How is the Zameen Art House? Bruce Freedman, free improv
The Granville Island venue now hosts Infidels Jazz’s New Thing series and other intimate shows
Alto saxophonist Bruce Freedman played two sets of clever, furious free improv at the Zameen Art House on Granville Island last Friday, October 25, 2024 with Josh Zubot on violin, James Meger on bass, and Cesar Chew on drums.
I wrote about Bruce Freedman's Collage album when it came out on the Infidels Jazz label:
Will Chernoff
Zubot was typically creative and energetic, as he is from Sick Boss to his own Josh Zubot Strings. Meger never misses as one of the hardest-working folks in free jazz business; he shows up everywhere and rips. I had heard Chew, who also goes by Chacal del Tamborazo, a few times at 8EAST before but enjoyed his vigorous drumming here as a highlight of the ensemble and got to chat with him about his move from Mexico City around 2017. Apparently there's a big improv scene there.
Zameen Art House is an intimate venue; only about 35 chairs dotted the clean, modern-ish rectangular room. Once you see the sign along the road quite early into entering Granville Island, you go up a tall flight of stairs. A thin black curtain (and the door person) separates you from the house once you're on the upper floor.
