momentos, wisdom, forever
X Avant XX Night 4
Gallery Exhibition , Performance in X Avant XX: Precious Series
Night 4 curated by Keisha Bell is a staged intervention with an exhibition and performance reimagining MG’s story by commemorating and bringing forward overlooked jazz legacies that resoundingly shaped experimental sound forever.
This year is special. As we celebrate 50 years of history & 20 years of X Avant, we’ve gathered 5 curators to take over 918 Bathurst to enliven and celebrate 5 eras of precious sound.
Keisha says, “In summer 2020, I saw Cuban pianist Aruán Ortiz perform online and contacted him for composition lessons. A year later, I got to meet him in person when he performed with AfroHORN in Buffalo. They captured my imagination with a blend of Afro-Caribbean, jazz, and free improvisation. I discovered trumpeter Milena Casado on Bandcamp. When I saw that the first track was called “THIS IS MY HAIR,” AND she recorded a cover of “Unconditional Love”, I knew I was in for a treat.
Part of the mission of the MG is to “cultivate artistic experimentation and community through sound, music and sharing in the creative process.” Listening to both of these artists, I find their work easily aligns with this ethos. Their music transgresses boundaries while remaining rooted in the tradition of Black American music, encompassing the Americas from North to South.”
AfroHORN players include:
Francisco Mora (NY)- drum kit
Sam Newsome (NY)- saxophone
Keisha Bell- piano
Adrian Russouw- upright bass
Reimundo Sosa- percussion
Farhia Tato- poetry
About the exhibition she adds, “Archie Alleyne (1933-2015) was a Toronto-based jazz drummer who performed with the likes of Lester Young, Billie Holiday, Coleman Hawkins, and Stan Getz, to name a few. He was the first Black musician to perform in white clubs on Yonge street in the 1950s. Throughout his life, Alleyne collected photographs of Black Canadian musicians. This exhibit features pictures of early Black musicians who performed at dances and jam sessions at the Toronto chapter of the Universal Negro Improvement Association from the 1930s-1960s. Archie exhibited these pictures as part of a fundraising show in 2012 to support his scholarship fund for young artists. By remounting this exhibit here at the 50th anniversary of the Music Gallery, we are making a critical intervention into the city’s music history. Most of the Black artists depicted did not establish careers in music for numerous reasons, including racial segregation and exclusion from the Toronto Musician’s Union.”
TICKETING & ACCESSIBILITY INFO
REFUND, NO-SHOW, & RUSH LIST POLICY
Sometimes our shows sell out, and that can be a bummer for folks who didn’t get a ticket. We’ve developed a new ticketing policy that applies to advance ticket holders and those wanting tickets to ensure a fair, transparent process for releasing additional tickets to a sold-out show. Please read our full policy here.
TICKETING
Our new ticket type invites you to Pay What You Can Afford (PWYCA) which means that you can choose an appropriate level and where possible, help to offset community members attending at a discounted rate. Levels are decided by you based upon your income and financial flexibility and are not verified at the door.
ACCESSIBILITY INFO
We regret that 918 Bathurst is not fully accessible due to stairs (two steps to the main entrance, a half-flight to enter the performance space, and a half-flight to access the washrooms and the Music Gallery office).
Masking and social distancing is strongly recommended for attendees who are able to and audience members are encouraged to arrive scent-free to the performance.
For additional questions or accessibility needs, please contact: matthew@musicgallery.org.
COVID POLICY
We strongly encourage masking at all times. For our full policy, click here.
SAFER SPACE
We expect all attendees and community members to respect one another, and to respect the work that was created for you to explore. We will not tolerate harm or harmful behaviour of any kind. View our policy here.
