Space is the Place and Raf Vertessen present : Mary Halvorson solo + Ches Smith solo

MARY HALVORSON solo
It’s not a coincidence that Mary Halvorson is probably the most famous female improvising guitar player in the world. Her style is completely unique and recognizable out of thousands. As one of improvised music’s most in-demand guitarists, Mary has been active in New York since 2002. The Philadelphia City Paper says: ‘Halvorson has been steadily reshaping the sounds of jazz guitar in recent years with her elastic, sometimes-fluid, sometimes shredding, wholly unique style’.

Mary works actively with the great Anthony Braxton and Marc Ribot. As a bandleader and composer, one of Mary’s primary outlets is her longstanding trio, featuring bassist John Hébert and drummer Ches Smith. Halvorson also co-leads a longstanding chamber-jazz duo with violist Jessica Pavone, the avant-rock band People and the collective ensembles Thumscrew and Secret Keeper.

Mary Halvorson – Guitar

CHES SMITH solo
Hearing and watching drummer-of-the-new-generation Ches Smith is an adventure. His wild, sensitive and highly creative approach on music and percussion is incredible inspiring. Ches is open to free improvisation, alternative rock, noise, metal, eastern music and many many more genres and cultures. His free-thinking vision makes him probably the most appreciated drummer in the improvised music scene of New York. You could have seen him before in bands of Marc Ribot, Tim Berne or the Secret Chiefs 3 and Xiu Xiu. Ches will give a solo performance in de Ruimte in which he will also play the vibraphone.

The last time he played in Amsterdam, with Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog in the Bimhuis, he caused serious ear damage to the bulk of the cheering audience.

Ches Smith: Drums, percussion, vibraphone