We All Break at Firehouse 12

Formed in 2013 by drummer/composer Ches Smith, We All Break is an ensemble at the crossroads of traditional Haitian Vodou music and au courant composition and improvisation. It draws on, and adds to, his 15-plus-year involvement in the Haitian Vodou community of New York as he teams up with groundbreaking drummers and singers from the tradition to explore new avenues of improvised music.

California-born, New York-based drummer, percussionist, and composer Ches Smith has been hailed by The New York Times as “one of the wiliest drummers on the experimental scene.” Smith's singular voice and adroit perspective have led to collaborations with Marc Ribot, Tim Berne, John Zorn, Craig Taborn, Darius Jones, Vijay Iyer, Nels Cline, Dave Holland, David Torn, Mary Halvorson, Terry Riley, Kris Davis, Trevor Dunn, John Tchicai, Xiu Xiu, Secret Chiefs 3, Theory of Ruin, Mr. Bungle, and many others. Smith’s ten leader albums showcase the range of his stylistic curiosity and exploratory instincts. The latest, Interpret It Well, features legendary guitarist Bill Frisell, pianist Craig Taborn, and violist Mat Maneri. It follows Path of Seven Colors by We All Break, Smith’s project fusing boundary-stretching jazz and traditional Haitian Vodou music. Both expand upon a continually surprising catalogue that includes Smith’s solo project Congs for Brums and his all-star quintet These Arches....

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Formed in 2013 by drummer/composer Ches Smith, We All Break is an ensemble at the crossroads of traditional Haitian Vodou music and au courant composition and improvisation. It draws on, and adds to, his 15-plus-year involvement in the Haitian Vodou community of New York as he teams up with groundbreaking drummers and singers from the tradition to explore new avenues of improvised music.

California-born, New York-based drummer, percussionist, and composer Ches Smith has been hailed by The New York Times as “one of the wiliest drummers on the experimental scene.” Smith's singular voice and adroit perspective have led to collaborations with Marc Ribot, Tim Berne, John Zorn, Craig Taborn, Darius Jones, Vijay Iyer, Nels Cline, Dave Holland, David Torn, Mary Halvorson, Terry Riley, Kris Davis, Trevor Dunn, John Tchicai, Xiu Xiu, Secret Chiefs 3, Theory of Ruin, Mr. Bungle, and many others. Smith’s ten leader albums showcase the range of his stylistic curiosity and exploratory instincts. The latest, Interpret It Well, features legendary guitarist Bill Frisell, pianist Craig Taborn, and violist Mat Maneri. It follows Path of Seven Colors by We All Break, Smith’s project fusing boundary-stretching jazz and traditional Haitian Vodou music. Both expand upon a continually surprising catalogue that includes Smith’s solo project Congs for Brums and his all-star quintet These Arches.

This performance is made possible with the support of Jazz Road, a national initiative of South Arts, which is funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation with additional support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

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