Houston, TX, January 15, 2010 –Da Camera of Houston continues its 2009/2010 jazz series on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 8:00 PM in the Cullen Theater of the Wortham Theater Center with the first Houston performance by bassist Ben Allison and Man Size Safe. Ben Allison is a “visionary composer, adventurous improviser, and strong organizational force on the New York City jazz scene, [and] has emerged as a rising star over the past decade” (JazzTimes). Cited in the “Best Bassist” category of the 2007, 2006 and 2005 Down Beat Readers’ Poll, Allison’s Man Size Safe quintet mixes joyous exuberance and good-humored irreverence with textured grooves and an occasional political jab. Featuring an unusual trumpet-violin front line, the band is made up of Shane Endsley on trumpet; Jenny Scheinman on violin, Steve Cardenas on guitar and Rudy Royston on drums.
Ben Allison’s latest CD, Think Free, has reached the number 1 spot on the CMJ jazz chart for radio airplay several times in recent weeks.
Noting that many of his recent compositions feature simple folk-like melodies, Allison tells Da Camera “It’s challenging to write something simple that sustains an audience’s interest. By way of analogy, to play something soft and high is the hardest thing to do on a trumpet. It may be subtle, but it’s not easy.”The addition of Scheinman’s violin to his ensemble, had been in Allison’s mind since 2005. “In the past few years I was fortunate to play a lot with Jenny, often in collaboration with Rudy and Steve. We all felt an immediate and strong musical connection.” Allison continues, “I think an extremely important part of being a composer/bandleader is assembling an interesting combination of musicians. Duke Ellington and Miles Davis were masters of this. Their music is very much an extension of the rapport between, and personalities of, the members of their groups. It could be said that choosing the right musicians is part of the compositional process.”
Da Camera brings Ben Allison to Houston for a week of educational and free events as part of its annual Community Residency Project. For a complete schedule, go to www.dacamera.com.
Hailed as “one of today’s best young jazz musicians” by the Boston Globe, Ben Allison has released nine albums of original music - Think Free (2009), Little Things Run the World (2008), Cowboy Justice (2006), Buzz (2004), Peace Pipe (2002), Riding the Nuclear Tiger (2001), Third Eye (1999) and Medicine Wheel (1998) on Palmetto Records, and his 1996 debut Seven Arrows on the Koch Jazz label - all of which showcase his forward-thinking vision as a producer, composer, arranger and bassist, and his hands-on approach to his craft. Ben Allison was a featured artist with the Jazz Sinfonica Orchestra of Sao Paulo in 2005 and 2008 and a guest lecturer at the Accademia Nazionale Del Jazz in Siena, Italy in 2009.
Da Camera’s Jazz Series continues on March 20 with Houston native Brandon Lee, trumpet. The series comes to a close with Esperanza Spalding on April 24, 2010.
Tickets for Ben Allison and Man Size Safe are $30, $40 and $50 and available by contacting
Da Camera, 1427 Branard, at 713-524-5050 or online at www.dacamera.com. Tickets for students, teachers and senior citizens are always half-price. There are discounts for groups of 10 or more.
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Da Camera of Houston’s concerts feature small ensembles performing chamber music, jazz, early music and contemporary music. A vital institution in the world of chamber music, Da Camera is a source of innovative programming, notably Artistic Director Sarah Rothenberg’s programs connecting chamber music with literature and the visual arts. Da Camera is nationally acclaimed for thought-provoking chamber music programming, as well as a jazz series with a unique balance between renowned performers and emerging artists.
