Jack Wright Trio at Mill Hill

Jack Wright

This month's TAG Night at the Mill Hill is this

Wednesday, August 5, and features:

The Jack Wright/Todd Capp/Andrew Lafkas trio

The trio represents a merger of two long-standing associations between the legendary Jack Wright (saxes) and Andrew Lafkas (bass); and Andrew and Todd Capp (drums). It came together just six months ago, performing for the first time in NYC last April. Here, Jack (currently a resident of Easton, PA) returns to his roots in free jazz after ten years of exclusive focus on textural and minimal playing, picking up where he left off in the eighties and nineties. Todd's jazz roots go back to his days in Chicago when he played with members of the early Art Ensemble, and then California, before returning to NY. Andrew is a visionary young bassist hailing from Minnesota who came to NY five years ago and has been playing with a large variety of partners and in a variety of directions to great acclaim.

Damthesnes* An Opera

This is only the third performance -- and the Trenton premiere -- of this two act, two-musician improvisational opera by Wilbo Wright. Set in the unspecified future, it tells the tragic story of two brothers, Damthesnes ('damn these knees') and Hildago, who happily run a business that is “a sort of clearing house for happiness in the age of interdimensional relationships” until Damthesnes falls in love with a computer icon. Problems of operatic proportions arise with plenty of betrayal, deaths, and hand-wringing. Two musicians (in this case, Wilbo on multi-instruments and Eric Haltmeier on reeds and multi-instruments) work with a loose, but predetermined palette of sounds that portray the story line and characters. There are, however, no words, no singing, and no bad acting. For an article featuring Damthesnes, click here.

8:30PM - 12AM - ONLY $5! The Mill Hill Saloon is located at 300 S. Broad St. at the corner of Broad and Market in Trenton, NJ. 609-394-7222

TAG Night at the Mill Hill Basement takes place on the first Wednesday of the month and is curated and produced by Wilbo Wright. It's a labor of love and some of the coolest performances you'll ever see in this area -- for only a fin!

One Night Only: The Giants of Jazz

photo by m. stradling

From Wilbo Wright:

GIANTS OF JAZZ WED. JULY 1, MILL HILL (SALOON) BASEMENT!

BIG JAZZ ON LITTLE INSTRUMENTS, GET IT?

FEATURING: UNCLE "The Weather Up Here's Fine" HO - piccolo and curved soprano

WILL "Travelling Gulliver" CONSTANTINE - pocket trumpet

DOUG "Too Tall" MILLER - Schoenhut toy piano, miniature bakelite organ

JOHN "You People Look Like Ants" SHERIDAN - miniature Shredder guitar

WILBO "His Head In The Clouds" WRIGHT - cello as bass

CLAUDE "I Can See Your House From Here" COLEMAN - toy drums

PLUS GUEST APPEARANCES FROM OTHER MUSICAL GIANTS!

2 SETS starting at 8:30 PM, 5 measly bucks

This is a RARE gathering of this group, born years ago from an idea out of JOE Z's head, more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Please come out and forward this message to your friends who like music (they play on toys, but the jazz is great) and have a sense of humor. The Mill Hill Saloon is located at 300 S. Broad St. in Trenton, at the corner of Broad and Market. 609-394-7222

NOTE: This is part of Wilbo's on-going TAGNight in the Mill Hill Basement, taking place every first Wednesday of the month. This is the fourth TAGNight this year, and they've been terrific.