For people who ever envisioned themselves in a hip downtown New York club, being seduced by the lyrical melodies of the alternative jazz scene while sipping expensive drinks, Bowdoin will deliver with the Titus Abbott Collective.
Of course, the hip downtown New York club happens to be Kresge Auditorium, and the expensive drinks are likely to be free coffee from Moulton.
The seduction part is about right, though, as perhaps are the lyrical melodies. According to Titus Abbott, creator and saxophonist of his self-titled group, the sound is more "lush and beautiful mixed with in-your-face."
The New York-based jazz group, set to perform this Saturday, describes itself as part of the new jazz movement in Brooklyn. This movement, Abbott said, is a "group of very innovative musicians" with a "very New York" vibe.
Though the improvisational aspect of the group's work lends itself to be traditionally associated with jazz, Abbott is quick to note that the music has a combination of inspirations, among them Middle Eastern, Indian, and traditional Jewish music, as well as blends of 20th-century classical.
This classical influence is something Abbott has recently begun to draw on, having just graduated from the University of Montreal with studies in classical music and composition. A veteran jazz musician, he notes that the creation of the Titus Abbott Collective in early 2006 was an attempt to "get something out after graduating."
While his first group, the chamber jazz trio Delawareness, had a more "light and delicate" sound, the saxophonist admits he wanted something a "little more edgy" with his second group, the Titus Abbott Collective. Having found Cassidy Holden (double bass) and Cody Brown (drums), he realized his goal, as the three "instantly thought in the same patterns" and found that their common objectives left little need for musical direction dispute. The group has been touring and performing in New York for the past year and is currently working on its first CD, which is due out this summer.
Though you may not have heard Titus Abbott in concert, you have probably heard his work. While studying at the University of Montreal, he specialized in film music composition. He put the education to good use, working on innovative projects in the United States and Europe and receiving credit as both a composer and sound designer.
Abbott said that while performing and film scoring are "different kinds of talents and challenges," He enjoys both the ability to "hone [his] music" through composition as well as the "immediate connection with the audience and other musicians" through performance.
It is the performance aspect that he will showcase at Bowdoin this weekend. The three pieces the group will perform are "Tangible Mystery," one of their most popular compositions, "Alphaville," and "Night Bird Song." The latter two songs composed by one of Abbott's greatest inspirations, Thomas Chapin.
What's up next for the group? Abbott describes a busy upcoming summer of performances and collaborations, including one with pianist Mike Effenberger, and plans to attend the prestigious arts festival, the International Workshop in Jazz at Banff, Alberta.