Jazz Fest by Peter Evans, Petter Eldh

The idea was so ridiculous, it simply had to happen.

Two old friends have conjured up an imaginary meta-Jazz Festival where anything goes—a kind of post-culture homage to the concept of an old German Jazz Festival, complete with questionable morals and a team of alcoholics at the helm. The world may be crumbling, but P & P bring hope.

It’s tempting to take this into McCarthy-esque (Cormac) territory, painting a bleak vision of music-making in a world without transatlantic flights, where people live isolated in their own bubbles. But that’s not the real commentary here.

This is all about collaboration. It’s about weaving together a tapestry of unique artists exploring uncharted sonic territories. Sure, there’s nostalgia baked into this project. Eldh, as always, pushes his productions into a chaotic, melancholic frenzy, walking the tightrope between emotional ambiguity and manic experimentation. His sound reaches back to lost eras while metaphorically chasing the thrill of the latest drug.

Teaming up with Evans has resulted in their most vulgar creation to date—a culmination of a decade of relentlessly absurd musical adventures. Evans, of course, brings his signature trumpet innovations, but this time they’re framed in a setting unlike anything before.

The cast of characters involved comes from Evans’ closest collaborators in NYC as well as some VIP guests; everyone from saxophonists Dave Liebman (played with Miles and Elvin) and Immanuel Wilkins to vocalist/flautist Alice Teyssier and man-of-mystery guitar shredder Andy Berman. Evans’ band Being & Becoming makes a couple of apprearances as well.

Expect the unexpected. Let this be the soundtrack to your beautifully unraveling mental health.

Peter Evans is a trumpet player, improvisor, and composer based in New York City since 2003.

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