OLD GROWTH FOREST featuring Harris Eisenstadt, drums; Jeb Bishop, trombone; Tony Malaby, tenor sax; Jason Roebke, double bass
Drummer / composer / bandleader Harris Eisenstadt has always brought interesting bands into Bop Shop Records. Back in 2003 he led the quintet Jalolu, with 3 trumpeters (an incredible lineup with Paul Smoker, Roy Campbell and Taylor Ho Bynum) and baritone sax player Andy Laster. They made some amazing music that night. A couple of years later he brought a trio (with saxophonist Rob Brown and trombonist Steve Swell) under the moniker The Diplomats. That concert wound up being released on the Clean Feed label as We Are Not Obstinate Islands. Then there was the time he brought his quintet Canada Day for a rousing set of music.
It's been a while since Harris has played Bop Shop. (He did play the Rochester International Jazz Festival with his Golden State Quartet in 2014.) This is the first time he's played in the new store space. And he's bringing in an amazing new group, Old Growth Forest. The group is comprised of several Bop Shop veterans: saxophonist Tony Malaby (who’s appeared here many times), trombonist Jeb Bishop who’s appeared here as a member of Dave Rempis' Engines and the Vandermark 5 and bassist Jason Roebke who appeared here with Fred Lonberg-Holmes' Valentine Trio.
The Old Growth Forest recording was released last spring and received glowing reviews:
Compared to Eisenstadt’s sophisticated and heavily arranged Canada Day compositions, the blowing vehicles presented by the quartet showcase a different side of his abilities, both as a composer and performer, while hinting at his unbridled percussive prowess as a sideman… Revealing ample sonic variety, Old Growth Forest keenly demonstrates the visceral appeal of Eisenstadt’s more freewheeling approach. (Troy Collins: Point Of Departure)
There’s a lot of variety in this recording, and a sense of unimpeded flow; … this album has parts that swing, parts that groove, parts that confound, and parts that astound. (Derek Stone: Free Jazz Collective)
We're really looking forward to this one. The return of old friends and some new powerful music should make this concert a must-see.