Bass Clef: The Open Fund for Music Creators

For:

Peter Zummo Sextet

Six artists, divided by an ocean but bound by a shared musical language, meet for the first time to perform open-form compositions and mutant pop gems. Peter Zummo (trombone, keyboard, voice) leads the New York contingent, which also includes Ernie Brooks (bass and acoustic guitars, voice) and Bill Ruyle (hammer dulcimer, percussion).

The three have collaborated closely, with each other and with the late cellist Arthur Russell, since the late 1970s, as well as serving time in such legendary outfits as the Lounge Lizards (Zummo), the Modern Lovers (Brooks) and LaMama (Ruyle). Team GB includes the noted cellist Oliver Coates, as well as Keith McIvor, aka JD Twitch of Optimo, and Ralph Cumbers, aka Bass Clef, both of whom will provide beats and live processing. This performance will explore minimalism, rock, jazz, punk, world and electronic genres, along with the spoken word, serious and silly.

As a composer and instrumentalist, Zummo favours rough edges, managed chaos and sounds that are abrasive yet refined. His composition is of ensemble as much as it is for ensemble. He believes that in this life, there are wolves and there are dogs. The evening will open with a set from Cumbers as Bass Clef, with Zummo sitting in. Expect two trombones. (Bristol: The evening will open with a Q&A with Zummo and Brooks, and end with a very special DJ set in the bar, til late.)