Devin Gray revisits Baltimore with his new solo album Most Definitely. He blends percussion and electronics into a cohesive sound world of processed articulated sound. He is joined by Levi Lu (electronics) and Dave Ballou (trumpet).

Doors open at 8pm. Show starts at 8:30.

Brooklyn-Berlin based drummer-composer Devin Gray made his widely lauded leader debut in 2012 with the release Dirigo Rataplan, which included a crew of heavyweight veterans Ellery Eskelin, Michael Formanek and Dave Ballou. Now in 2023 he gives us Most Definitely, a first showcase of his solo performances. Years of bandleading and sideman experiences have led to his growth as a continually forward thinking creative artist. This music is far from a standard solo project, offering a full length adventure of vision from an artist committed to his craft’s propulsion. The release date is congruent with his 40th birthday while internationally touring in support of the project. Individual track’s stories deliver unique musical moods such as: Blues (in the standard form), diverse textures such as ASMR, and hints of “A Night In Tunisia” mixed with industrial acoustic Autechre inspirations. Just listen to his ever growing catalog of dizzying collaborative output; Gray’s is known for his musical convictions.

Qiujiang(秋江) Levi Lu is a Beijing-born, Baltimore-based composer, free-improviser, and experimental vocalist whose work explores the surreal listening environment for improvisers, audio-visual interactivity between performer and audience, and the phenomenology of sound. Lu’s works range from acoustic to experimental electronic and incorporate the creative use of music technology. As a performer, they perform free improvisation with voice and their self-designed feedback-based electronic instrument in various settings. Lu is also half of the newly-formed experimental electronics band Warp Duo. As a composer, Lu writes for acoustic and electronic performers and improvisers. Lu’s composition Tri is the recipient of the ASCAP/SEAMUS Composition Competition 2023. Lu’s works have been performed at the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, NowNet Arts Conference, The DiMenna Center for Classical Music, Splice Institute, IRCAM Forum, Oberlin MMG, Spencer Museum of Art, Rhizome DC, and NIME conference.

Trumpeter/Composer Dave Ballou can be heard in a variety of settings, from solo trumpet improvisations to large ensembles. His recordings can be found on the Steeplechase, CleanFeed, pfMentum and the Out of Your Head record labels.  Ballou has performed or recorded with Rabih Abou-Kahlil, Steely Dan, Michael Formanek, Mary Halvorson, Woody Herman, Andrew Hill, John Hollenbeck, Sheila Jordan, Oliver Lake, Dave Liebman, Dewey Redman, Maria Schneider and Gunther Schuller. His compositions have been performed and recorded by the Meridian Arts Ensemble, Trumpeter Jon Nelson, French hornist Adam Unsworth, Saxophonist Ellery Eskelin, the TILT Brass Ensemble and the Rose City Brass Quintet. Ballou is a Professor of Music at Towson University teaching in the Jazz and Commercial Music Division.

Event location:

Red Room at Normals Books and Records