JPJ at Big Ears ‘24

[Michedelic]

I have a friend who is there(he goes every year); right at this very moment he is taking in what appears to be a solo performance, and sent me some pics…

He got jazz legend Charles Lloyd’s autograph, and said that Fred Frith’s set was amazing.
The artist being honored this year is guitarist Marc Ribot, so I told him to be on the lookout for bassist Shahzad Ismaily, a very interesting player.

 

[andare]

I love how JPJ is still out there working with all kinds of people. What a legacy.
And Marc Ribot is amazing. No one can play those falling down the stairs solos like him.

 

[WG Plum]

I caught the beginning of JPJ's solo set, but I left early due to the technical difficulties. I'm glad I saw him play No Quarter, but I feel what he was doing was sort pale in comparison to everything else at Big Ears.

Shazad, along with Ches Smith and Trevor Dunn, were busy as heck and played with a number of people. Big Ears is simply phenomenal, if you're into what it offers. Coachella it most certainly isn't.

 

[Michedelic]

I caught the beginning of JPJ's solo set, but I left early due to the technical difficulties. I'm glad I saw him play No Quarter, but I feel what he was doing was sort pale in comparison to everything else at Big Ears.

Shazad, along with Ches Smith and Trevor Dunn, were busy as heck and played with a number of people. Big Ears is simply phenomenal, if you're into what it offers. Coachella it most certainly isn't.

I live 40 minutes away from where Coachella (and Stagecoach)are held, and in all these years I’ve never felt compelled to go. It’s not that I can’t handle the festival experience…
for the third year in a row I’m headed to Cruel World, which is a sort of 120
Minutes reunion thing, but only a handful of acts ever appeal to me. Big Ears on the other hand entices me because of the quality of artists, and that I have no idea what they’re going to do, which is the best part.

 

[WG Plum]

I live 40 minutes away from where Coachella (and Stagecoach)are held, and in all these years I’ve never felt compelled to go. It’s not that I can’t handle the festival experience…
for the third year in a row I’m headed to Cruel World, which is a sort of 120
Minutes reunion thing, but only a handful of acts ever appeal to me. Big Ears on the other hand entices me because of the quality of artists, and that I have no idea what they’re going to do, which is the best part.

I can't recommend it highly enough!

 

[Jeff Scott]

I like that photo of JPJ playing the big theatre organ console.

 

[Michedelic]

I like that photo of JPJ playing the big theatre organ console.

Can you imagine having to wheel that thing out(and off again)? I’ll have to ask my friend if he was improvising on the “Your Time Is Gonna Come” intro.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Can you imagine having to wheel that thing out(and off again)? I’ll have to ask my friend if he was improvising on the “Your Time Is Gonna Come” intro.

It looks like it may stay on the pit elevator for the most part; that is where a lot of theatre organs "live".

 

[Michedelic]

It looks like it may stay on the pit elevator for the most part; that is where a lot of theatre organs "live".

Good point, I’ll have to ask my friend. I certainly still go to shows in older theaters, but I’ve never really seen that. I don’t know the nature of that particular venue.

 

[Jeff Scott]

 

[sevdog]

Well, I had never heard of Big Ears until now. A festival with JPJ solo, Fred Frith, Marc Ribot, and Trevor Dunn?! Say what? I had to go look at the full lineup. Holy crap. That is a festival I wish I could have made it to. Absolutely amazing lineup.

 

[andare]

I thought that was JPJ for a second

 

[Michedelic]

Well, I had never heard of Big Ears until now. A festival with JPJ solo, Fred Frith, Marc Ribot, and Trevor Dunn?! Say what? I had to go look at the full lineup. Holy crap. That is a festival I wish I could have made it to. Absolutely amazing lineup.

It’s been going on for several years
now, with one artist in particular as the featured performer. This year was Ribot, last year was John Zorn. Players are encouraged to hold numerous jams with anybody and everybody else there.
While it certainly focuses on avant-garde and fringe music, it makes room for a variety of marginalized, non-mainstream, and under the radar styles…
2024 LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT - Big Ears

The previous year….
Big Ears - LINEUP
Invalid Link Removed

 

[WG Plum]

It's phenomenal. They also celebrated Henry Threadgill this year and those performances were a delight. Also Mute Records artists.

Second year in a row for me and my friends/bandmates. It's an annual pilgrimage now.

 

[Michedelic]

It's phenomenal. They also celebrated Henry Threadgill this year and those performances were a delight. Also Mute Records artists.

Second year in a row for me and my friends/bandmates. It's an annual pilgrimage now.

Did you stay in a motel/hotel, or Air BnB, etc?I’m not a fan of the latter(caused problems in my neighborhood), but I’m curious about rates for the former, plus proximity to the events.

 

[WG Plum]

Air BnB, hotel rates are totally insane.

 

[WG Plum]

And it wasn't Mute, it was Nonesuch.

 

[Michedelic]

And it wasn't Mute, it was Nonesuch.

I’m not sure that Mute even still functions as a label(I was into many of their artists in the 80’s, many would be perfect for BE), but Nonsuch has always been an equally interesting imprint(part of the Elektra group), ranging from classical originally to experimental.