Unexpected surprises and delights for Wet Ink Ensemble

By Kurt Gottschalk, 23 August 2021

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Reviewed at DiMenna Center for Classical Music: Mary Flagler Cary Hall, New York City on 20 August 2021

Mincek, So Many Ways (World premiere)

Pluta, Systems of Interaction I (World premiere)

Roberts, or we don't need light (World premiere)

LaMar Gay, Known Better, Still Lit (World premiere)

Wet Ink Ensemble

Ben LaMar Gay, Trumpet

Mariel Roberts, Cello

Eric Wubbels, Piano

Ian Antonio, Vibraphone

Alex Mincek, Saxophone

Erin Lesser, Flute

Wet Ink Ensemble at Time:Spans festival

Kurt Gottschalk, 15th August

World premieres by ensemble members Alex Mincek and Kate Soper wear their intellects on their sleeves.

*****

Wet Ink Ensemble’s take on Anthony Braxton in Brooklyn

Kurt Gottschalk, 19th February

Modney and Wubbels presented Braxton’s challenging Composition no. 222 as an early entry into the composer’s extended 75th birthday celebration planned for 2020.

****1

Wet Ink Ensemble at Time:Spans festival

Kurt Gottschalk, 15th August

World premieres by ensemble members Alex Mincek and Kate Soper wear their intellects on their sleeves.

*****

Wet Ink Ensemble’s take on Anthony Braxton in Brooklyn

Kurt Gottschalk, 19th February

Modney and Wubbels presented Braxton’s challenging Composition no. 222 as an early entry into the composer’s extended 75th birthday celebration planned for 2020.

****1

West Fourth New Music: Cellophilia

Bèla Bianca, 8th June

When it comes to new music, the parameters by which we usually observe classical musicians often fade away. In this case we are speaking about eight cellists, and given this program, it would be of little use to comment on the purity of their sound. Tonight’s scores, in fact, frequently required the sound to be pierced and dirty.

***11

Steve Reich at 90 celebrated in Liverpool

Pwyll ap Sion, 29th April

A compelling concert at Liverpool’s Tung Auditorium offers a striking Josephine Stephenson’s UK premiere, dazzling John Adams and Steve Reich’s mesmerising Reich/Richter.

*****

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Kurt Gottschalk

Kurt Gottschalk is a journalist and author based in New York City. His writings on contemporary and classical music, jazz and improvisation have been published in outlets throughout Europe and America and he has two volumes of short fiction to his name. He produced and hosted the Miniature Minotaurs radio programme on WFMU and currently hosts Afternoon New Music on WKCR.

Unexpected surprises and delights for Wet Ink Ensemble at the Time:Spans festival