Dave Burrell: Windward Passages
Among fans of the sui generis pianist Dave Burrell, Windward Passages — a jazz opera he composed in the late ’70s, inspired by his upbringing in Hawaii — is a legendary work, documented on a classic 1979 solo release but never performed in full in the United States. This show offers a rare opportunity to hear selections from the opus performed by an ensemble, with live introductions from its librettist (and Burrell’s longtime partner), the poet Monika Larsson, and a supporting cast including the bassist Ken Filiano, the drummer Michael TA Thompson, the vocalists Edward Washington II and Afi Bijou, and the multi-instrumentalist Aakash Mittal.