InterPlay series: Sam Dillon and Tony Davis play at Stephen Friedman Gallery, New York
Join us on Wednesday 10 April, 6pm, at our New York gallery for a special performance by Tenor Saxophonist Sam Dillon and Guitarist Tony Davis. Their program is inspired by Pam Glick's solo exhibition 'Bark', as part of our new event series, InterPlay.
Explaining his own response to Glick’s work, Dillon says, “Pam’s exploration of rhythm, structure and the natural life cycle has visually captured what we attempt to do as jazz musicians; there is a reflective and joyful motion in her work.” The program will include music by Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, and Sonny Rollins along with original compositions.
About the artist and performers
Pam Glick’s practice is typified by formal play. Hallmarked by her interest in the universal language of abstraction, Glick describes her painting process “as a playground that I set up.” In The New York Times, Roberta Smith described the paintings as ‘beautiful castoffs, relics of better times, which adds gravity to their improvisational flair.’ In each of her works, she juxtaposes a scrim of geometric patterns with cascades of looping gestural swirls. Reinforcing the square format of the canvas, she suspends an architecture of interconnected vertical and horizontal segments punctuated by arcs, zigs, zips and diagonals. Underlying this scaffolding are broad, free-wheeling swathes of colour interrupted by explosive splatters of pigment. Glick’s paintings, created as distinct series, walk a tightrope between movement and containment, expressiveness and restraint. They can be understood as psychological mappings of nature or depictions of heightened emotional states. Never static, they mark the passage of time, and capture the cyclical rhythms of life.
Sam Dillon, native New Yorker, saxophonist, recording artist, composer and educator, has established himself as one of the most in demand musicians of his generation. Sam’s prolific soloist and sideman work includes over 40 studio recordings, performances on a global level and international recognition as one of the defining tenor saxophone voices today. His long history with big bands include extensive touring, recording and preforming with The Vanguard Orchestra, The Jimmy Heath Big Band, Mingus Big Band, Slide Hampton Octet, The 8BitBigBand, The Steven Feifke Big Band, The Birdland Big Big and several others. In 2022, Sam was awarded a Grammy Certificate for his participation in The 8-Bit Big Band’s Meta Knight’s Revenge (From “Kirby Superstar”). In 2013, Sam was selected as one of 13 semi-finalists in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition.
Tony Davis is an internationally renowned guitarist, vocalist, and composer. Based in NYC, he regularly performs at the city's top venues, such as The Blue Note, Birdland, Smalls, and Mezzrow. He has played at major festivals such as the Newport Jazz Festival. Tony's journey with the guitar began with the discovery of Jimi Hendrix and other blues artists like Blind Blake and Buddy Guy. Furthermore, being the son of two acclaimed jazz musicians, he inherited a deep love and connection to the jazz language of artists like John Coltrane and Bud Powell from a young age. Over time, he has developed his voice by weaving the sounds of his early influences with elements from singer-songwriters & folk artists such as The Beatles and Grizzly Bear and the intricate harmony and rhythms of Cuban and Brazilian music.
The event is free and open to everyone. RSVP here to secure your place.
