Allen Lowe (tenor sax), Esteban Castro (piano), Colson Jimenez (bass), Ethan Kogan (drums)

Last Kind Words: Music for Empty Rooms, The Temptations of the Dissolute:

Portrait of the Artist as a Malcontent:

A Musical Autobiography by Allen Lowe

This is part of a musical program, a Farewell Address from Allen Lowe, summarizing all of his prior musical and literary work, its debt to American Vernacular Music, early black musical forms, the rhythm of black speech, his use of song forms, and his battles with the Arts establishment both local and national. And about how memory is as much a form of torture as a source of comfort.

Allen Lowe is a tenor saxophonist, composer, and music historian with a unique perspective on American jazz and improvised music. A scholar who has written six books on music history and taught at Jazz at Lincoln Center, he has led recordings with Julius Hemphill, Roswell Rudd, David Murray, Kalaparusha, Marc Ribot, Doc Cheatham, and Matthew Shipp. There is a new documentary out about him called “I Should Have Stayed Dead: The Death and Life of Allen Lowe.” His current music is a deep examination of old black musical forms (pre-blues and afterward), post-1960s New Music, historic American song forms, and other folk derivatives. He is currently working on a sourcebook of black musical recordings.

John Szwed has said of his work:

“Allen Lowe is a genius!  His work is always full of wonder, the excitement of discovery, and humor.  I’m amazed by the energy and intelligence it takes to do this quantity of work at this level while on the margins of media and music.  Yes, I know that the best work has always been done at  the margins, by the so-called underground - Poe, Whitman, Monk, Harvey Pekar, Herbie Nichols, James Joyce, Sun Ra - but it’s still a surprise and a revelation whenever you find it.”

Anthony Braxton has said:

"Allen Lowe is an American master. He is one of the few musicians doing anything new. He is the tradition."

Picture: Allen Lowe and the Avant Roots Quartet in Session with Wadada Leo Smith at Firehouse 12. Wadada Leo Smith will not be performing on December 4th.