Cecilia Lopez's Filter Four // Melissa Almaguer
Roulette509 Atlantic Ave, New York 11217
Cecilia Lopez returns to Roulette with Filter Four, a quartet bringing together Lopez, Ingrid Laubrock, Trevor Dunn, and Dan Peck for new compositions. The group works at the boundary of acoustic and electronic sound, using live amplification and processing to alter, twist, and blend instrumental timbres. The result is described as a collective network in which individual voices can dissolve into vivid aural hallucinations. Opening the evening, multidisciplinary artist Melissa Almaguer presents a special solo tap performance that extends beyond dance into gongs, seed percussion, field recordings, resonant objects, and electronics.
Lopez is a composer, musician, and multimedia artist whose work includes singular wire instruments, heard in a 2021 performance at Catalytic Sound NYC. Filter Four joins long-time and more recent collaborators: saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, bassist Trevor Dunn, and Dan Peck. This appearance centers Lopez's new writing while giving the quartet's live processing a central role in the music's changing textures. Almaguer's opening set similarly brings several practices into one solo performance, pairing tap with found and resonant sound materials, recorded sound, and electronics. Together, the two sets frame the night around acoustic sources transformed in real time.
Roulette occupies a beautifully restored 1928 Art Deco theater in Downtown Brooklyn, offering a spacious concert hall with a dramatic proscenium and a balcony that seats up to 400. The venue is known for its exceptional acoustics and sightlines, making every note clear from front to back. Shows here focus on adventurous and experimental music, often featuring world premieres and collaborations across disciplines. The audience is typically attentive, drawn by the venue's commitment to innovative performances rather than casual socializing. A full bar is available, and seating is flexible, with cushioned chairs arranged to suit each event. The venue’s professional sound and lighting systems enhance the experience, and performances are ticketed, with advance purchase recommended. Expect an evening of thoughtful, boundary-pushing art in a setting that respects both the performers and the audience.