We are looking forward to melting the winter’s freezing temps at tomorrow’s (Monday, Feb 9 at 7-9pm) performance inside the newly renovated Saratoga Arts Theater space with the performances of Jaap Blonk and The Schanzer/Speach Duo.

JAAP BLONK
&
The Schanzer/Speach Duo

An Evening of Improvisations, Experimental Sounds and Collaborations
Voice . Electronics . Guitar . Piano

Dutch self-taught composer, performer, poet, and visual artist Jaap Blonk will be presenting his Dr Voxoid‘s Next Move. The improvised voice and electronics performance ranges from sound poetry, invented languages to other unexpected soundscapes. The Schanzer/Speach Duo is comprised of Upstate New York-based composer/guitarist Jeffrey Schanzer and pianist/composer Bernadette Speach, who have been working together in the experimental music scene with new music, improvisation and performance since the mid-1980s NYC. The pair have composed and performed their commissioned works across the US and internationally.

The performers will each present sets and join together in an original improvisation for this special program. We hope you will be there to exeperience it with us!

Please RSVP in advance for tickets or purchase tickets at the door for $20.
Location: Saratoga Arts is located at 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY.
Date/Time: Monday, February 9 from 7-9pm

Scan QR code for tickets

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March is going to be blowing in with a special pairing on March 31st at Saratoga Arts from 7-9pm with artist Ellie Irons and percussionist Curtis Newton.

The Feral Hues of Ellie Irons
&
A Climate Meditation for Solo Drumset
with Curt Newton

An artist talk + workshop and performance at Saratoga Arts

Improv Spaces prepares to welcome the Spring with the work of Ellie Irons and Curt Newton as they each ask us to thoughtfully consider our relationships to our immediate environment and our relationship to the beyond human around us. This moment of the Eco Crisis —and how we respond to it— is an important one, both intimate to our lives and something we share more broadly.

Improv Spaces presents an evening artist talk and hands-on workshop to explore the Feral Hues project of Troy-based interdisciplinary artist Ellie Irons and a contemplative offering by Boston-based percussionist Curt Newton with his “A Climate Meditation for Solo Drumset” at Saratoga Arts.

Ellie Irons’s practice spans publicly engaged work — including with the artist collective the Environmental Performance Agency and her work with artist Anne Percoco as The Next Epoch Seed Library — to the nuanced paintings made from colors she creates from the berries, blossoms, and leaves of the plants from urban and disturbed habitats she creates with her Feral Hues project, online component, and book that is now on its third printing. She has previously brought the public on walking tours related to Feral Hues as part of her practice, and will be offering a hands on workshop and artist talk to open this special evening program.

The workshop will be followed by a performance by percussionist Curt Newton. Newton’s work ranges from free jazz ensemble work to his solo percussion. His performance “A Climate Meditation on Solo Drumset” has previously been performed at the MIT Chapel in 2024.

Climate Meditation for Solo Drumset (2024) 

His solo drumset work began in 1996, with his adaptation of Witold Lutoslawski’s String Quartet. His recent solo performances are completely improvised and he notes “often with a dedication to our miraculous yet threatened natural world and vibrant web of non-human relations.” We are excited to bring this performance with Iron’s workshop to the community to share these unique experiences with you and to think together about the quickly changing world in which we are enmeshed and our place within in it.

Saratoga Arts is located at 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY and the talk/workshop and performance will run from 7-9pm.

Learn more about the artists here.

Please save the date March 31st! More to coming on pre-sale tickets.

See you tomorrow and upcoming!
Alex and Adam
Co-Directors, Improv Spaces