Some things are better unplanned.
Such is the case with jazz group the FAB Trio.
“Initially, we started out playing written music. And then we found out that our strength is through improvisation, which I thought was amazing,” said violinist Billy Bang.
All three musicians have a rich history in playing jazz music. Bang formed the String Trio of New York in the early ?70s and has played with Sun Ra, Don Cherry and James Blood Ulmer, among others. Barry Altschul was the percussionist for the free jazz ensemble Circle. Joe Fonda played as bassist for the Anthony Braxton sextet, octet and tenet, and served as president of the Tri-Centric Foundation, a nonprofit that works to influence the world through music.
Bang said improvisational music is the one of the best ways to play.
“It really is fun. It can come out of anyone?s solo, and it depends on where the guy finishes. It takes a lot of the pressure off of prefabricated-type thinking,” he said. “In other words, I?m not trying to play within the infrastructure of some chords.”
Bernard Lyons, the Creative Differences Series producer, says he is excited to see the trio perform.
“Individually each musician in FAB Trio is a highly sought-after performer in his own right with serious jazz credentials,” he said. “The fact that they come together as a trio for these rare dates makes this concert an unmissable event.”
Besides the Baltimore show, the trio will play only one other show in the U.S., in Philadelphia.
“I think it?s really about watching three improvisers, three composers really, composing together right on the spot,” Bang said. “How often do people get a chance to visually see that? That?s incredible in itself, to create spontaneous music like that.”
If you go
Creative Differences presents FAB Trio
»Venue: An Die Musik Live
» Where: 409 N. Charles St., Baltimore
» When: 8 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday June 2
» Tickets: $18 to $20
» Information: www.andiemusiklive.com
