28/11/2024 – 19:00
AB Club
On their way to the We Jazz Festival in Helsinki, drummer and composer Mike Reed and his all-star ensemble Separatist Party, featuring Ben LaMar Gay and Bitchin Bajas, will make a stop at AB for an exclusive live concert and a short residency at Sound in Motion’s Dropa House. After the amazing gamelan rollercoaster of Will Guthrie‘s Ensemble Nist-Nah at this years Summer Bummer Festival, the Australian, French residing, drummer is back to open this special night with a high-octane solo drum set.
Inspired by the fire music of Don Cherry and Pharoah Sanders, the Krautrock of Can, keyboard explorations by Terry Riley, and monologues by street preachers, Separatist Party’s music is often highly rhythmic and synthesized. The music is part of a larger catalog of Reed’s compositions, inspired by the 2015 news essay “The Lonely Death of George Bell” by N.R. Kleinfield.
Just before the release of their self-titled debut album on We Jazz / Astral Spirits – one of the best jazz releases of 2023 – The Separatist Party amazed the audience of the Summer Bummer Festival in 2023 with an extraordinary performance and topped it with a memorable set at Het Bos in March 2024. On their way to the We Jazz Festival in Helsinki, drummer and composer Mike Reed and his all-star ensemble Separatist Party, featuring Ben LaMar Gay and Bitchin Bajas, will now be the first artists to use Sound in Motion’s Dropa House Studio for a short residency. The Separatist Party ft. Ben LaMar Gay and Bitchin Bajas will conclude the residency with an exclusive, not to be missed show at AB…
Based in France, Australian drummer Will Guthrie is known for his innovative solo performances that blend drums, percussion, electronics, and amplification. He leads the contemporary percussion group Ensemble Nist-Nah with whom he made a lasting impression on the Summer Bummer audience this year, and has released music on various notable labels, including a.o. Black Truffle, Editions Mego, Erstwhile, Ipacac, Clean Feed and his own, Antboy Music.
Initially gaining recognition in the Australian jazz scene by winning the Wangaratta National Jazz Awards in 1997 and collaborating with many prominent Australian jazz musicians. Over the years, he explored junk electronics and electro-acoustic techniques, later returning to drums with a focus on powerful rhythmic and sonic explorations, drawing influences from global music traditions like Javanese gamelan and South Indian Carnatic music.
He has released over 50 albums and performed worldwide at various prestigious venues and festivals. His collaborations include artists like Oren Ambarchi, Container, Sarah Hennies, Mark Fell, Roscoe Mitchell, Ahmed Ag Kaedy, Jérôme Noetinger, Keith Rowe, Ava Mendoza and choreographer/dancer Mette Ingvartsen, showcasing a diverse and dynamic musical network.