Over the next couple weeks, we’re pushing things over the edge, past the margins. Come out as we turn this month into Out-Tober with two special mini-fests of experimental music in experimental scenarios.

October Revolution in Jazz (50th anniversary commemoration): Oct. 26

at Union Arts
 
This month marks the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution in Jazz, organized by trumpeter Bill Dixon in New York City. The goal was to provide a platform for musicians who were dedicated to performing original and improvised music, but were not able to find steady work in this approach. The famous series of concerts, held in informal New York City studios, ultimately led to the creation of the Jazz Composer’s Guild and the fomentation of the “Loft Jazz” scene. This was another important statement in organizing musicians and artists in practicing self-determination in their artistic careers and in the community.

This Sunday we celebrate the spirit of Bill Dixon and the October Revolution, which continues in today’s varied communities of improvised music worldwide. Come out to Union Arts for a co-presentation with the venue’s ongoing Creative Music series. D.C.’s storied “DIY” culture is indebted to the example of actions such as the October Revolution. Rather than recreating the music of 50 years ago, musicians from D.C., with a few special guests from New York City and Philadelphia will collaborate in a series of improvised duo performances. The players will include Brian Settles, Ras Moche and Jamal Moore.

‘Along Came Ra’ Fest: Oct. 31-Nov. 2

Lincoln Theatre / Pop-up Ra Gallery / Liv Nightclub
 
No one, no thing, no idea in jazz was more extravagant and paranormal and perfectly suited for Halloween than Sun Ra. This Halloween weekend, the Along Came Ra Fest celebrates the jazz pianist, composer, bandleader and liberation philosopher’s 100th birthday. In this evening’s “Cosmic Spectacle and Concert,” the festival’s first and biggest event, the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra arrives from Philadelphia for a blowout show. Now under the direction of longtime Ra collaborator Marshall Allen, the large orchestra moves swiftly from swinging jazz à la Ra’s mid-century Chicago years to free and funk-lit excursions. The band will be joined by the keyboard great and Parliament veteran Bernie Worrell, himself a Sun Ra devotee and inheritor of his Afro-futurist mantel. CapitalBop is a co-presenter of this show, along with Transparent Productions and JBV Productions.

On Saturday, check out a panel discussion at the Pop-Up Ra Gallery on U Street, featuring Marshall Allen. And then on Sunday, the festival’s grand finale is a performance of the Burnt Sugar Arkestra at Liv Nightclub. Rolling Stone’s David Fricke has probably inked the best possible description of the band, which is directed by the writer, musician and activist Greg Tate: “a mul­tira­cial jam army that freestyles with cool telekinesis between the lustrous menace of Miles Davis’ On The Cor­ner, the slash-and-om of 1970s King Crim­son, and Jimi Hen­drix’ moon­walk across side three of Elec­tric Lady­land.” Come on and come out with us….

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