Evan Parker/Ned Rothenberg Duo Two of the greatest reed players of our time. Thursday, September 24 Bezanson Recital Hall   8:00 pm $10, General Public; $5 students “If genius is the sustained application of intelligence,” writes Richard Cook, “then Evan Parker merits the epitaph.” Born in Bristol, England in 1944, Parker has developed the possibilities of unpremeditated music more deeply than almost anyone. “Other kinds of music might entertain you, cheer you up or pump the blood,” writes Manfred Pabst, “but Rothenberg’s clarifies the mind and throws your soul wide open."

Yusef Lateef/Adam Rudolph Duo A musical association that stretches back to 1988. Thursday, October 15 Bowker Auditorium   8:00 pm $10 General Public, $5 Students Their musical association stretches back to 1988, and includes 14 albums and concerts ranging from duos, to work with the Koln, Atlanta and Detroit Symphony Orchestras.

Tyshawn Sorey Sorey plays drums, piano and trombone, and has recorded with Muhal Richard Abrams, Wadada Leo Smith, Dave Douglas, and Butch Morris, among many others. Thursday, November 19 Bezanson Recital Hall   8:00 pm $10 General Public; $5 Students "The enigma that is Tyshawn Sorey: while most young drummers are walking in the footsteps of the elders," writes Mark F Turner, "Sorey thrives on the outside, composing and performing free improvised music.

William Parker and Hamid Drake With Special Guest Konrad "Conny" Bauer Parker and Drake invite the reknown German trombonist Konrad "Conny" Bauer to perform in Amherst. Thursday, February 25 Bezanson Recital Hall   8:00 pm $12 General Public; $7 Students Parker and Drake invite the reknown German trombonist Konrad "Conny" Bauer to perform in Amherst. Born in 1943, "Bauer has mastered the wide range of techniques available to the contemporary trombonist," writes John Corbett, "as well as the web of genres in which the instrument is imbricated, including march, parade, circus, early jazz, bop, free improvisation, new music, even other related traditions like alphorn and bugle call."

William Parker and Hamid Drake with Lewis "Flip" Barnes and Rob Brown The Raining on the Moon Combo Thursday, March 25 Bezanson Recital Hall   8:00 pm $12 General Public; $7 Students Parker and Drake invite their colleagues Lewis 'Flip' Barnes (trumpet) and Rob Brown (alto saxophone), the so-called Raining on the Moon Quartet.

Parker and Drake invite the brilliant tenor and soprano saxophonist Evan Parker to join them. Three Lions of Contemporary Jazz Thursday, April 15 Bezanson Recital Hall   8:00 pm $12 General Public; $7 Students Parker and Drake invite the brilliant tenor and soprano saxophonist Evan Parker to join them.