QueenBee Records 2-day microFEST

Second night of freewheeling improvised music and creative jazz from some of the scene’s most adventurous and exciting ensembles. Celebrating three new recordings out this fall on Berkeley’s Queen Bee Records — the 7th, 8th and 9th! — in a series of 12 releases coming this year.

Beth Schenck Quintet
A wildly creative and original musical voice, San Francisco saxophonist and composer Beth Schenck writes bracing music that blends lush harmonies with fierce propulsiveness and surprising rhythmic twists and turns.

Beth Schenck, alto saxophone and compositions
Cory Wright, tenor saxophone and bass clarinet
Matt Wrobel, guitar
Lisa Mezzacappa, acoustic bass
Jordan Glenn, drums

Astrolabe
Nathan Clevenger’s Astrolabe Ensemble is a large jazz and experimental music group based in Oakland.The band’s name originated from a specific musical suite that Clevenger wrote.

Kasey Knudsen – alto & tenor sax
Beth Schenck – alto & soprano sax
Cory Wright – Bb & bass clarinet, alto flute
Polly Springhorn – C & bass flute, piccolo
Danny Lubin-Laden – trombone
Crystal Pascucci-Clifford – cello
Jon Arkin – drum set, percussion
Jason Levis – marimba, percussion
Tim DeCillis – vibes, percussion
Mark Pascucci-Clifford – vibes, percussion
Nathan Clevenger – keyboards, percussion
Lisa Mezzacappa – contrabass

flatways
(Sudhu Tewari, Jordan Glenn, Matt Robidoux)

flatways is a rhythm band made up of no strings guitar (Sudhu Tewari), drum set (Jordan Glenn), and drum machines + live sampling (Matt Robidoux). Sudhu makes instruments for the band, such as a one stringed electric bass (“slap thwacker”) that Sudhu and Matt both play. flatways is drum n bass, with numerous rhythms meshing, clashing, and rubbing up against one another.