Two nights of seriously inventive piano. Not to be missed.

Fri: An Evening with Matthew Shipp, William Parker and Jeff Cosgrove

Sat: Marilyn Crispell with Tanya Kalmanovich;Marilyn Crispell with Michael Formanek and Eric Kennedy:Lafayette Gilchrist - solo piano.

FRIDAY: Matthew Shipp is one of the leading lights of a new generation of jazz giants creating music in which free jazz and modern classical intertwine. Friday evening features a collaborative trio featuring DCs own Jeff Cosgrove on drums, legendary bassist William Parker and the piano titan Matthew Shipp. William Parker is widely considered to one of the great bassists of our time.Massively influential to a new generation of younger artists and a mainstay of the creative jazz scene for over 4 decades. Matthew Shipp is one of the artists that emerged from the NY music scene that Parker helped cultivate.Shipp is a singular talent on his instrument and himself has become a standard bearer for a new generation of artists.

Saturday night is a full house of jazz piano directional pulses emanating from Baltimore.

The evening begins with a solo performance by Baltimore’s own Lafayette Gilchrist. Of late Gilchrist has been returning more frequently to solo performance and they have been captivating experiences.His concerts can range from explorations of stride piano with a twist of Monk,through his own distinctive take on the GoGo and Hip-Hop music of his youth.

Marilyn Crispell has been a composer and performer of contemporary improvised music since 1978. For ten years, she was a member of the legendary Anthony Braxton Quartet and the Reggie Workman Ensemble. She has performed and recorded extensively as a soloist, and has partnered with players on the American and international jazz scene. She has also collaborated with dancers, poets, filmmakers and visual artists, and has offered workshops in improvisation. She has been the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust composition commission. Tonight she performs in two distinct settings;a duo performance with Tanya Kalmanovich, an exceptional violinist who bridges classical, jazz and experimental improvised music. For the final set she will be joined by two of the most respected artists on the US jazz scene,bassist Michael Formanek and Eric Kennedy on drums.