May 24–31, 2001

music

The Gig

Nate Chinen on Jazz

Like any marginalized group, avant-garde jazz enthusiasts tend to constitute a tight community. At least, it seemed that way in the claustrophobic front foyer of New York’s Knitting Factory last Wednesday night. The English free-jazz legend Evan Parker had just finished a commanding performance, and his quartet-mates — including fellow saxophonist Tim Berne and bassist Drew Gress — were mingling with industry folk, music critics, promoters, fans and friends. Among them was Philadelphia’s most active advocate of this music: Mark Christman of Sweetnighter Productions.

Earlier in the day, Christman had made the announcement that Sweetnighter, the indie production company he inherited from Alan Kayser and Craig Baylor last year, would henceforth be known as the Ars Nova Workshop. More than a change in nomenclature, the decision symbolized a personal declaration of independence, finalizing a process that began shortly after Christman’s first few shows.

"It’s definitely staking a claim," Christman said of the name change later that night between drinks at a SoHo boîte. Onstage, trumpeter Ray Vega led a tight Latin-jazz sextet. "But it’s also establishing that this is where we’re going. This is something new, this is something people should keep their eye on. And I’ll feel more comfortable promoting my series with a name that I’ve established and created, and that I feel fits what I want to do."

What Christman wants to do is maintain a new-music series, rather than merely producing the occasional odd concert. For a good portion of last year, he managed to fulfill this goal with a Wednesday night run at the Plays and Players Theatre Clubhouse (It ended because of a recurring scheduling conflict with the theatrical company.) More recently, he co-produced a Penn-sponsored slew of free concerts in Houston Hall.

Now it appears that Sweet… er, Ars Nova… is back on the weekly track, with a Monday night series at Bennie’s (1510 South St.) scheduled to commence in mid-June. "It seems like a perfect match for the two of us," Christman says of the new venue. He has already announced shows by trumpeter Roy Campbell (June 11) and bassist Mark Helias (June 18), and has been corresponding with the likes of Tim Berne, Drew Gress, Nels Cline and the redoubtable Archie Shepp. Christman and Baylor (who will maintain some involvement in the new enterprise) will clearly have their hands full.

Also on the agenda: a website, www.arsnovaworkshop.com, which Christman promises will be up and running soon. Stay tuned.

To report a gig — or any other jazz-related news — e-mail Nate Chinen at n_chinen@citypaper.net.