composer Zeena Parkins talks about her electric harp, illustrated by live concert recordings from the Roulette archive. Parkins is a major figure in New York's downtown music scene, working with musicians from Bjork to John Zorn and directing her own ensembles and projects.