EMAS Presents: Smith & Jessen

Wednesday, August 21, 2024 from 7:30-9:00 PM

August’s EMAS Presents features Omaha duo Phil Smith and Kyle Jessen.

Kyle Jessen is a free improvising saxophonist based out of Omaha, NE. Jessen has been recognized by Byron Coley in The Wire magazine for his sound having “traces of Chicago (via Anthony Braxton and Roscoe Mitchell) as well as Euro-style tongue action and an occasional sweetness” and “a very sweet way of blending edge-acridity with non-blaring melodicism”. However, his more recent work has dropped the “occasional sweetness” and “non-blaring melodicism”, in favor of utilizing a more sound based approach. He frequently collaborates with drummer/percussionist, Phill Smith (under the name Smith & Jessen). You can listen to his releases on Relative Pitch Records, Soundholes, and Gertrude Tapes.

Phill Smith is a drummer, improviser, composer, and software engineer living in Omaha, NE. His musical approach utilizes open improvisation, extended techniques, and real time software systems to generate spontaneous sound worlds, all filtered through the influence of the new music, free improvisation, and avant-rock traditions. He makes up half of the duo Smith & Jessen (with saxophonist Kyle Jessen) and has performed with Damon Smith, Daniel Wyche, Stacey Barelos, Bob Bucko Jr, Seth Andrew Davis, and Kate In, as well as at festivals such as Omaha Under the Radar, 80/35, Petfest, Mission Creek, and Omaha Noisefest.

ABOUT EMAS PRESENTS

EMAS Presents is an experimental and improvised music series curated by Seth Andrew Davis + Evan Verploegh. An extension of the collective Extemporaneous Music & Arts Society, EMAS Presents highlights local, national, and international music practitioners to grow Kansas City’s improvised music community.

Can’t make it to this EMAS Presents? Join us for the last EMAS Presents of the year on November 13 from 7:30–9:00 PM.