Kerrytown Concert House is planning its 26th annual avant-garde jazz and creative new music festival, EDGEFEST 26: BREATHING FREE – a 4-day exploration of new music/improvisation composed and performed by artists – noteworthy for raising their voices and music in response to ongoing social-cultural issues and the day’s disturbing events; calling for justice.
Events will take place in Ann Arbor and Detroit; recognizing the voices and contributions of that African American community. The Edgefest roster has always been diverse and inclusive and this year’s theme and resultant creative music amplify this commitment.
Edgefest draws audiences from the upper Midwest with an increasing number from across the US and even Europe.
The opening night will happen at Trinosophes in Detroit, with many of Detroit’s free jazz greats performing, led by Cosmic Music Community artistic director Kenneth Green, focusing on Detroit’s history in this music.
The passing of trumpeter, composer, singer, electronic artist, and producer jaimie breezy branch, as she liked to see her name, at age 39 has shocked the music world. The KCH community remembers her with despondent fondness, recalling the bravura of her Edgefest performances, her courageous artistic originality, generous all-embracing spirit, and bold political engagement. We were looking forward to hearing her raucous trumpet and daring laughter in October at the next festival, but it was not to be. Breezy farewell.
Pictured (right): jaimie at Edgefest 2018.
Photo credit: Frank Rubolin
2022 LINEUP
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19
at TRINOSOPHES in DETROIT
8 PM | The Cosmic Music Community
Celebrating the deep history of Detroit’s creative music community, pianist & leader Kenneth Green creates a unique moment as he leads star Detroit artists in the opening of Edgefest 2022 at Trinosophes in Detroit (1464 Gratiot Ave, Detroit, MI 48207).
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20
7 PM | Kenji Lee’s Fortune Teller Trio
Kenji Lee, saxophone; Andy Peck, double bass; Jonathan Barahal Taylor, drums
8 PM | William Hooker Trio
William Hooker, drums; Theo Woodward, snyth/woodwinds/vocals; and Hans Tammen, guitar/synthesizer
The William Hooker Trio is generously sponsored by Alan Feller.
9 PM | Double Duo: Ken Filiano, bass and Jay Clayton, singer
Double Duo’s performance is generously sponsored by Deep Friendship: The Connie Crothers Legacy Project.
10 PM | Matthew Shipp Trio
Matthew Shipp, piano; Michael Bisio, bass; and Newman Taylor Baker, drums
The Matthew Shipp Trio is generously sponsored by Frank Rubolino.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21
5:30 PM | Anthony Braxton: In Conversation
A free conversation and Q&A moderated by Marc Hannaford. This event is open to the public and will take place at Watkins Lecture Hall at the University of Michigan School of Music Earl V. Moore Building.
7 PM | Oluyemi Thomas’ Positive Knowledge
Ijeoma Thomas, voice, poetry; Oluyemi Thomas, bass clarinet, saxophone; Kenn Thomas, piano; Joel Peterson bass; David Hurley, drums, percussion; Jonathan Taylor, drums
8 PM| TA Thompson & Sonic Reality
Vinny Golia, reeds; Mara Rosenbloom, piano; Ken Filiano, bass; Michael TA Thompson, drums
This performance is generously sponsored by Arbor Teas / Jeremy & Aubrey Lopatin.
9 PM | Rempis/Feldman/Daisy Trio
Dave Rempis, saxophone; Mark Feldman, violin; Tim Daisy, drums
10 PM | Fay Victor’s Mutations for Justice
Fay Victor, voice/composer; Melanie Dyer, viola; Luke Stewart, bass; and Michael Vatcher, drums
This performance of Fay Victor’s Mutations for Justice is dedicated to jaimie breezy branch.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22
at KERRYTOWN CONCERT HOUSE in ANN ARBOR
12 PM | Edgefest Parade
Scarlett Middle School band students (Caroline Fitzgerald, Band Director) plus Edgefest artists and community members participate in this raucous and exciting moment in the Kerrytown downtown/Farmers’ Market area.
2 PM | Alexander Hawkins, solo piano
Alexander Hawkins’ performance is generously sponsored by Michael Resil, Keith Martin, and Marc Andren & Christine Reardon.
3 PM | WeFreeStrings
Charles Burnham & Gwen Laster, violins; Melanie Dyer, viola; Alexander Waterman, cello; Ken Filiano, bass; and Michael Wimberly, percussion
WeFreeStrings is generously sponsored by Ken Kozora.
at BETHLEHEM UCC in Ann Arbor
7 PM | Anthony Braxton & James Fei – Duo (Lorraine) 2022
Anthony Braxton, sopranino, soprano & alto saxophones, live electronics; James Fei, sopranino & alto saxophones
This performance is generously sponsored by Keith Martin, Frank Rubolino, Marc Andren & Christine Reardon, Nimish & Niraj Ganatra and Bonnie Patterson, Gary Boren, Encore Records, and Ferguson, Widmayer & Clark PC.
Bishop/Hannaford Dectet performs works by Anthony Braxton
An ensemble led by distinguished performing faculty from the UM Department of Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation Andrew Bishop and Marc Hannaford.
This performance is generously sponsored by the University of Michigan Department of Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation.
Jason Kao Hwang’s Burning Bridge
(presenting an Edgefest premiere composition)
Jason Hwang – composer/violin; Haruna Fukazawa, piccolo/flute; Sun Li, pipa; Herb Robertson, trumpet; Dick Griffin trombone; Anders Nilsson, guitar; Joe Daley, tuba; Ken Filiano, bass; Andrew Drury, drums
Burning Bridge’s performance is generously sponsored by Luis Torregrosa.
EDUCATION & OUTREACH
Edgefest artists Andrew Bishop & Melanie Dyer will create a 2-day residency at Scarlett Middle School. The artists will collaborate with Director of Bands Caroline Fitzgerald to provide “out of the box” creative activities not part of the traditional curriculum. The students will appear at Kerrytown as they participate in the Edgefest parade at noon on Saturday. All community members are invited to participate in this unconventional and rather raucous parade that has now a long history with Edgefest!
ARTWORK
M. Saffell Gardner’s art exhibit “Phasez” at Kerrytown Concert House is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts as a component of Kerrytown Concert House’s annual creative music festival, Edgefest. Gardner’s work was also featured as a part of the Edgefest 26 poster and program artwork. Read more about the exhibit here.
TICKETS & EDGEPASSES
EDGEPASSES
To purchase reserved seating EDGEHEAD Edgepasses
call (734) 769-2999
or email kch@kerrytownconcerthouse.com
To purchase General Admission Edgepasses, click here.
You may pay by credit card over the phone, by mailing a check
to 415 N. 4th Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48104, or pay at the door.
EDGEFEST GRANTORS AND SPONSORS
GRANTORS
The Marjorie M. Fisher Fund
at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
EDGEFEST SPONSORS
