Wayne Horvitz & Sara Schoenbeck/ Battle Hymns and Gardens play at the No Fun Bar

The Sara Schoenbeck and Wayne Horvitz duo navigate through original tunes and improvisatory soundscapes. With feet firmly planted in a genre-less zone, electronics and an ever-expanding textural palate serve to deepen the feel of a shared melodic language. Sara Schoenbeck and Wayne Horvitz first met as improvising musicians at the 4 day, “company” style “Time Flies” festival (Vancouver B.C.) in 2000. In 2004 Horvitz formed the Gravitas Quartet with Schoenbeck, Ron Miles (Trumpet) and Peggy Lee (Cello). This quartet recorded two CDs and performed throughout Europe and North America. In 2015 Horvitz fused his ensemble Sweeter Than the Day with the Gravitas Quartet to create a septet performing compositions based on the poems of Richard Hugo. “Some Places Are Forever Afternoon” resulted in a CD, touring throughout the US, and an episode of NPR’s “Jazz Night in America”, hosted by Christian McBride. In addition, Schoenbeck and Horvitz had performed in numerous improvised collectives, special projects, and the occasional duo concert. In 2018, the duo Schoenbeck/Horvitz was created, with subsequent concerts in NY, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Ann Arbor, Sacramento, Northampton, Bellingham, Edmonton, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago, and Detroit. Their first CD, entitled “Cell Walk”, was released on the Songlines label in May 2020. Since the pandemic the duo has presented concerts in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Battle Hymns & Gardens was originally formed in 2007 as a free-improvisation ensemble and has evolved over time into one of the more compelling units on the Portland scene. Their original compositions by Cunningham and Wallsmith are reminiscent of Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman and Loft Jazz-era giants like Sam Rivers with spacious, lyrical landscapes, a la Paul Motian and Roscoe Mitchell with a strong influence of folk-forms and a healthy dose of conversational interplay and humor. Battle Hymns & Gardens have shared bills and/or collaborated with Tim Young, Allison Miller, Lucian Ban, Mike Gamble, Elina Duni, The Tiptons, and Elliott Sharp among others. Most recently, the group performed at the Seaside Jazz & Blues Festival and at the 2024 Montavilla Jazz Festival. Their CMG performance will feature the expanded sextet playing music from “Conversations with Love and Death,” their recently recorded album, featuring trombonist James Powers and guitarist Dan Duval and exploring new compositions by Cunningham and Wallsmith. Lineup: Reed Wallsmith, alto saxophone and compositions; Joe Cunningham, tenor saxophone and compositions; James Powers, trombone; Dan Duval, guitar; Jon Shaw, bass; Tim DuRoche, drums & little instruments