'Ancestral Instrument' now available.
I am pleased to announce that today is the official release date of Ancestral Instrument, the brand new trio recording also featuring Trevor Dunn (double bass) Ches Smith (drums). It's now available in physical form (cassette w/download card) at the NNA Tapes Website as well as digitally at itunes and other digital retailers. I am very happy to have this music in the world and would love for you to hear it.Here is some info on the recording:Ancestral Instrument" documents the musical meeting of three friends: Travis Laplante (Little Women, Battle Trance), Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Fantômas, John Zorn), and Ches Smith (Marc Ribot, Secret Chiefs 3, Fred Frith). Existing in the cracks of avant-garde jazz, contemporary classical, indigenous world music, and soul, "Ancestral Instrument" captures an evening of improvisation that took place at IBEAM, a small loft space in Brooklyn, on December 14th, 2013. There was a fierce snowstorm that night, and only a handful of people trudged through the brutal weather to attend the concert. IBEAM served as an oasis, a respite from the cold, with people literally coming into the room to thaw out.*This was the first time the three musicians gathered together in a classic saxophone trio formation (tenor saxophone, double bass, drums), and also marks Laplante's recorded debut in a purely improvised setting. Before the concert began, the musicians established an unspoken agreement that the music would have no expectations, nothing to prove, and no style to fill - only that its sounds should be followed. "Ancestral Instrument" is a document of this sound, a talisman of the thawing that took place that evening.
a beautiful weekend
The residency this past weekend at IBeam was wonderful. Thanks so much to all those who joined us!
Thursday evening: Gerald Cleaver, Mat Maneri, TL 
Friday evening: Mary Halvorson, TL, Trevor Dunn, Ches Smith 
Saturday evening: Randy Peterson, Mat Maneri, Michael Formanek, TL And for anyone who missed my interview with Search and Restore surrounding this residency, you can read it here
Ibeam residency this month
I am excited that later this month I'll be in residence at ibeam in Brooklyn for three nights. Each night will feature a different band consisting of some of my favorite living improvisers. Here are the details:
New Trio next week
On Saturday, December 14th I'll be performing with my good friends Trevor Dunn (Double bass) and Ches Smith (Drums). We've been talking about playing in a trio formation for a long time now and it looks like the time has finally come. I'm very much looking forward to this:Saturday, December 14th@ IbeamTravis Laplante, Trevor Dunn (bass), Ches Smith (drums)8:30pm$10168 7th Street, Brooklyn, NY