Guitarist Joe Baiza brings his new quartet to the Santa Monica Public Library’s Soundwaves concert series on Saturday, May 4, for a special performance at 3:30PM in the Main Library’s Multipurpose Room at 601 Santa Monica Blvd.
In 1981 Baiza’s first group, Saccharine Trust, was the third band on SST Records, after Black Flag and the Minutemen. Like them, Saccharine Trust was based in the independent spirit of punk but defied the limits of that genre, incorporating poetry, blues, jazz, noise, and other elements. Kurt Cobain listed their debut EP as one of his 50 favorite records. Baiza’s next band, Universal Congress Of, was largely instrumental and included songs by free jazz artists including Ornette Coleman and Henry Threadgill in its sets. Over the last four decades he has continued working at the intersections of post-punk and free jazz with players from both scenes
For his Soundwaves show Baiza’s quartet will include drummer Brian Christopherson, from the last lineup of Saccharine Trust, vocalist Jessika Kenney, who has worked with Alvin Lucier, Sunn 0))), and Eyvind Kang, and bass guitarist David O. Jones, a member of Carnage Asada and the Alice Bag Band.
Soundwaves was created by librarian/musician Jeff Schwartz and composer Daniel Rothman in 2016 to present cutting-edge music at the Santa Monica Public Library. It has received grants from the Friends of the Santa Monica Public Library and the Amphion Foundation. Programs have included collaborations with the Angel City Jazz Festival, Piano Spheres, Jacaranda Music, Microfest, Cold Blue Music, and the Dog Star Orchestra. A complete list of shows, with many videos, is at soundwavesnewmusic.com.
All Library programs are free and open to the public. Parking is available underneath the Main Library, several bus lines and the Metro E line stop nearby, and there are bike racks. The Multipurpose Room is wheelchair accessible. Please call (310) 458-8600 to request additional accommodations.
Submitted by Jeff Schwartz
