Santa Fe-based keyboardist Brian Haas will team up with a wildly talented group of New Orleans musicians for a one-off show at Gasa Gasa on Tuesday, January 10.
Billed as “Brian Haas’ Love Amalgam,” Tuesday’s show will feature appearances by cellist Helen Gillet, drummer Simon Lott, saxophonist Brad Walker, guitarist Cliff Hines and, multi-instrumentalist Aurora Nealand. Singer Annie Ellicott and guitarist Chris Combs of Tulsa will also take part in the performance, along with Kansas City-based saxophonist Mark Southerland. The various artists will join forces for a series of duets, trios and quartets, which will be conducted by Haas.
Haas’ January schedule in New Orleans.
Tuesday’s concert will mark the latest installment of Progression Music Series, a weekly gathering that showcases a variety of local projects that don’t quite fit the “New Orleans music” mold. While Progression usually features more than one act per night, the Love Amalgam will have the stage to themselves for this week’s edition of the showcase.
“I have been to Progression Series as a fan three times whilst doing my residencies in NOLA and every time I think, ‘I have to make this a priority next time….I have to be a part of this concept,'” says Haas. “Progressive music in New Orleans is taking over and I love it.”
“Instant Opus, Open Ears, Anxious Sounds and Progression Presents push the envelope every week and it makes sense,” Haas adds. “Improvised music began in NOLA… and now NOLA has become the improvised music capital of Earth. I handpicked 8 of my favorite musicians on the planet to join me Tuesday, January 10 at Gasa Gasa for Progression, mainly because I must get better at music every day and these musicians provide this opportunity for me every time I play with them.”
Haas is best known as the leader of instrumental powerhouse Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, as well as for his work with Nolatet, a relatively recent project that finds him joined by local heroes Johnny Vidacovich, James Singleton and Mike Dillon. The latter group has been hard at work on a follow up their critically-acclaimed 2016 debut Dogs, and Haas has been making the rounds at venues across New Orleans during his time in town.
The Love Amalgam will take the stage at 9pm. Admission to Progression Music Series is free and open to the public, though donations are suggested at the door.
