Vinny Golia Octet

Vinny Golia brings his Octet to 2220 Arts + Archives for an eight-piece reading of his compositions, specially arranged for strings, woodwinds, brass, keyboards and percussion. The Los Angeles ensemble gathers Derek Stein on cello, Josh Gerowitz on electric guitar, Brian Walsh on clarinets, Miller Wrenn on bass, Steve Blum on keyboards, Clint Dodson on drums, Kris Tiner on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Golia on woodwinds. The night presents another facet of Golia’s compositional and improvisational practice, with players the listing calls among the area’s best interpreters of his distinctive approach.

A Los Angeles composer and multi-wind instrumentalist, Golia has been described by All About Jazz as “a beacon and a touchstone for the West Coast free improvising community, particularly in Los Angeles” for more than 30 years. His music draws together “the rich heritage of Jazz, contemporary classical and world music,” and his collaborators have included Anthony Braxton, John Zorn, Horace Tapscott, Wadada Leo Smith, John Carter and Bobby Bradford. Reviewing the earlier octet recording Music for Baritone Saxophone, All About Jazz called it “one of his most accessible records in years without compromising a bit on his originality”; the Free Jazz Collective praised its “conceptual thoroughness and technical command.”