Friday January 3 * 7pm * $15-25 * TICKETS

Rhizome is pleased to welcome back Janel Leppin's Ensemble Volcanic Ash for two live sets to be recorded for potential future release.

EVA's second record To March Is To Love (Cuneiform) was recently named to PopMatters' 18 Best Jazz Records of 2024 among other accolades

"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, guitarist Anthony Pirog, 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