Upcoming Events
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2025-10-23: Gary Hassay and Improvco, recordings from the Kazunori Sugiyama Collection, presented as part of the Jazz History Database From the Lab session of the Jazz Potpourri livestream (2-5pm ET)
https://wpi.zoom.us/j/97495476280
Reedman and vocalist Gary Hassay (1947–2025) was the hub of a remarkable world of improvisation in Allentown PA. Hassay and colleagues united into the organization Improvco, which produced decades’ worth of rich concerts starting with Peter Brötzmann’s group in 1980. In recent years, as his own music branched increasingly toward vocalizing, Hassay continued the spirit of Improvco with players based in New York and Philadelphia.
Gary Hassay lived with cancer for several years and finally departed this plane on September 13. This week’s lab session will honor his achievements by highlighting important materials from the Improvco audio collections now held by Crossing Tones. We’ll survey Improvco concerts through the years—including groups that Hassay brought together, and interactions with visiting artists. We’ll be joined in the session by some of Gary’s friends, colleagues and collaborators, to help illuminate the character of the man, the organization, and the kaleidoscope of music they curated. There will be many future investigations of these sounds and stories, but this week’s session may be the most comprehensive overview.
Past Events
2025-06-12: Joe Rigby, recordings from the Kazunori Sugiyama Collection, presented as part of the Jazz History Database From the Lab session of the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2025-06-01: Celebrating Westbeth Jazz 1980, with special guest commentator Billy Harper, 2-5pm, presented at the Community Room, Westbeth Artists Housing and Center for the Arts, 55 Bethune St, New York, NY 10014 – FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
2025-05-08: Mary Lou Williams 1945, presented as part of the Jazz History Database From the Lab session of the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2024-10-24: The Jazz Photographs of Kazunori Sugiyama, Part 2, presented as part of the Jazz History Database From the Lab session of the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2024-07-25: The Jazz Photographs of Kazunori Sugiyama, Part 1, presented as part of the Jazz History Database From the Lab session of the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2024-02-03: Peter Brötzmann Memorial Listening Session, NYC, part of the First Annual Out Music Festival, co-produced by Arts for Arts and FourOneOne
2024-01-29: Rare music from the Black Artists Group, Earl Cross, Jemeel Moondoc, Peter Kowald, and others, NYC, part of the First Annual Out Music Festival, co-produced by Arts for Arts and FourOneOne
2023-12-14: Akio Suzuki Listening Session, Brooklyn, NY, co-presented with Blank Forms
2022-09-08: Paul Bley Quartet (Sweet Basil, May 30, 1987), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2022-08-25: Paul Bley Quartet (Sweet Basil, May 30, 1987), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2022-08-11: Betty Carter at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge in Detroit (January 1979), co-presented with documentarian Nancy Barber on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2022-07-14: Airto (November 1980), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2022-06-30: J.J. Johnson (Village Vanguard), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2022-06-16: Joe McPhee (Soundscape, 1980), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2022-06-02: The Chadbournes (2nd Set, February 6, 1981), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2022-05-19: Ted Daniel's Energy (May 1978), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2022-04-21: Evelyn and Art Blakey (Japan, September 19, 1968), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2022-04-07: Evan Parker Solo (1978), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2022-03-10: Pepper Adams (Baker's Keyboard Lounge), co-presented with documentarian Nancy Barber on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2022-02-10: World Saxophone Quartet (Brooklyn Academy of Music), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2022-01-27: Marvin 'Hannibal' Peterson, presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2022-01-03: Barre Phillips solo, presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-12-30: Muhal Richard Abrams + Horace Silver, presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-12-16: Phineas Newborn Trio (April 16, 1978), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-12-02: Bill Frisell and Tim Berne (136 Lawrence St., Brooklyn, June 21, 1984), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-11-18: Walter Thompson Quartet (Soundscape, June 22, 1981), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-11-04: Billy Bang and Frank Lowe (1979), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-10-21: Eugene Chadbourne and Toshinori Kondo (December 29, 1978), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-10-07: Black Artists Group (Studio Rivbea, 1974), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-09-23: Jemeel Moondoc memorial via Ensemble MUNTU (Piano Magic, April 1, 1978), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-09-09: Sunny Murray, presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-08-26: Phineas Newborn (1958 UFO), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-08-12: Butch Morris and Andrew Cyrille (Newfoundland Theater, April 30, 1981), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-07-29: Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre Trio (Public Theater, November 11, 1979), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-07-15: Mary Lou Williams’s History of Jazz (April 22, 1978), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-07-01: Rashied Ali/William Parker/Mabo Suzuki/Takehisa Kosugi (386 Broadway, February 26, 1984), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-06-17: Charles Tyler Sextet (Sweet Basil, March 1984), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-06-03: Mal Waldron and Charlie Rouse (Soundscape, October 24, 1981 and unreleased early 1980s studio session), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-05-20: Pharaoh Sanders with the Collective Black Artists Ensemble (Town Hall, January 26, 1978), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
2021-05-06: New Music Remembers the Old Master Duke Ellington (Town Hall, July 6, 1980), presented on the Jazz Potpourri livestream
