Friday August 11 * 7pm * TICKETS

Following up on last year's widely praised release on Cuneiform Records (much of the music having been workshopped at Rhizome), this Spring and Summer we are happy to be able to present a second performance residency by Janel Leppin and her group Ensemble Volcanic Ash: Luke Stewart / Brian Settles / Anthony Pirog / Sarah Hughes / Larry Fergusen / Janel Leppin.

"Janel Leppin is a picture of versatility. Not only has she been a pillar of Washington, D.C.’s creative music community for the last 20 years, but the cellist, composer, arranger, and singer has made significant marks in other scenes as well. She’s contributed cello arrangements to the Messthetics, played with punk outfit Priests, and records art-pop under the Mellow Diamond moniker.

Leppin leans into a jazz-centric vision on the majestic and occasionally abrasive Ensemble Volcanic Ash, which affirms her place as a boundless musician who constantly leaves the listener intrigued. It’s a puzzle in which jazz, chamber music, contemporary classical, and punk seamlessly coalesce with bracing results.

Ensemble Volcanic Ash, comprising Leppin, bassist Luke Stewart, harpist Kim Sator, guitarist Anthony Pirog, alto saxophonist Sarah Hughes, tenor saxophonist Brian Settles, and drummer Larry Ferguson, exquisitely captures strings-driven melody, harmony, and noise at a furious clip. They both tug at the heartstrings and bust ears. " -Jazz Times