Tyshawn Soars

This is a very busy week for percussionist/composer/pianist/trombonist and Wesleyan Graduate Student Tyshawn Sorey.  Not a new issue for the young man from Newark, New Jersey, as he is often flying around the country or the world as a member of different musical ensembles.  He's been travel doen to New York City for an evening gig and be back in Middletown for class the next day. I've seen him play drums in a jazz band one night and trombone in a klezmer ensemble the next.  His own music channels modern Classical music, especially the Minimalism of Morton Feldman.  He can "drive" a "creative music" ensemble such as Fieldwork (featuring the brilliant pianist Vijay Iyer and saxophonist/conceptualist/Wesleyan graduate Steve Lehman.

Equally as impressive is that Tyshawn Sorey is unassuming, quiet, and approachable.

As I stated above, this is a very busy time for the 30-year old musician/student. Tonight (April 28) at 9 p.m., he and an impressive ensemble of friends and fellow students present "Selected Works (2009-11)" in Memorial Chapel on the Wesleyan campus.  Prepare to be surprised, challenged and impressed.

Tomorrow night, heads to New Haven and Firehouse 12 (45 Crown Street) to perform with Iraqi-American Amir ElSaffar's Two Rivers ensemble.  Sorey replaces scheduled percussionist Nasheet Waits in the sextet.  For more information, call 203-785-0468 or go to www.firehouse12.com.

On Sunday (May 1), Sorey is back in town taking part in "The Peacock and The Turtle Dove: Exploring Yiddish and Anglo-American Song Traditions" to be held at 2 p.m. in the Green Street Arts Center. Go to middletowneyenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/peacock-and-turtle-dove.html to read more about the event created by Amanda Scherbenske and Tim Eriksen.  Call 860-685-7871 to make reservations.

What's Goin' On (Part 2) Thursday April 30

The Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company presents "The American Clock", a play by Arthur Miller based, in part, on Studs Terkel's "Hard Times", from Thursday April 30 through May 9. The work, which also incorporates some of the playwright's experiences as a teenager when the Great Depression began, follows a family as they deal with the father losing his business and the mother falling apart under the strain. The media churned out optimistic shows and uplifting songs, even as breadlines filled the streets of every city. As usual, the first performance is the "can-can preview" - pay what you can and bring a non-perishable food item for the Amazing Grace food pantry. That show begins at 7 p.m. All other performances (5/1, 2, 8 and 9) begin at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, call 347-6143.

Wesleyan Professor of Music Anthony Braxton presents the first of his 2 Spring "student" concerts at 7 p.m. in Crowell Concert Hall. The "Small Ensemble" concert showcases Braxton's saxophone playing and compositions alongside student and guest musicians. The show is free and open to the public.

At 8 p.m. in the World Music Hall, The Wesleyan Gamelan Ensemble presents classical music and dance of Central Java, under the direction of I. M. Harjito, Sumarsam and Urip Sri Maeny. This event is also free and open to the public and is a great opportunity to learn about another culture.