music
After celebrating a decade of existence, in which it also occupied the Theatro Circo, Julho é de Jazz will once again present a program that will cover the city’s two venues over the course of two weeks. The eleventh edition once again brings together a luxury cast, bringing some of the best names in modern jazz to Braga.
ava mendoza / brad jones / hamid drake
Improvised music exists in the moment, in the here and now, when musicians come together in a conversation led by live performance. A tradition that has given us remarkable collaborations, to which this one joins, where guitarist Ava Mendoza, challenged by gnration, invites bassist Brad Jones and drummer Hamid Drake, two legendary figures, to join forces and continue to make the moment history.
Daring and with a busy schedule, Ava Mendoza is one of the great guitarists of this generation of avant-garde jazz, praised for combining the insurrection of free jazz with influences from space rock, prog and noise. Over the last two decades, Mendoza has been involved in various projects, such as the band Unnatural Ways or the duo Mendoza Hoff Revels, and has collaborated with names such as Nels Cline, William Parker, Matana Roberts, Fred Frith, Marc Ribot or James Brandon Lewis.
Alongside him is Hamid Drake, one of the most respected drummers in the history of jazz, who brings with him a long list of collaborations with giants such as Pharoah Sanders, Herbie Hancock, Don Cherry, Evan Parker or Joe McPhee (who will be playing at gnration in the second quarter).
A graduate of Chicago’s vibrant scene and founder of the Mandingo Griot Society – a project that mixes African tradition with North American influences – Drake combines influences ranging from African rhythms to Caribbean sound heritage and Indian music.
The trio is completed by the technique and agility of Brad Jones. Born in New York, the bassist is the leader of the projects AKA Alias, Avant Lounge and the Brad Jones Quartet.He also has a prolific career full of partnerships with names such as Ornette Coleman, Marc Ribot, David Murray, Elvis Costello and Roscoe Mitchell.
support portuguese republic – culture / directorate-general for the arts. rtcp – rede de teatros e cineteatros portugueses
