comerford+flynn+dumoulin+ber

As artist-in-residence at Werkplaats Walter, Sam Comerford explores the borderland between avant-garde and improvisation, and the Irish folk tradition he grew up with. For this concert, he is writing new repertoire around the alienation of that tradition and bringing two worlds together: Belgian improvisers Jozef Dumoulin and Samuel Ber with Irish folk singer and flutist John Francis Flynn.

Comerford and Flynn once shared the same childhood in Dublin, as teenagers in the flute competitions of the Dublin Fleadh – both feeling somewhat out of place there. Yet today, Flynn is one of the most intriguing voices in folk music. He takes a unique approach to traditional Irish songs: he dissects, analyses and reconstructs them. Sam is organising this meeting precisely to bring together these radical visions of tradition, complemented by the distinctive musical characters of Ber and Dumoulin. Four days and one evening of dialogue at Walter.

Samuel Comerford is an artistic researcher affiliated with KASK & Conservatorium, the school of arts of HOGENT and Howest. The research project Radical Variations, Primitive Forms; the melodic language of Tommie Potts in improvised music was funded by the HOGENT Arts Research Fund.

Line-up

• Sam Comerford – saxophone, compositions
• John Francis Flynn – voice and flutes
• Jozef Dumoulin – keyboards
• Samuel Ber – drums

Joseph Nowell (release)

There is more new work in Joseph Nowell's universe. With the release of Themes and Variations, he explores how composition and improvisation can reinforce each other. Classical themes and variations form the starting point for short, often monothematic pieces, interspersed with free, melodic interludes. Live, this translates into uninterrupted sets that range from abstract intensity to hypnotic ostinati and lyrical expressiveness.

Perhaps the highlight of Walter's autumn programme when it comes to tradition, composition and improvisation. Five musicians, each on their own quest for sound, structure and expression. Each set has its own logic, its own surprises.

Line-up

• Joseph Nowell - piano

Practical

The doors of the new foyer open at 20:15. Concerts start promptly at 20:15. Evenings with two sets end no later than 22:30. This means that even those travelling by public transport can get home easily.

Researchers and teachers Sam Comerford, Nils Vermeulen and Seppe Gebruers present a concert at Arca Theatre on 11 April, organised by Troika VZW and Broder.

• Sam Comerford, saxophone
• Nils Vermeulen, double bass
• Seppe Gebruers, piano

On Halloween Night, Art Cinema OFFoff pre­sents the Belgian avant-pre­mie­re of Hexham Heads, the expe­ri­men­tal hor­ror film by Chloë Delanghe and Mattijs Driesen.

Artistic researcher at KASK & Conservatorium Sam Comerford collaborated with Branwen Kavanagh on the film's music. They will give a performance before the film screening.

The film will be followed by a reception and a midnight, late-night Halloween movie that is still a secret!

Schedule

• 19:00 Concert
• 20:00 Hexham Heads
• 20:30 Receptie
• 22:00 surprise film*

*Ends ear­ly enough to catch the last trains back to Brussels or Antwerp!

Composer and saxophonist Sam Comerford presents a new suite of music composed for Irish violinist and viola player Ultan O'Brien and Belgian pianist Hendrik Lasure. Following the release of his acclaimed album ‘’Stillorgan‘’ with the trio Thunderblender in 2020, he turned to his background in Irish traditional music and has been working for several years to bring together the wild energy and madness of his homeland's music with the avant-garde language and conventions of jazz and improvised music. At Jazz in ‘t Park, these worlds merge to create a new one, featuring two of Comerford's closest collaborators.

Line-up: Sam Comerford (saxophone & composition), Ultan O'Brien (violin and viola) and Hendrik Lasure (piano)

Samuel Comerford is an artistic researcher at KASK & Conservatorium, the school of arts at HOGENT and Howest. The research project Radical variations, primitive forms: The melodic language of Tommie Potts in contemporary jazz was funded by HOGENT's Arts Research Fund.